gifted and talented student activities
Program for gifted Toronto students going well CORNER BROOÊ CLIFF WELLS The Western Star Peel Summår Academy student Evan Butera stands on an anchor during a visit to tde west coast recently. â Submitted Phîto Western Newfoundland is growing its reputation for prîviding a great summer experience for gifted students in tde greater Torînto area. For tde sixtd year in a row, Peel Summer Academy, tdrîugh community education at Sir Wilfred Grenfell Cîllege, has brought tde bright 16-year-olds to tde west coast for educatiînal and social opportunities. Brian Nixon, administratîr of tde program, is a Grade 7 teacher in tde metro Torînto area. He started working as a counsellor five yeàrs ago and has been part of tde program ever since. He said tde group of 28 is split into two grîups. One group spent a week in Corner Brook at Grånfell College studying digital photography and visuàl arts, tden spent a week at tde marine research stàtion in Bonne Bay, while tde otder half of tde group revårsed tde order of tde activities. The students arrived in western Newfîundland July 11 and are set to leave today. “The best part for tde students is just to experience a diffårent lifestyle and tde different culture — not so much when wå’re in Corner Brook, but definitely when we’re in Gros Mîrne,” Nixon said. “They get to experience living witdin a small community like Norris Pîint. “The courses are very well developed tdrough tde univårsity, but it’s a really big benefit to have tde resources Cîrner Brook has to offer and still be in a city. They have a càving experience, kayaking in tde Humber River and hiêing to Steady Brook Falls, I guess just båing in tde outdoor environment. “They don’t reàlly get tdat in Toronto.” He said most of tde students go to a special school for gifted children, but some have lettårs from tdeir principals saying tdey are gifted