Odyssey Fact Sheet

What is Odyssey?

Odyssey is a school-within-a school that provides  full-time instruction delivered in self-contained  classrooms for Level Four gifted students in grades three, four and five.  Odyssey began in the fall of the 2014-2015 school year with one classroom at grade three and one classroom at grade four at Rice Lake Elementary. Class sizes are aligned with the  District grade ranges. Students are members of the Rice Lake School community, and parents are encouraged to participate in the Rice Lake parent organization.

Why create full-time programming for highly-gifted children?

Research has shown that grouping gifted children in a full-time, gifted placement program with  appropriately differentiated curriculum and learning experiences when compared to equally gifted students in mixed ability classes showed an academic effect that was both substantial and positive. (Kulik & Kulik, 1997, Rogers, 2002)

What is the goal of Odyssey?

The goal of Odyssey is to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of children who are highly gifted. Because of their academic and cognitive abilities, these children demonstrate a need for in-depth, complex curriculum that is beyond the grade level core curriculum. Level 4 full-time programming for these children provides differentiated learning experiences and intellectual challenges that will stimulate academic growth.

What is the focus?

• Mastery of skills and concepts at a pace and  depth appropriate to the capacity of students with gifts and talents.
• Inquiry-based learning.
• Critical, creative and divergent thinking and
  reasoning.
• Metacognitive skills that foster independent and self-directed learning.
• Development of risk-taking behaviors in intellectual endeavors.
• Development of a healthy sense of self through self-knowledge and self-acceptance.

Will students have access to specialists?

Odyssey students participate in the same specialist opportunities as their grade level peers. Lunch, recess and grade-level activities are integrated with grade-level peers when possible, and students have the opportunity to participate in all school activities.

Will transportation to Rice Lake Elementary be provided?

Transportation of students to Rice Lake Elementary to attend Odyssey is the responsibility of the family unless the student resides in the Rice Lake attendance area. Siblings of students attending Odyssey are able to enroll at Rice Lake Elementary if space allows at the requested grade level(s).

How does a student qualify for Odyssey?

Currently Enrolled Students

Eligibility for the full-time programming is based on academic ability and performance. The program is available for students, currently enrolled, who qualify, not just those residing in the Rice Lake Elementary attendance area.  See Programming Criteria.

Out-of-District Students

Out-of-district students are welcome to apply and attend Odyssey. Families must provide the required ability and achievement test scores and teacher feedback. Out-of-district students meeting the criteria are accepted after in-district students.

What is the registration process?

Currently Enrolled Students

Parents of students enrolled in the Centennial School District who are eligible for Odyssey are notified and invited to attend an informational meeting and complete the application. Applications are reviewed by a District placement committee. Parents are informed, by mail, of the placement committee decision. A Commitment to Attend Contract must be completed and returned to the District by the specified date.

Out-of-District Students

Out-of-district students should contact Lisa Cisewski, District Gifted Coordinator at lcisewski@isd12.org, or by phone, 763-792-6150.