Kate Simkowiak

Alerts

Important time critical information.

SENG Model Parent Group Discussions are Here

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Special Invitation to Seattle Parents

Parents of Gifted Children! SENG Model Parent Group Discussions are HERE!

You are invited to participate in a discussion related to the complexities of parenting gifted children to include such topics as:

  • motivation
  • discipline
  • stress management
  • peer relations
  • sibling rivalry
  • tradition breaking

This opportunity is an important part of a two-day comprehensive training in which parents and professionals in your area are being trained to conduct guided discussion groups based on the SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of Gfited) model. The empahisis of these groups is on positive aspects of parenting, avoiding power struglles, and helping childrene learn appropriate life skills whicle enchancing the parent/child relationship and parent self-esteem.

For more information, please see attached Seattle SENG Parent Flyer.

Thank you.

Budget Update – Message from the Coalition for Gifted Education

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The state Legislature has passed the second supplemental budget bill and it restores highly capable funding to the level in ESSB 6444 – $18,377,000 for two years, including $170,000 per year for Centrum and $90,000 per year for FPS/DI. That is, the 6.287% across-the-board-cut ordered by the Governor this fall is rescinded.
This bill plugs only half of the budget hole so there will have to be either another supplemental when session starts on January 10, or another round of across the board cuts. For those interested in the details, you can get the bill and the explanation at http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2010/co2010p.asp Click on  Summary.
The Governor’s budget proposal for the 2011-2013 biennium is due out no later than Wednesday. When we see what is in it for highly capable funding, we will have a better idea of what advocates need to do.
This was just an opening skirmish in what is likely to be a bruising contest for limited funds. Your outstanding efforts in contacting Legislators have brought us this far. We will need additional efforts in the coming weeks and months. If you have a newly elected Legislator(s), make every effort to contact him/her to begin their education about gifted. Newly elected Legislators will not have Olympia email addresses or phone numbers until they are sworn in on January 10. Many campaign web sites are still active and contain contact local information.
And do make plans to be in Olympia for Gifted Education Day on February 11, 2011. Your presence is vital to our efforts.

Budget Update – Message from the Coalition

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There is a face-off going on down in Olympia. The Governor v. the Legislature. The Governor v. her own democrats. The democrats v. the republicans. The house v. the senate. And caught right in the middle is funding for Highly Capable Programs in the supplemental budget.
It appears there will be a special session beginning Friday to consider the supplemental budget, provided the five parties to the discussions get their act together. We can’t wait to see if they do. We need you to take action immediately to make known your wishes regarding Highly Capable funding for 2009-2010.
The governor made across-the-board cuts in November. That resulted in 6.3% cuts to Highly Capable Programs:  $561,000 from categorical funding to districts, $11,000 from Centrum and $6,000 from FPS/DI, totaling $578,000 and leaving an appropriation of $8,628,000 for the year.

Now the governor proposes to totally eliminate all highly capable funding retroactive to September 2010.

WAETAG’s “Parent Track” at 2010 conference

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WAETAG  will offer a “Parent Track” at it’s annual conference on October 16 in Bellevue.  “Proficiency Is Not Enough” will be explored in three parent workshops : “Bright Kids Dull Performances”, “Be a Powerful Advocate for Gifted”, and “Gifted Organization Skills – an Oxymoron?”.  Registration includes meals, materials, keynotes, Parent Track breakout sessions, and vendor marketplace admission.

Volunteers Needed on August 11, 2010 for Levy Ballot Measure

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Edmonds School District has a Supplemental School Programs and Operations Levy on the ballot that was sent out to all registered voters in the district on July 26th. The election day (and postmark date for mailed in ballots) is Tuesday, August 17th. The Edmonds Education Association (EEA) is holding a series of phone call nights to spread the word about the levy election. Scripts are provided; it’s simple and a great way to support our school district and our students.

Parents from Terrace Park Elementary are asked to help on August 11th either from 5:00-6:30 p.m. or 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Phone calls occur at the EEA Offices in Lynnwood.  If you are interested and can help with either time slot please email Brett Hagen at bretthgn@hotmail.com to confirm.  A total of 11 people can work each shift.

To learn more about the levy, please visit this page on the Edmonds School District website.

Parent Coffee Chat on Sunday, June 13th

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Please join us for this school year’s final Parent Coffee Chat on Sunday, June 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Urban City Coffee, located at the corner of 44th Avenue West and 212th Street in Mountlake Terrace. This is a casual gathering and opportunity to discuss issues unique to parenting gifted children. Come share your questions, ideas, feedback, and a beverage with other parents. Members of the CPA board will also be in attendance. We look forward to seeing you there.

Please note that there will be NO gathering at Walnut Street Coffee in Edmonds on Saturday, May 29th.