No, transportation is not provided. Families/caregivers provide transportation.

Yes. Students may be considered for the SAGE program after the Grade 4 application process if space is available and they meet the program criteria.

Current Saskatoon Public Schools students who have not previously completed cognitive assessment may participate in the Insight assessment during the designated assessment timelines, which occur at the same times as the Grade 4 and Grade 8 screening process. If a student has already completed an eligible cognitive assessment (such as the Insight, WISC, WJ III Cognitive, or CCAT) and the family would like them to be considered for SAGE during the school year, parents or caregivers should contact their child's classroom teacher or school administrator. The school will contact the SAGE coordinator and superintendent to review the assessment results along with other relevant information to determine whether the student may be considered for placement. As with all applications, admission to the SAGE program is based on a comprehensive review of each student's strengths, learning needs, and readiness for the program.

Students who are offered a placement in the grade 5 SAGE program are invited to attend SAGE Open House before the end of the school year. This gives students and families an opportunity to meet staff, learn about the program, and become familiar with the classroom. If a student needs additional support with the transition, a personalized transition plan can be developed in collaboration with the family, the student's current school, and SAGE staff to help ensure a successful start.

No, French Immersion and other language programming is not available in the SAGE program.

Students are identified for consideration by their current classroom teacher. If the teacher, student, and family believe that SAGE programming may be a good fit, the classroom teacher completes a referral on the student's behalf.

• High cognitive ability, identified through an Insight assessment (completed at grade 4 and grade 8 if currently enrolled with SPS or another recognized cognitive assessment (such as the WISC, WJ III Cognitive, or CCAT), with results in the high to very high range.
• High academic achievement, demonstrated through consistent classroom performance and teacher observations.
• Learning characteristics commonly associated with gifted learners, such as advanced reasoning, curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to learn new concepts quickly.
• Social-emotional readiness, evidence that the student is likely to benefit from a learning environment with intellectual peers. This may include independence, self-regulation, perseverance, and readiness to engage in challenging learning experiences.
• Interests and engagement, a strong interest in learning and participation in activities that reflect the student's strengths and talents, both in and outside of school. This may include extracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, artistic pursuits, STEM activities, athletics, clubs, or community involvement.
• Selection is based on a comprehensive review of the student's strengths and readiness for the program rather than on any single assessment or criterion.