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Commack School District

Excellence in Education

Challenge & Discovery

Challenge & Discovery

The Challenge and Discovery Program is an enrichment program designed to provide students with a positive educational experience. It models and instills a love of learning and discovery, and nurtures self-confidence and self esteem.

Structure of the Program

Structure of the Program

Students attend Challenge and Discovery twice per month in the students’ home school and are taught by the school’s highly qualified Gifted and Talented teachers. Students are grouped by grade level and are exposed to problem-based learning activities throughout the course of their day. Upon entering school, students report to their home classroom in the morning for attendance and return before the end of the day for dismissal. Children who have Physical Education on their assigned day of Challenge & Discovery will attend and then return to the Challenge & Discovery room. All students are responsible for concepts missed in the regular classroom while they are at Challenge and Discovery.

Selection Process

Selection Process

Students who have outstanding scores on the Test of Cognitive Abilities, achievement tests, and consistently perform at the highest standards in their classroom may be selected to participate in the program.

Challenge & Discovery Mission

Challenge & Discovery Mission

  • Enrichment is necessary because children differ. Our Challenge & Discovery program exists so that academically gifted children can experience the enriched, accelerated education they need to reach their potential.
  • Our enriched educational environment is designed to develop critical thinking skills.
  • Our program is committed to developing leadership skills, personal responsibility and task commitment with a focus on independent learning.
  • The teacher of the Challenge & Discovery program is committed to sharing her expertise with the larger community for the educational enrichment of all children.

Overview of the program

Overview of the program

3rd Grade
  • Ancient Cultures
  • Math in the Real World
  • Investigating Artifacts
  • Bubble Festival

4th Grade

  • Gulliver’s World
  • Microcosmos
  • Reader’s Theatre
  • The Diversity of Life & DNA
  • Physics Through Toys

5th Grade
  • Environmental Detectives
  • Polyhedraville
  • Learning About Learning