Announcements

To learn more about the Gifted and Talented evaluation and identification process, please click here.

January 15, 2025 – CogAT Testing Information, Spring 2026
December 17, 2025 – DCSD Advanced Academics & Gifted Ed Newsletter – January 2026
October 20, 2025 – DCSD Advanced Academics & Gifted Ed Newsletter – November 2025
October 6, 2025 – 5th Grade CogAT Testing Information
September 24, 2025 – DCSD Advanced Learning Plan Updates
September 16, 2025 – DCSD Advanced Academics & Gifted Ed Newsletter – September/October 2025
September 4, 2025 – DCSD Advanced Learning Plan Updates

If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Bond for students in grades K-4 and Mrs. Murphy with students in grades 5-8.
We will be happy to respond to emails during school hours.  

Quick Facts about Mrs. Murphy:

I have three children (Lillia 22, Aidan 19, and Charlie16)
Married 24 years to my wonderful husband,  Patrick
We have the best dog in the world, Stella
Graduated with a BA in Fine Arts (painting) in 1999
Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction (DU) and Special Education (WGU), and Gifted and Talented certification in May of 2016 (Regis).
Live in Castle Pines
Love to garden (flowers and vegetables)
Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI and can be easily bribed with brats and cheese curds (both fried and fresh)
CHEESE IS THE WAY TO MY HEART!
Oldest of three girls, and I’m very close with my sisters who both live in Wisconsin
Favorite movie – The Princess Bride
Favorite book – My favorite author is Grady Hendrix who writes horror comedy (my childhood self would be shocked that I would even be in the same room as books like these much less read them)
Favorite musical artists – Mumford and Sons, Taylor Swift, and Lionel Richie 
Strange fact – I am terrified of Birds. TERRIFIED!  It’s a long story!

Murphy Family

Mrs. Murphy supports gifted learners in fifth through eighth grade. She is also the gifted education charter lead for DCSD and supports charters with their gifted programming. She is here Monday – Friday. 


​Mrs. Murphy’s email: kmurphy@bfacademy.org

Mrs. Bond supports gifted learners in Kindergarten – 4th grade and teaches highly advanced math students taking Algebra, Geometry or Algebra II at the middle school level. She is here Monday – Friday.

Mrs. Bond’s email: abond@bfacademy.org

Quick Facts about Mrs. Bond:

I have two amazing sons and an awesome hubby! 
I graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas.
I have a Masters degree in Education from The University of Northern Colorado.
I live in Highlands Ranch.
I love to read!
I grew up in Texas and moved here in 2003. 
​I LOVE the 4 seasons Colorado offers!  
Favorite book – Champ
Favorite movie – Steel Magnolias
Favorite music – I like Country, Christian, and almost anything from the 80’s!
Cool fact – Our family has visited all 50 states!

This book is geared toward young gifted and talented readers; however, it is also a short and easy read for adults who would like to begin building a knowledge base about what it means to be GT.  Reading this book can help young gifted children understand what the label gifted means to them. The author emphasizes how all individPictureuals do not define their special talents or abilities the same way, and how specific talents and abilities differ from person to person. She addresses many questions floating through the heads of bright youth, and gives an array of educated answers to them. Gifted children can also benefit from some “been there, done that” experience of other gifted children in the “GTs speak out” segments featured in the book. The individual’s role in fully developing his or her high potential is highlighted throughout The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide: For Ages 10 and Under with numerous tips on how to do so. Readers are also encouraged to write their own experiences or definitions pertaining to giftedness in designated sections. These are some of many aspects in this book that encourages gifted youth to increase their self awareness. The author also provides numerous “think about it” suggestions to assist with this. After reading this book, gifted children are likely to feel a sense of pride and empowerment related to their capabilities.
In addition, The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide: For Ages 10 and Under could be a useful tool for parents who would like to empathize with their gifted child’s perspective. Reading the “GTs speak out” segments may help parents identify what their children are experiencing. Furthermore, knowing the tips on how to “make school more cool,” “how to be the best you can be” and more, can help parents teach their children to self advocate for their education. This book is written for a mature young population. There seems to be an assumption of high communication competency for the intended young audience. Discussing appropriate and effective means of self advocacy could be very beneficial to your child. The wise saying “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar” may be something parents want to explain to their children. Parents who read this book will be able to assist their children in understanding the “8 Great Rights of Gifted Kids,” and how to stick up for these rights in the most effective way. Other aspects of this book that may interest parents are the resources for parents and teachers, websites, and index found in the back of the book.
The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide: For Ages 10 and Under is a book that can easily be read from cover to cover in one sitting. It is also a resource parents can lead their children to time and again to help them learn to handle difficult situations.

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Support gifted teens with this one-of-a-kind book full of sage advice to help them understand themselves, relate well with others, and reach their potential in life. Based on new surveys of nearly 1,500 gifted teens, this updated classic is the ultimate guide to thriving in a world that doesn’t always support or understand high ability. Full of fresh illustrations, surprising facts, cutting-edge research, revealing quizzes and survey results, step-by-step strategies, inspiring teen quotes and stories, and insightful expert essays, the guide gives readers the tools they need to appreciate their giftedness as an asset and use it to make the most of who they are.

“This book provides gentle, straightforward, and realistic advice to teens who find that their giftedness is not always simple. The tone indicates quite clearly that the authors have a deep understanding of gifted minds and gifted children. Gifted young people everywhere should have access to this book, and the adults who work with them will gain a better understanding of them from it”

Discovery Program Information 
The DCSD Elementary Discovery Program is a center based gifted program designed to meet the needs of highly advanced gifted elementary school students (grades 2 – 6) who require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from gifted programming and services provided through their school. 

The Discovery Program is designed for students with the following characteristics: 

  • Exceptional intellectual/cognitive ability 
  • Consistent advanced academic achievement and performance 
  • Intense curiosity and motivation to learn
  • Unique ability to make connections and understand complex concepts
More Information

 

PictureDefinition of Gifted Gifted and Talented students are those students between the ages of four and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted students include students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and ethnic, cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas:

General Intellectual Ability Specific Academic Aptitudes

Mathematics
Reading
Science Social
Studies 
World Languages
Writing

Specific Talent Aptitudes Creative or Productive Thinking

Dance
Leadership
Music
Performing Arts (theater, speech and debate)
Visual Arts
Psychomotor 

 

Common Characteristics of Gifted Children:

  • Ability to comprehend material several grade levels above their age peers 
  • Surprising emotional depth and sensitivity at a young age 
  • Strong sense of curiosity 
  • Enthusiastic about unique interests and topics  
  • Quirky or mature sense of humor 
  • Creative problem solving and imaginative expression 
  • Absorbs information quickly with few repetitions needed 
  • Self-aware, socially aware, and aware of global issues 
  • Unusual alertness, even in infancy
  • Rapid learner; puts thoughts together quickly
  • Excellent memory
  • Unusually large vocabulary and complex sentence structure for age
  • Advanced comprehension of word nuances, metaphors and abstract ideas
  • Enjoys solving problems, especially with numbers and puzzles
  • Often self-taught reading and writing skills as preschooler
  • Deep, intense feelings and reactions
  • Highly sensitive
  • Thinking is abstract, complex, logical, and insightful
  • Idealism and sense of justice at early age
  • Concern with social and political issues and injustices
  • Longer attention span and intense concentration
  • Preoccupied with own thoughts—daydreamer
  • Learn basic skills quickly and with little practice
  • Asks probing questions
  • Wide range of interests (or extreme focus in one area)
  • Highly developed curiosity
  • Interest in experimenting and doing things differently
  • Puts idea or things together that are not typical
  • Keen and/or unusual sense of humor
  • Desire to organize people/things through games or complex schemas
  • Vivid imaginations (and imaginary playmates when in preschool)

Social Emotional Support for Gifted Learners

Social emotional needs are at the heart of well being and the foundation for achievement for all children. Many gifted children need targeted assistance with peer relationships, perfectionism, asynchronous development, situational stressors, and post secondary planning.

Online Support Groups for Parents of GT and/or 2E students

SENG support groups are designed specifically to address some of the unique issues, needs and challenges faced by varying gifted communities across the nation and beyond.The online platform allows individuals to meet together face to face to discuss the issues, needs, and challenges associated with raising a gifted child – all with the help of an expert!

 Loosely based on the SMPG (SENG Model Parent Group), SENG’s online support groups offer support in a private setting and allow parents of gifted persons to connect with each regardless of their location.

Looking for an online support group that fits your schedule and budget? Check out the link above for the list of groups currently being offered!

BFA GT Referral 

If you would like to initiate the GIFTED IDENTIFICATION process for your child, please complete this form.  Be advised, you will need approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete the entire document.  There is not a way to save your progress in this form.  You need to be ready with your child to fill it out.

BFA GT Referral (Spanish)

Complete este formulario si desea iniciar el proceso de IDENTIFICACIÓN DE ESTUDIANTES DOTADOS para su hijo/a.  Tenga en cuenta que necesitará aproximadamente de 30 a 45 minutos para completar todo el documento.  No hay forma de guardar su progreso al llenar este formulario.  Debe estar listo con su hijo/a para completarlo.

CogAT opt out form

Click on the button to the right to opt your child out of universal CogAT testing. This is only for students in fifth grade that are not already identified as gifted.