Quest & Gateways

The Mendham Township Elementary School offers two programs through Gifted and Talented Services, Quest and Gateways.

                                       MTES Quest Program

The Elementary School’s grade 3 and 4 Quest programs engage students in advanced collaborative and critical thinking to problem-solve real-world STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) based learning activities. Students are challenged to think outside the box, use effective oral and written communication skills to research, collect data, analyze information, and provide strong rationale for outcomes and proposals.

The Quest Program engages students in collaborative work requiring high levels of critical and creative thinking. Students are identified and screened in February of grade 2. The CogAt, Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary Students (SAGES-3), and the Profile of Creative Abilities (PCA) are used to identify students who demonstrate readiness to participate in this program. 

Students attend Quest one period per week during their “What I Need” period (WIN), and one zero period before school. Students participating in the Quest Program are expected to maintain academic classroom performance and appropriate behavior throughout the school year.

Quest students may also participate in additional special programs or field trips coordinating with their Knowledge and/or Content Units of Study. In addition to the Quest program, all students in grades K-4 participate in weekly enrichment classes delivered by the G&T and classroom teachers.

Overview of Eligibility

All MTES students in grade 2 are screened for Quest services beginning with the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAt). 

Students found eligible for Quest services in grade 2 will remain eligible for Quest services through grade 8.

Students are screened again in grade 5. The grade 5 screening shall not terminate Quest eligibility for any student regardless of score, rather, grade 5 students who earn in the 96th percentile (CogAT) Composite or Non-Verbal will be added to Quest service rosters for grade 6. In grades 7 and 8, all “interested” students shall have the opportunity to participate in Quest 7 and 8 based upon the successful completion of preliminary summer projects.

**Students new to the district may be recommended for participation upon registration, however must be screened and meet minimum eligibility criteria. New students may submit CogAt, OLSAT-8, SAGES, or any other normed cognitive assessment scores previously administered.

Grade 2 Eligibility Process for Grades 3-8

Step 1

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is administered to all students in grades 2. Students receiving a (CogAT) Composite or Non-Verbal Standard Age Score of 132 or above continue to step 2.

*A standard Age Score of 132 represents scores in the 9th stanine and the 98th percentile of national scores.

Step 2 - Part I

Students are assessed using the Sages-2 Aptitude Assessment in Math/Science and Language Arts/Social Studies (Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary School Students) *Parent permission is required.

Step 2 - Part II

Students are assessed using the Profile of Creative Abilities (PCA).  *Parent permission is required.

Stage 2- Identification

*Students must meet the minimum score requirements on either the Sages-3 or the PCA to be eligible for Quest services.  Additionally, teacher input will be collected regarding classroom performance, and considered in the final decision-making process. 

Sages-2: Aptitude score of 124 or higher (on either section).

PCA: Creativity Index score of 121 or higher.

*There is no further appeal process after Stage 2

 

Gateways

Social Studies/ELA

Grades 4 

Gateways is an advanced academic program that provides parallel and accelerated instruction in social studies/language arts for students who need additional or advanced coursework to continue his or her academic growth. 

Grade 4 students who qualify for Gateways will participate in a pull-out social studies program with an emphasis on reading and writing. The parallel curriculum will address the same essential questions and NJSLS  as the grade-level social studies curriculum but will utilize a language-based approach to enhance reading, writing, critical thinking, and communication skills.

To find students eligible for this program, teachers evaluate student writing samples, review classroom performance/observations, and review grade 3 NJSLA scores in ELA, as well as benchmark data in reading.  

Contact:

Mrs. Theresa McNamara, Math/G&T

tmcnamara@mendhamtwp.org