Syed and Saima – Vanguard Parents
Vanguard Gifted Academy and its faculty have been a tremendous blessing for our family. Our daughter is the first of our three children to graduate VGA and transition to a public middle school. Undoubtedly, moving from elementary school to middle school is nerve racking for many parents and children, but this was especially the case for us, as we worried about how she would adapt to such a large school size (approx 1200 students) after attending VGA for two years. Our fears were quickly eased and our faith in VGA and its teachers reaffirmed when we saw how beautifully she adapted to her new school. The teachers at VGA nurture an environment where our daughter not only achieved academic excellence but became an independent, self-aware learner who advocates for herself. Furthermore, VGA’s project-based learning helped her acquire skills to work as part of a team while also learning to recognize when she should lead. Academically, middle school has been a breeze for her, leaving her nostalgic for the academic vigor at VGA. Socially, she has found her group of friends and is thriving. While she misses VGA very much, she is well prepared to meet any future challenges, and, for that, we are and will forever be grateful to the VGA team.
Talha H. – Band 2 Student
I like that we have menus and can work on anything in the morning. If we’re tired of working on writing, we can switch to math. I don’t have to stick on something I’m bored at doing. If you’ve been doing something for a long time, you can switch to something else.
Javeria H. – Vanguard Graduate
I attended Vanguard Gifted Academy for two years and enjoyed every aspect of it. One of the things I enjoyed most was our Showcase Nights. On these nights we showed parents and people interested in the school what we had learned during the quarter. We often put on plays or skits which helped us understand our lessons better. Throughout the night, we were also encouraged to talk to people that we did and didn’t know. Socially, this helped me to make new friends in middle school and not be afraid of speaking up in class. I also learned mental techniques such as making jingles or rhymes to help me remember things. I use this skill now when I study for tests. Vanguard Gifted Academy is a great place for gifted students and I would definitely recommend it.
Katie H. – Vanguard Parent
We dropped our son off on his first day of second grade at the public school happy, healthy, thriving, excited. Over the next two to three months we watched our child get lost. He was no longer the happy, engaged, excited-for-school child that he had been. We didn't understand why this was happening, so we decided to do a little bit further exploration as to what was going on. We had him evaluated by a neuro-psych doctor and found out he was gifted. My son came to Vanguard Gifted Academy and within 24 hours we started to see him come back. Clearly this was a big change. We moved him mid-week, we moved him mid-trimester, we moved him in the middle of the month. We had to get him into a new environment with teachers and other students who understood him. He has been at Vanguard Gifted Academy for the past two years now, and he is back. We have our son. He is happy, thriving, learning…all the things we knew he was before.
Deb G. – Parent of a Vanguard Graduate
Vanguard is a really small setting. It's ideal for young, gifted children. Our son really learned to be part of a community, to advocate for himself, to be able to self-direct his learning and really get what he needs. And the teachers at Vanguard really spoke our language and his language. They understood from the very beginning what his needs were in terms of learning and found ways to challenge him. He's been able to move to a school where there are 1500 students, find friends, network, and navigate the social drama that's part of any middle school, really well. The teachers and the staff here at Vanguard really are forward thinking. They know that children are going to someday leave this wonderful environment and move out into the world and into other educational settings, and they've been able to equip the kids to be ready for that.
Austin P. – Band 1 Student
It’s fun when we built projects like the geodesic dome! Once it’s done, we could read and lay in it.
Rebecca J. – Vanguard Parent
As soon as we met Mrs. Blaetz and toured Vanguard, we knew immediately that it was the perfect place for Evan. The open space is transformative and allows for collaboration and movement. The environment and teaching approach is not traditional, but strategically geared to help support the unique learning styles and personalities of each child. The teachers accept the children as individual people instead of expecting them to change or adapt. The children are encouraged to be themselves, to understand themselves, to make mistakes, to be creative, to problem solve, and to be part of a community. The teachers practice a holistic approach and balance a child’s intelligence, as well as their social and emotional needs. They take the time to understand each child and are committed to supporting their strengths and nurturing their opportunities. This is a huge variation from a traditional classroom, which focuses on conformity, rather than allowing children to simply be themselves and embracing it!
We love Vanguard, and we are thrilled to have a child that is happy, thriving and excited about school again!!! The teachers are amazing, caring, and use a thoughtful approach to engaging each child based on their unique needs. We would recommend Vanguard to anyone who is in need of an alternative approach to learning and an experience that is positive and stimulating and tailored towards the needs of their gifted child.
Grandparents of a Vanguard Student
Our granddaughter’s journey to Vanguard Gifted Academy began with her preschool graduation ceremony. Operated in conjunction with our local high school, her preschool teachers included many high school students. When we asked at the ceremony if we could meet her friends, she introduced us to three scholarly teens who told us that they were honored that our granddaughter would interact with them, as she shied away from the other student teachers and preschoolers. Concerned that her daughter was not a good fit for preschool, her mother sought a professional evaluation. We learned that our 4-year-old granddaughter needed intellectual peers and would not be best served by another year at preschool or even traditional kindergarten when age appropriate. We read numerous books on the characteristics of gifted children and on the best educational approaches to maximize their growth and development. Armed with an understanding of what would be the ideal environment, we searched available opportunities in our area. After visiting Vanguard Gifted Academy and speaking with the head of school, Elizabeth Blaetz, it was clear to us that Vanguard was the only school whose teaching approach fit the experts’ recommendations for teaching children like our granddaughter. It only took one day at her new “purple” school for our granddaughter to announce that “there are other kids like me and they are all so nice.” Showcase Night confirmed that observation for us. The children were so excited to demonstrate what they had learned that quarter and to include everyone in the Showcase experience. We left that night amazed, amused and knowing that Vanguard was the right choice for our granddaughter.
Nancy Z. – Vanguard Parent
My research brought me to Vanguard Gifted Academy. I sent an email immediately, I received a response very quickly, and within a week I was visiting Vanguard Gifted Academy. The moment I left that school I knew it was the place for my son. I knew there was finally a place where my son would not be different. He would not be the odd kid out and he would have a world of opportunity opening up for him. I was so happy, I was so relieved, and I couldn't wait to start him at Vanguard. He now had teachers that understood him and what he was going through. I had someone that I could rely on to talk to and get advice from, so I’m very grateful that we found Vanguard.
Kristine S. – Vanguard Parent
Here, our son has been given an individualized learning menu for a portion of his day where he is challenged to learn at his level, at his pace, and develop the skills that he needs with content that he enjoys. This has made all the difference for him. Writing, for him, has never been a joy or a passion, but the Vanguard teachers are able to inspire him in a way that he is drawn to learn and develop skills outside of what he normally used to enjoy. This is so encouraging to us because what it tells us as parents is that these teachers really understand our son. They understand what interests him, what ignites a desire to learn in him, and then they're able to take that and translate it into multiple different content areas so that he can grow in a well-rounded education.
Myles M. – Band 2 Student
I really like that we can move around while we learn. We don’t have to sit at a desk all day. And, I like that the teachers let us do activities that are really cool. Once, after school, Miss Holub let me help her fix the headlight on her car because she knows I love cars.
Kate G. – Vanguard Parent
I took our son for one shadow day here at the school, and dropping him off he was excited, and a little nervous. But coming out at the end of that day, I saw a different child. He was completely transformed. Day after day after day of him coming out of a school where I thought I had put them in the right environment, fighting me, angry, mad, bored...one day at Vanguard, and he comes out and he's got a big smile on his face. And he's even walking with his head held high and his shoulders back and his chest out, and he is just so excited. And he says to me, and I'll never forget this, “Those teachers are really, really, really nice. And I really, really, really want to go to school there." It also goes beyond his school days; even our family members have noticed. My mom said to me shortly after our son started school, “Gosh, have you noticed he just smiles more now? He's just so much happier than he used to be!” I can honestly say this school has transformed my child, has absolutely 100% transformed our daily lives for the better.
Spencer P. – Vanguard Board of Trustees
During my involvement with Vanguard Gifted Academy, I have been consistently impressed by the commitment and creativity the teachers bring to their work. They have created a truly innovative school and curriculum and are dedicated to the development of each of their students. As a parent of (now older) gifted students, I wish they had had the opportunity to attend Vanguard. The talent, effort, and creativity of every single student at Vanguard is valued in their work every day and is on display at the school Showcase Nights, where students have the opportunity to share their learning and growth with the whole school community. Vanguard is not just a school; it's a family dedicated to the growth of each child that walks through the door.