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Welcome to QUEST. West Hartford Public Schools program for Gifted and Talented is one of the oldest established programs in the state of Connecticut, dating as far back as 1976 with clustering through the Challenge Program. In 1994 a schoolwide gifted program was implemented to meet the needs of gifted and talented students in grades four through eight. The program began as a collaborative effort with UCONN's National Research Center on Gifted and Talented and the Teaching the Talent Program.

Our program’s mission is committed to diversity and inclusion to ensure all students have an opportunity to develop their unique gifts and talents. Students in grades 4-8 are offered three programmatic pathways for identification under comprehensive gifted and talented programs. QUEST, Math QUEST (accelerated) and Art QUEST provide student-centered, individualized pathways to honor the identified student's social, emotional, and unusually advanced academic development. Students explore and participate in talent development, creativity, and problem-solving skills in gifted education classes. Students advance skills required to succeed in the 21st century. 

These essential skills include:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Creative Thinking
  • Collaborating
  • Communicating
  • Social Skills
  • Flexibility
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Information, Media and Technology Literacy
  • Productivity and Task Commitment

The learning environment is deliberately designed to facilitate the research and development of college ready skills, critical thinking, and self-selected investigations into real-world practical and authentic problems. QUEST is a safe space for the creative, analytical, and divergent thinker to work and engage in collaboration and or independently of like-minded peers. Additionally, QUEST offers opportunities for participation in field experiences co-aligned with grade level themes based on the principles and practices of Renzulli's Schoolwide Enrichment, The Enrichment Triad Model, and Susan Baum's Talent Development. Professional practices are purposed and designed for personalization of student learning.

Again, welcome to QUEST and thank you for visiting our webpage!

Together we make a difference!
Dr. M. Thompson
Director, Gifted and Talented

Author Allan Wolf visits middle school QUEST students in West Hartford Public Schools

This visit was made possible through a WHPS Foundation grant. Allan Wolf's visit served as an inspiration for QUEST (Gifted and Talented) students with projects requiring in-depth research, analyzing and evaluating primary and secondary sources, and synthesizing research conclusions into an original creative format. In addition, he was an inspiration for 8th grade students participating in History Day.

Upcoming events:

Program Overview

The Mission and Goals of the QUEST Program

Program Themes

Linking and Learning

Nomination & Identification Process

Unwrapping gifts and talents

Math QUEST

A balanced approach

Art QUEST

A program to extend artistic knowledge and skills

Gifted and Talented Links

There's so much more to explore!

Quest Department

Dr. Mary Thompson

Director of Gifted and Talented

Ed Center: 860-561-6608

Anne Marie Andrews

Secretary - Quest

Ed Center: 860-561-6608

Teresa Coursey

Quest Teacher at Norfeldt and Wolcott Schools

Norfeldt: 860-233-4421 Ext. 3257

Wolcott: 860-561-2300

Lindsay Goltzman

Quest Teacher at Braeburn and Bristow

Braeburn: 860-561-2730 Ext. 2702

Bristow: 860-231-2100

Michele Hadlock

Quest Teacher at Charter Oak International Academy

Charter Oak: 860-233-8506

Robb Kass

Quest Teacher at Whiting Lane and King Philip

Whiting Lane: 860-233-8541

King Philip: 860-233-8230

Carrie LaSpada

Quest Teacher at Duffy and Webster Hill

Duffy: 860-521-0110

Webster Hill: 860-521-0320

David Lee

Quest Teacher at Braeburn and Sedgwick

Braeburn: 860-561-2200

Sedgwick: 860-570-6500 Ext. 2443

Theresa McKeown

Quest Teacher at Aiken School

Aiken: 860-233-6994 Ext. 2607

Julie O'Reilly

Quest Teacher at King Philip

King Philip: 860-233-8230

 

Elyse Post-Perez

Quest Teacher at Bugbee

Bugbee: 860-929-5500 Ext. 2836

Christy Rybczyk

Quest Teacher at Smith and Morley

Morley: 860-233-8535

Smith STEM: 860-236-3315

Cheryl Stidolph

Quest Teacher at Whiting Lane and Wolcott

Whiting Lane: 860-233-8541

Wolcott: 860-561-2300

The Quest Office
50 South Main Street, Room 327
West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: 860-561-6608
Fax: 860-561-6913

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