Rockaway Meadow Elementary School

Mrs. Dominique Keena
drkeena@pthsd.net

Mrs. Keena's GRO website

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 2^nd-4^th graders interested in having their child tested for the district’s gifted program (GRO) should send a written request no later than April 12, 2019 to their child’s classroom teacher. Testing for those eligible will begin in May/June for entrance into the program beginning September 2019. 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 in another school district are granted admission to the 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.