Many factors make Sycamore a truly unique school. The first is our dedicated and focused mission to provide the best possible education for gifted children from preschool through grade eight. Over the past years, a number of consultants and guests from the private independent school world have commented that we have the most focused mission statement of any school they have ever visited. Our mission to educate gifted children is truly a rarity not only in the state of Indiana, but across the country.

Our faculty members are very experienced in working with gifted children, and either have or are working to complete their licensures in gifted education. They understand that gifted children have special intellectual, social, and emotional needs, and they are trained to work with our students on all of these levels.

The curriculum at Sycamore is also unique: it exists only at Sycamore. Our teachers are charged with both writing and reviewing curriculum on a regular basis. We provide generous professional development support to ensure that our teachers stay current in the field and knowledgeable about best practices in gifted education.

Finally, gifted students find a true peer group at Sycamore of other children who think and learn like they do. There is a tangible sense of relief and often joy on the faces of new students when they first experience this environment. The enthusiasm of current students is hard to ignore as they eagerly await the first bell of the morning signaling the start of school. Many of our graduates have told us that Sycamore was the first school in which they felt they could really be themselves. Sycamore families who have faced transfers away from the Indianapolis area often return from their first visits to their new locations telling us that they just can't find another school like Sycamore. Some have even turned down transfers to keep their children here.

The 2008-09 school year promises to be an exciting one as Sycamore searches for a new permanent head of school. We are honored to have leadership roles as we enter this important transitional time. We are proud to be members of a group of dedicated, experienced, and professional staff members who are devoted to the achievement and preservation of Sycamore's mission to educate gifted children.

We hope to meet you in person soon.