Gust Elementary School will host a parent information meeting regarding Denver Public Schools’ Advanced Kindergarten program at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 29 in the school’s library.

Nomination and application forms for the DPS Advanced Kindergarten Program at Gust will be available at this parent information meeting. A representative from the DPS Gifted and Talented Education Office will be present to answer questions and provide important information about this exciting new program.

If you cannot attend the meeting but are still interested in applying, please call Gust Elementary School for an application. The school’s telephone number is 303-935-4613. Gust is located at 3440 W. Yale Ave. in southwest Denver.

Gust is one of four schools - the others are Edison, Palmer and Crofton elementary schools - that are planning to offer an enriched and accelerated kindergarten experience based on the needs and academic readiness of advanced students. (Please note that the Polaris Program at Crofton is moving to nearby Ebert, 410 Park Ave. West, next year.)

The application deadline is Monday, May 3.

The Advanced Kindergarten Program will be a full-day, tuition-based program for advanced kindergarten students, following DPS Tuition-Based Kindergarten guidelines. There are specific feeder schools for each program site. Transportation will not be provided. There will be a testing/assessment process and testing fee for all students who apply with income-based payment assistance available for fees and tuition. This program is not a part of the DPS Highly Gifted Program that has a separate application process and begins in first grade. Enrollment will be based on DPS enrollment age policies for 2004-2005.