Who are the TIKIS?

January was Gifted Education month in Alabama, and we’ve been celebrating Orange Beach City Schools’ amazing gifted program. OBCS has two gifted specialists, Angela Mott and Christina Brown, leading the program that serves approximately 90 students in grades 3 through 8

The gifted program was previously called “Project Jubilee ” In honor of our new school system, students wanted to create their own lasting legacy by renaming the program. Elementary students were invited to submit their ideas for a vote The winning name was “TIKIs ” This creative name represents the Talented, Intellectual, Kind, and Interesting students in our gifted education program.

During the first semester, our TIKIs have been focused on an Engineering Design Unit with hands-on learning, constructing their own bridges and hot air balloons. In November, TIKIs participated in the Global Cardboard Challenge with the TIKIs Day of Play. Students constructed their own arcade games by using only cardboard. This project was a fun, educational experience shared with OBES students and by welcoming parents, our school board, and OBCS central office staff to campus.

In December, our TIKIs were awarded grant funds through the Gifted Grant by the Alabama State Department of Education. The total amount awarded was $12,200.00. These funds will go toward the purchase of five drones, instructional software and equipment, as well as the application and registration of each drone through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). With these purchases, TIKIs will extend their studies in flight and wetlands to explore our island’s unique, natural environment while also being exposed to new, evolving technology.

Our TIKIs are doing exciting things in Orange Beach!

**Intellectually gifted children are those who perform at or have demonstrated the potential to perform at high levels in academic or creative fields when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. These children require services not ordinarily provided by the regular school program. A child can be identified for the gifted education program through our mandatory Second Grade Child Find procedures or through referral by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents/ guardians, peers, self, or any other individual with knowledge of the student’s abilities. Information is gathered in the areas of Aptitude, Characteristics, and Performance. That information is then entered into a matrix where points are assigned according to established criteria. The total number of points earned determines if the student qualifies for gifted services.