San Angelo ISD Gifted and Talented Students Participate in Annual TRIYS Symposium at Fort Concho and Santa Rita Elementary

The culmination of this years Dr. Carol Ann Bonds Texas Research Institute for Young Scholars (TRIYS) Symposium, Gifted and Talented (GT) students from Fort Concho and Santa Rita Elementary presented their months-long research project to judges from Lake View and Central High School National Honor Society and staff members from across the district. The TRIYS Symposium was started by former SAISD Superintendent Dr. Bonds to give GT students the opportunity to do research and develop the attributes within the SAISD Learner Profile of communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creation. 

GT students in 1st through 5th grade begin the process in the fall, learning research skills, collaborating with other GT students and choosing a topic that aligns with their individual passions. Once the students select the topic of their passion project, they collaborate with a mentor who is an expert on the topic to ask questions and learn more regarding their topic. Students then gather their research into a presentation and use aids such as prototypes, web pages, videos and some even used coding skills to address ways their topic can make a difference. 

Santa Rita Elementary TRIYS presentation are done in collaboration with other students in their class. 5th graders Dylan Ochoa, Kaitlyn Perlas, Caroline Pfluger, and Elly Lawrence looked to current events to determine their study topic, Border Beliefs: Learning the Viewpoints, which discussed all the viewpoints around immigrantion. Additionally, 3rd graders Grace Pfaff, Olivia Lopez, and Cheney Runion choose to research lake pollution in our local lakes and rivers in order to save the species of animals that live in our water sources. Students at Fort Concho Elementary exhibited their knowledge of their passion project with subject matters including bees, falconry, origami for robots, ears, hair care and so much more. 

Congratulations to all our students who presented their passion projects at this year's TRIYS Symposium, a capstone for months of growth and learning! Student hard work and passion for their topics was evident, and fully embodied the characteristics of the SAISD Learner Profile of communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical-thinking. We extend a special thanks to our SAISD staff who help develop and cultivate the talents of our students, and our guest judges and high school students that helped to make it an impactful experience. The TRIYS Symposium is one more way SAISD supports the hopes and dreams of our students, and celebrates all the ways our students are smart.

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