
What’s GRO?
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Schools gifted program is called Gifted Reach Out, known as GRO. It serves the identified population of gifted students in grades two through five. This enrichment pullout program offers students the chance to interact with peers of similar ability, while remaining a part of the regular classroom setting. Once admitted into the program, the students meet with the GRO teacher for small group instruction. These groups provide the opportunity for the gifted child to interact with, stimulate and be stimulated by his/her peers, while enjoying individual or small group attention.
GRO encourages independent learning, research, and individual product development. Creative problem solving and critical thinking skills are stressed. Students are challenged to become consumers and producers of knowledge. Students are exposed to new subjects with the intent to broaden their interests and enhance their present grade level core curriculum based upon student interest. The GRO program provides enrichment for students who have demonstrated high academic abilities. The work is above grade level and is rigorous. Children are expected to fulfill their regular classroom and GRO proficiencies during the year.
Program Features
Differentiated Instruction
Accelerated or advanced content
More complex understandings of generalizations, principles, theories, and the structure of the content area
Abstract concepts and thought processes or skills
Appropriation of longer/shorter time span for learning
Generating new information and/or products
Transfer of learning to new/different disciplines, situations
Development of personal growth and sophistication in attitudes, appreciations, feeling, and intuition
Independence of thought and study
Testing for the Gifted Reach Out Program
Parents of 2nd-4th graders interested in having their child tested for the district’s gifted program (GRO) should send a written request no later than April 12, 2022 to their child’s classroom teacher. Testing for those eligible will begin in May/June for entrance into the program beginning September 2022. In conjunction with GRO testing, multiple measures will be considered. Central office will mail home the results during the summer break.
Students who were previously in a gifted and talented program are eligible to test for Parsippany’s GRO program based upon confirmation of prior enrollment in a gifted program from the student’s former school.
The GRO program provides enrichment for students who have demonstrated high capabilities. The work presented is above grade level and is rigorous. Children are expected to fulfill their regular classroom and GRO proficiencies during the year.
Bright
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Gifted
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Knows the answers
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Asks the questions
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Is interested
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Is highly curious
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Is attentive
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Is mentally and physically involved
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Has good ideas
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Has wild, silly ideas
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Works hard
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Plays around, yet tests well
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Answers the questions
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Discusses in detail, elaborates
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Top of the group
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Beyond the group
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Listens with interest
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Shows strong feelings and opinions
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Learns with ease
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Already knows
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6-8 repetitions for mastery
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1-2 repetitions for mastery
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Understands ideas
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Constructs abstractions
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Enjoys peers
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Prefers adults
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Grasps the meaning
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Draws inferences
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Completes assignments
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Initiates projects
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Is receptive
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Is intense
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Copies accurately
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Creates a new design
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Enjoys school
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Enjoys learning
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Absorbs information
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Manipulates information
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Technician
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Inventor
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Good memorizer
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Good guesser
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Enjoys straightforward, sequential presentation
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Thrives on complexity
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Is alert
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Is keenly observant
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Is pleased with own learning
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Is highly self critical
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