For the 2023-2024 school year, local education agencies (LEA’s) were afforded the opportunity to apply for Gifted and Talented Student Program Grants. Thomasville City Schools has been awarded the maximum amount of $30,000 to fund a field trip and related instructional supplies.
“Our focus in gifted education this year is innovation and space exploration,” said Andrea Pate, Gifted Teacher for the school district. “We are exploring our passion for space exploration and related careers through STEM activities in the traditional gifted classroom.
“In the spring, we will attend the Pathfinder Space Camp offered at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The camp is a three-day, two-night program for children grades 4-8. The grant will pay $24,950.00 to fund the tuition of 50 students to attend Pathfinder Space Camp, and $3,450.00 will be used for transportation to and from Huntsville Space and Rocket Center.
“Upon returning to school, students will continue their learning through related STEM activities,” Pate said. “(Approximately) $1,600.00 will be used to provide classroom supplies for the STEM instruction taking place before and after the space camp experience.”
Pathfinder Space Camp is a once in a lifetime experience where participants build a model rocket, train like an astronaut, and work in mission control on a simulated mission. While the activities are unforgettable and allow students to explore their passion for space exploration, the skills gained through this immersive experience are the most long-lasting.
Gifted children have unique cognitive and affective needs and participation in space camp will strengthen the critical thinking, creative thinking, and executive functioning skills of our gifted children.
The Pathfinder Space Camp schedule is packed with team-based learning activities, space simulations, and experiments that demonstrate real-world application of STEM subjects. “Pathfinder Space Camp is an investment in the future and provides students with the opportunity for classroom instruction and hands-on training in an authentic learning environment,” Pate said.
Photo: Gifted students: (back row) Ben Loftin, Cameron James, Gunnar Lewis, Katie Harrington, Levi Butler, and Summer Cartwright; (front row) Eli Bozeman, Cameron Holt, Cameron Lucy, Jacob Garza, Eli Mbugua, Elise Cook, and Malcolm Timberlake.