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Livingston Public Schools

Empowering All to Learn, Create, Contribute & Grow

GT/Enrichment

GT Information

  • Academic Gifted & Talented/Enrichment

    Silhouette of a head with a brain made of colorful puzzle pieces, with more pieces floating above.

    The Livingston Academic Gifted and Talented program recognizes the needs of students who possess and demonstrate significantly high levels of ability. The Academic GT program supports the identified population with a continuum of services. Differentiated instruction in classrooms allows students to work to their potential. Gifted education opens windows of opportunity for students to enhance their potential through collaboration, innovation, and problem solving. Students are challenged to engage in inquiry, take intellectual risks, exercise critical thinking, and reflect upon and develop their individual talents. 

    In the Livingston Public Schools, we believe all students benefit from higher level thinking and inquiry. Differentiated instruction addresses the needs of all students within their classrooms. The Schoolwide Enrichment Program provides challenging opportunities that focus on STEAM/Innovation.                                                                                                                          

    Our teachers and students are active in the Essex County Committee for Gifted and Talented Education and the NJ Association for Gifted Children.

    We follow the guidelines set forth by the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act NJ SGTA and are proud to be represented on the state committee.

    Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act NJ SGTA*       *Noncompliance information and process

    For questions, comments, complaints or concerns, the procedure is as follows: Reach out to the school's GT Teacher first, then GT Supervisor, then BOE, then Commissioner of Education as outlined in NJ SGTA/District Policy 2464 and 9130. 

  • Identification

    Students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 have differentiated in-classroom instruction based on their academic abilities. Annually in the Fall*, the GT/Enrichment Specialist teachers screen all district students in grades 2-8 through the use of multiple measures for the Academically Gifted & Talented pull-out program. The assessments are given in district as part of the academic course and include in-district benchmark assessments, aptitude tests, state/national assessments, NJSLA Math and ELA (when available), and report cards. The criteria for the program is set at the 95th+ percentile on local norms. The National Association for Gifted Children's (NAGC) definition of gifted is employed: Children are gifted when their ability is significantly above the norm for their age in the local population. 

    The GT curriculum provides differentiated instruction for those identified students through a pull-out program within interest-based groups. 

    New Entrants to Livingston Public Schools (LPS):

    Any student transferring to LPS who has previously participated in a gifted and talented program in his/her former district may be reviewed for testing after one marking period of matriculation. Written documentation of previous GT participation and relevant data must be submitted. 

  • Resources listed are for reference only and are not endorsed or promoted by Livingston Public Schools.

  • The Livingston School District offers a Gifted and Talented Program for Art at the elementary school level for grades four and five and at the middle school level in grades six through eight. The Gifted and Talented Art Program is designed to give students who qualify for admission the opportunity to further develop their creative abilities and artistic skills.

    Students who apply for this program must undergo a rigorous and highly selective screening process. Students who are selected for this program are expected to keep up with their regular schoolwork, in addition to completing assignments and projects that are a part of this program. There will be weekly homework assignments.

    Students who are identified as being gifted in the Visual Arts typically exhibit several or all of the following characteristics:

    1. The student exhibits superior ability in expressing ideas visually and can create artworks in drawing and a variety of mediums.
    2. The student possesses a high curiosity level and active imagination.
    3. The student seeks challenging experiences and is goal-oriented with high personal standards.
    4. The student is capable of original thinking and develops unique, unconventional solutions to artistic problems.
    5. The student responds with ease and enthusiasm to creating artwork.

    GT Art Identification

    The selection process for the Gifted and Talented Art Program will require students to create one original drawing to submit with his or her application and be evaluated by their art teacher. The original work must be from direct observation as per the instructions in the application. Drawings must be created by the student applying. Drawings created in school, created under the assistance of a private art teacher, or created in a private art class will not be accepted. This portion of the application will be submitted electronically. The in-class evaluation includes a creativity assessment and an observational drawing to be assessed and scored by an Art Teacher once we physically return to school. In-person test: this test will be given before school (7:15am) and will be proctored by an Art Teacher. All materials will be provided by the school. 

    • Elementary GT Art: Applications are available in the Spring annually for the following year. Information regarding the middle school application process is communicatedeach Spring. 
    • Middle School GT Art: Applications are available in September annually for the current school year. Applications ware due annually in September. Information regarding the middle school application process will be communicated in the beginning of the school year. 

    Please understand that both the GT Art programs is highly selective, and the results of the selection process are final. Any students who are already a part of the GT Art Program do not need to reapply.

    GT ART STAFF:

  • The Livingston School District offers a Gifted and Talented Program for Music at the elementary school level for grades four and five.  The Elementary Gifted and Talented Music Program is designed to give students the opportunity to participate in compositional and improvisational experiences in music.

    Students who apply for this program must undergo a rigorous and highly selective screening process.  Students who are selected to this program are expected to keep up with their regular schoolwork, in addition to completing assignments and projects that are a part of this program.

    Students who are identified as being gifted in music typically exhibit several or all of the following characteristics: 

    1. The student demonstrates a strong interest in music.
    2. The student creates original rhythmic and/or melodic patterns.
    3. The student creates original songs and lyrics.
    4. The student expresses feelings and emotions through music.
    5. The student is persistent in new learning about music.
    6. The student is reflective and self-aware.

    GT Music Identification

    The selection process for the Gifted and Talented Music Program will require students to take a musical aptitude test and be evaluated by their Music Teacher. In addition, students will be evaluated by his or her Music Teacher using a musical behavior index. The in-person test will take place after school, once we physically return to school and an email will be sent with the date and time for the test.

    Applications are available in the Spring annually for the following year.

    Please understand that the GT Music program is highly selective, and the results of the selection process are final. Any students who are already a part of the GT Music Program do not need to reapply. 

    GT Music Staff

District GT/Enrichment Specialists

Dr. Dorian Gemellaro

Supervisor of Academic GT dgemellaro@livingston.org

Erin Carabello

Mt. Pleasant Middle School GT Mt. Pleasant Middle School ecarabello@livingston.org 973-535-8000, x3011

Jacqueline Kestler

Collins/Hillside GT Collins/Hillside Elementary Schools jkestler@livingston.org

Karin Pinto

Heritage Middle GT Heritage Middle School kpinto@livingston.org

Deborah Van Dusen

Harrison/Riker Hill GT Harrison/Riker Hill Elementary Schools dvandusen@livingston.org

Christine Zambrio

MPE/Burnet Hill GT Mt. Pleasant/Burnet Hill Elementary Schools czambrio@livingston.org