Gate Overview
Hearst Elementary is designated as a GATE Seminar school.
The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program supports unique opportunities for high-achieving and underachieving pupils who are identified as gifted and talented. By state definition, gifted students are pupils who possess a capacity for excellence far beyond that of their chronological peers. This capacity includes many and varied characteristics that require modifications of curriculum and instruction. These modifications form the basis of gifted and talented educational services.
Why Seminar?
Highly gifted children need to learn at a faster pace and can process material at a greater depth. They often exhibit intense curiosity, imagination, intellectual capacity, sensitivity, and emotion beyond what is typical in the general population. In order to thrive, they need a unique, homogeneous learning environment that challenges their strengths without limits while supporting their needs, which can include perfectionistic tendencies, underachievement, a highly sensitive nature, extreme empathy and compassion, a heightened sense of justice, and acute emotions. These students may also demonstrate a high interest in one area, display asynchronous development, or have learning difficulties. Many are identified as "twice exceptional" or 2e, because in addition to being gifted they also have another characteristic (ADHD, anxiety, ASD, SPD, etc.) They need a like-minded peer group, challenging material delivered at a faster rate, and teachers who understand and respect their unique intellectual and personal needs.
The teachers and administration at Hearst are dedicated to providing highly gifted children with the environment and resources they need to thrive.