Smithville gifted students on quest for excellence

By Ashley Vasquez

Ashley Vasquez/The Smithville Herald
Several Smithville Upper Elementary School students tasted Scottish treats as part of the Quest program’s Meet the Experts Night” Wednesday, April 30. From left are Jason Bateman, Gabe Greenfield, Dakota Marriott, Regan Fish and Amber Claypool.

For a selected group of Smithville R-II School District students, education is more than a journey — it is a quest.

The district offers a gifted education program for students who place high on the standardized tests and an IQ test and exhibit the need for more challenging coursework. The program is called QUEST — which stands for Quality Use of Exceptional Students’ Talents.

Third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students at Smithville Upper Elementary School showed off their skills for family and friends at a special “Meet the Experts Night” Wednesday, April 30. The QUEST students provided displays and research papers on a subject of their choice through the use of a variety of disciplines.

All students involved in the program participate in activities beyond their regular class work throughout the school week. Susan Clower, QUEST teacher for grades 1-5, said the program is an exceptional way for students to expand their minds. Kim Krueger is the QUEST teacher for the 6-12 grades for the district.

“These students are actually considered at-risk because they need to be challenged much more than other students,” Clower said. “They meet with me for about five hours a week and use activities that challenge them.”

Clower said the partially state-funded program helps students in a variety of ways while reinforcing the core areas of learning.

“We do a lot of brain exercises and allow them to spend time with each other to interact on another level,” she said.

Samantha Poindexter, director of student services, said the program is beneficial for students and for the community.

“They definitely flourish because of the program,” she said. “It gives them the opportunity to explore learning and themselves in a social environment. It is an asset for the district and for the students and community.”

Parent and educator Ursula Lethcoe said her son has enjoyed being a part of the program.

“He gets to learn more about subjects he is interested in and gets so excited about being at school because of this program,” she said. “It really is outstanding, and I think it will help him in the long run.”

Smithville Editor Ashley Vasquez can be reached at 532-4444 or ashleyvasquez@npgco.com.