Gifted kids flourish in advanced class

Two students at Mesa View Middle School would someday like to use their healing hands to make people’s lives better.

Rebecca Wang, 13, and Melody Lilazy, 13, are both students in the Gifted and Talented Education class, a magnet program at their school. They hope their first foray into an advanced education program has set them on the right track to reach their common goal.

Each student at Mesa View must take a test to see if they qualify for the program, which sets out to meet the social, intellectual and educational needs of gifted students.

“The homogenous group of the kids that are thinking the same allows for deeper conversation,” teacher Lori Manz said. “All are gifted, but not in the same area, so they are still at varying levels.”

Most of the students in her class have gone through each grade together since the fourth, with only a few additions at the sixth-grade level.

“It’s like a small family always helping you out,” Melody said. “The classes are smaller so we have more hands-on learning, which is easier and fun.”

The classroom often mimics a higher level of education, with heated debates and lively question-and-answer sessions between peers.

“They love to debate,” Manz said. “I’ll put them on sides different from their own perspectives, and many have set opinions, even politically, so it makes for a great debate.”

Mesa View’s program had 155 students involved this year, and Principal Leona Olson expects more than 170 in the fall.

These students’ heads are not always buried in their books, however. The program addresses the social needs of the kids, and every student has “scholarly traits” they have to focus on, including “pondering,” which inspires them to hone their critical-thinking skills.

“Most are very social and active in other areas as well,” she said.

Rebecca plays piano, violin, goes to Chinese school and takes martial arts classes, all while participating in the advanced academic program.

“Sometimes it’s kind of stressful with all my extracurricular activities, but I’ll be prepared,” she said.hbi.22-itc-CPhotoInfo7U1S6ASV20060622j0tlqencDON LEACH / INDEPENDENT(LA)Eighth-grader Cory Cappon answers follow-up questions after his presention on violence in video games, which led to a discussion afterwards.