Katy ISD elementary screening for gifted, talented students is today; district to participate in drug take back Saturday

Contributed Report
Posted 10/28/22

Today is the deadline for Katy ISD parents, with children in grades 1-4, who believe their student might be gifted and talented, to refer those students for the 2023-2024 Gifted and Talented (GT) Program. The GT Program for elementary students in Katy ISD consists of a one-day participation in a Challenge classroom with a teacher trained in gifted education.

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Katy ISD elementary screening for gifted, talented students is today; district to participate in drug take back Saturday

Posted

Today is the deadline for Katy ISD parents, with children in grades 1-4, who believe their student might be gifted and talented, to refer those students for the 2023-2024 Gifted and Talented (GT) Program. The GT Program for elementary students in Katy ISD consists of a one-day participation in a Challenge classroom with a teacher trained in gifted education.

Parents can begin the process by completing a parent observation checklist, which can be obtained from the student’s school or the Katy ISD GT and Advanced Academics website.

“The State of Texas requires that various types of measures be used to identify students for gifted programs, which include quantitative and qualitative assessments,” Dr. Joan Otten, GT & Advanced Academics Department director. “Katy ISD’s Elementary Challenge curriculum includes advanced content, creative and critical thinking skills, as well as research and technology skills for children who demonstrate the potential for high levels of accomplishment.”

Transfer students who were screened in fall 2022 and not identified for GT services must wait one full academic year before they can be rescreened. Parents may contact campus counselors, elementary Challenge teachers, or GT facilitators if they have additional questions

Katy ISD participates in annual drug take back event

The Katy ISD Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will allow the public to safely dispose of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications on Saturday

According to the DEA, pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision. Needles or sharp objects will not be accepted, and any liquids must be in prescribed containers.

“Last year, Katy ISD collected 385 pounds of expired and/or unused prescription drugs. We want to remind the community that this service is free and anonymous with no questions asked of those individuals who decide to participate,” Katy ISD Police Chief Henry Gaw said. “We encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.”

Collection efforts will take place in the lobby of the police department, where residents can safely drop off unwanted medications. Through the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative, the DEA and its partners across the country have collected nearly 16 million pounds of unused prescription medications.

The takeback event is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Mark L. Hopkins Law Enforcement, 20370 Franz Road.

Katy ISD, gifted and talented, drug take back