Gifted Student Academy Opens in Fox Point

When the Wisconsin Center for Gifted Learners ceased operating its Magellan Day School after last year, Connie Gordon stepped in to fill the void with Scholaris Gifted Academy.

Opening this year in the Dunwood Building at 217 W. Dunwood Road in Fox Point, Scholaris welcomes students from age 3 through eighth grade. Gordon took a few moments out of her preparations to answer 5 Questions from Patch:

Why did you open this school?
When Magellan closed, there was a void as to where parents could send their children. Gifted children have special needs and certain characteristics. The parents came and asked me to take it on.

What does “gifted” really mean?
Gifted students are intensely curious. They are able to go through a curriculum at a quick pace. They have incredible memories. A typical school is not set up for gifted learners. They can have special social and emotional needs as well.

What do you want to accomplish here?
Our intention is to get to know the kids and where their gifts and talents lie. We want to prepare them for high school and how to use their gifts when they leave here.

Every parent thinks their child is “gifted.” How can I really tell?
There is no one sign; that’s what makes this field challenging. But some signs are: extremely high verbal ability; a focus on tasks that is much greater than their peers; asking perceptive questions that connect concepts you wouldn’t expect.

How does a child get into Scholaris?
We ask questions of the parents first, then we meet with the parents and the child. We also have a battery of tests given by Dr. Elizabeth Axelrod, a child psychologist. They address creativity, higher-level thinking skills and things like that.