THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994 TAG: 9406150116
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 2B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY B.R. BROWN
DATELINE: 940617 LENGTH: Medium
When he came home from school each day, Aruta would ask what he had done in school that day. He wouldn't say much. He'd just mumble and go on.
{REST} About the same time, the Virginia Beach School system started its program for the gifted and talented.
``I was ecstatic,'' Aruta said about the program. ``Children need to be challenged.'' All of her three sons, John, now 29, Rob, now 28, and Ronald, now 25, attended the program for the gifted and talented. John now works for Comp Tek as a computer programmer. Rob is a systems engineer in Boston with IDX Systems Corporation. Ron is pursuing a computer science degree at the University of Alabama.
``They were more enthusiastic about school,'' Marilyn said about her sons' participation in the program.
The Arutas were just a few of the people who attended the 20th reunion for the gifted and talented program recently at Old Donation Center where the program is now.
When the program first began in 1974, it didn't have its own building. Classes were held for the first 320 students at Thalia Elementary School.
Dr. Ed Brown, the assistant superintendent for instruction for city schools, was appointed coordinator for the new program in 1973 and stayed on until 1985. Brown said the program was designed from the beginning to challenge academically and artistically talented students.
``This type of program is critical because students receive additional challenges,'' he said.
Another advantage, Brown said, is the ability to concentrate resources.
The resources for the program changed over the years. They added computers in 1979 when the program moved to Old Donation Center. In 1981, it expanded to include all grades. In 1984, a dance program became part of the offerings. Now it has grown to 3,252 academically gifted and 1,326 artistically talented students.
The students who have attended the school are ones Brown describes as always wanting to know why, who have insatiable curiosities, advanced vocabulary and unusual inventiveness.''
The spark of the gifted and talented program has sent students off in many different directions. For Hilton Rubin, 29, one of the first students to attend, it led him into his own construction business.
Rubin frequently recalls the digs with former teacher Lillie Gilbert and trips to the fossil pits. ``I'm always looking for things when I'm at a new site.''
``I remember the archaeological digs with Ms. Gilbert the most,'' he said.
Rubin, a custom home builder, graduated from the University of Virginia School of Architecture and started Sterling Development Corporation.
Leslie Quinn, another student who began the program 20 years ago, said the gifted program jump started her when she first began.
``It's given me a different way to approach problems,'' the 29-year-old said.
Quinn, an administrative saleswoman for Joyce Office Products, and Jane McClellan, a counselor for the program since its inception, planned this year's reunion.
There's already talk of another reunion in five years for the 25th anniversary of the program. For information or to get involved, contact McClellan at 473-5043 or write to the Reunion Committee Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented, 1008 Ferry Plantation Road, Virginia Beach 23455.
by CNB