An opportunity to excel

Matthew Fitzgerald
SJHS Staff Writer

“It’s an enrichment program that goes beyond a normal class,” stated Mr. Hatfield, vice chairman of the Gifted and Talented Program. Four to six times a year thirty students from each grade at SJHS go on some sort of field trip dedicated to learning something new and out of the ordinary.

To get in to the Gifted and Talented Program, students had to score well on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in math and reading. Students can also get in from teacher nominations. The goals of the program are to take students that excel and find school maybe a little easy and help them have fun while learning something new. Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Hansen also want to help students becomes leaders to help others along in school. These goals are accomplished through many different activities.

For example, last year the program took a trip last year to Utah’s capital building to take a tour. They also got to meet Gary R. Herbert, the lieutenant governor of Utah! They go on an activity about four to six times a year. The activities usually last all day, so the students have to make up the work, but it’s usually no problem. When asked what his favorite trip was, a member of the gifted and talented at SJHS, Joseph Davies, said, “Probably the capital building in Salt Lake, it was fun, plus the fact that they had a really good cafeteria!”