Kate Simkowiak

Events

Special events

NWGCA – Connections Conference February 4th, 2012 – Agenda

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NWGCA-Connections Conference February 4th, 2012
8:00 – 2:00
Edmonds-Woodway High School
The Great Hall
7600 212th St SW Edmonds, WA 98026

Parents of gifted rarely have the opportunity to get information about the specific academic, emotional and social needs of their gifted children. They have even less opportunity to talk with other adults candidly about the delights and the challenges of raising highly capable children. Spend a day asking questions and talking with educators and other parents who understand the joys and challenges you face.

Keynote Speaker: Charlotte Akin 8:30 – 9:30, 11:40 – 12:30

So What? Who Are These Kids and Why Do We Serve Them?

Frequently it is difficult to explain to teachers or a neighbor or relative why it can be challenging to have a very bright child. Or to be a very bright child. Or to educate a very bright child.

This presentation is designed to help participants articulate to others who gifted children are, what their characteristics and learning needs are, what their social and emotional issues are, the myths surrounding this small population, and the risk factors they face. Filled with examples to illustrate and research to quote, this presentation helps participants themselves feel like now they can talk about it to the others in their lives.

Breakout Sessions: 9:40 – 10:30 Session 1

  1. Childhood Stress & Anxiety – Chris McCurry, Ph.D.
  2. Educational Alternatives: Homeschooling and Other Non-traditional Options – Patrice Torres
  3. Gifted Tweens – Lisa Krieger

10:40 – 11:30 Session 2

  1. Building Relationships with Administrators and Teachers to Benefit Highly Capable Learners – Nancy Velazquez, Director,Gifted Education, Puyallup School District
  2. Student Voices: What has worked for them – Teen panel discussion
  3. Twice Exceptional: Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Larry Davis

12:30 – 2:00 Optional: Brown bag table sessions.

Register today at www.nwgca.org!

SENG Webinar Event Feb. 16th, 2012: Taming the Worry Monster: Anxiety in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional (2e) Youth

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Presented by Dan Peters, Ph.D.

In this SENGinar, teachers, parents, and counselors will learn to identify the warning signs of anxiety; the process which anxiety uses to become powerful; and, practical and effective techniques for managing and overcoming anxiety.

Gifted learners are prone to several types of anxiety, including worrying, obsessing, perfectionism, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety. Worry, fear, and anxiety are common, yet often quiet “monsters” which have significant negative effects on a child’s academic achievement, social and emotional functioning, and self-esteem. While the aforementioned is true for gifted children, twice-exceptional children appear to be at even greater risk given their disabilities such as ADHD, Asperger’s Disorder, and Dyslexia.

Being aware of a gifted child’s propensity to become anxious and knowing effective interventions for reducing anxiety increase the likelihood of academic achievement and positive social-emotional adjustment.

Date: Feb. 16th, 2012

Time: 4:30 PM Pacific

Location: Participate at home or office using your computer.

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Gifted Education Day Information from the CPA

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Thank you so much for your planning participation in Gifted Education Day this Monday, January 23rd.

In preparation for the day, we wanted to cover some important items.

1. Since the Coalition activities start at 9:00am in Olympia, we will not be meeting at Terrace Park in the morning as a group to arrange carpools. If you have arranged to meet independently, that is fine. Please allow for time to park at the Capitol. On Monday there is also a hearing on same sex marriage and we anticipate a large showing at the Capitol on both sides of this issue so be prepared for some crowds.

2. When you arrive in the Columbia Room, please check in with the Coalition to receive a name tag and green scarf from the Puyallup School District. We wear the scarves for the day and please remember to return them to the Columbia Room before you depart at the end of the day.

3. CPA board members will be in the Columbia Room to answer any questions you may have on Monday. We will have copies of the schedule and maps in case you need them. We will also have the T-shirts that you ordered to hand out. Throughout the day, Michelle Toshima and Kristin Merrill will be in the Columbia Room for any questions or directions needed.

4. The first meetings of the morning are with Randy Dorn and the Governor in the Columbia Room. These are being coordinated by the Coalition and we have a short amount of time with each. We have arranged for a few students to talk and a few more to stand in support. If your child is not a part of these presentations, please know they will have a chance to speak with our legislators at the afternoon meetings we have arranged.

5. Attached is an updated agenda for the day. Please note that leaders have been assigned to each meeting with our legislators. The leader will introduce our group and the purpose of our meeting. At these meetings, we will ask if any student would like to say a few words. Please see the attached prompts to cover with your child to prepare them if they would like to speak. The message this year is to say thank you for including highly capable within the definition of basic education and also for maintaining the funding highly capable in the current budget.

6. On the agenda, we have specified districts of each representative we are meeting. We ask that you try to attend the meetings with the representatives from your district or when there are no conflicting meetings, we all try to attend.

Thank you again for your participation!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tina Raghu.

CONNECTIONS Conference sponsored by Northwest Gifted Child Assoc. – Feb. 4th

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Parents of Gifted Learners:

Parents of children in the Edmonds School District gifted program are encouraged to attend the following conference for parents of gifted learners.

The 2012 CONNECTIONS Conference, sponsored by Northwest Gifted Child Association, will be Saturday morning, February 4 th , at the Edmonds-Woodway High School in the Edmonds School District. Don’t miss this informative symposium on raising gifted children. You can learn more about this conference and register by going to www.nwgca.org and clicking on the CONNECTIONS registration tab on the home page.

SENG Webinar Event January 19, 2012 — Self-Regulation: Essential Skills for Adolescent Gifted Students

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Presented by Richard M. Cash, Ph.D.

As gifted children move into adolescence, motivating and engaging them in learning becomes more complex and complicated. In many cases this perceived lack of motivation and/or engagement may be due to the students’ deficit in the academic strategies of self-regulation to learn independently. It is essential that parents and teacher assist students in developing the skills of self-regulation, including planning, organizing and meta-cognition. This session will offer suggestions as to how to develop self-regulated learners and ideas of how to encourage autonomous learning.

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Family Gifted Education Day 2012

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Please plan to attend Gifted Education Day in Olympia. We are all in this together! And we need you!

DATE: Monday, January 23rd, 2012

TIME: 7:30 AM Leave Terrace Park by carpool or caravan / Estimate 2:30 PM departure from Olympia, WA

WHERE: State Capitol Building in Olympia, WA

WHO: Parents, Students, Teachers and Administrators of Edmonds School District Highly Capable Programs

Gifted Education Day is an annual event scheduled by the Coalition for Gifted Education. CPA has participating for many years bringing families to Olympia for Gifted Ed Day to tour the Capitol, meet with Legislators, and meet other parent groups for gifted education from around the state. As you may be aware, the Washington legislature has gone back into Special Session to continue the cut the budget. Once we see the results of the Special Session we will draft specific talking points with the help of the Coalition.

If you plan to attend please open the Family GED 2012 Form, print, complete, and return along with and any payment due for Gifted Ed. Day t-shirts to your child’s teacher or the CPA box in the Terrace Park Office by Monday, January 9th. Please note: this form is for Family GED, 4th Graders will be receiving forms for their field trip from their teacher.

Have questions about this event please check our FAQ page. If you would like additional information on this event, please attend our CPA General Meeting Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 6:30 pm. Thank you.

Draft Schedule for Family GED 2012:

TIME AND ACTIVITY:

9:30 am — Arrive Olympia

9:30 am–10:30 am — Legislator Meetings

10:30 am–noon — Capitol Tours (limited space)

Noon — Lunch

1:00 pm — Group Photo on Capitol steps

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm — Legislator Meetings

SENG Webinar Event December 15, 2011 — Touching the Mystery: Spiritual Dimensions of Giftedness

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Who am I? Where did I come from? What will become of me?

Presented by Joy L. Navan, Ph.D.

These are existential questions asked by many gifted children with deep spiritual concerns. In this SENGinar, Dr. Navan ponders these questions and their impact on our children, and presents several dimensions of spiritual giftedness, including a review of research in the field. Through interactive sharing and case studies of spiritually gifted children, she engages attendees in a discussion of ways that parents and educators can recognize, honor, and respond to spiritual facets of gifted children.

Date: Dec. 15th, 2011

Time: 4:30 PM Pacific

Location: Participate at home or office using your computer.

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Message from the Coalition for Gifted Education – Oct. 17th

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1. A reminder that the Coalition leadership group and those wishing to become more active in the Coalition will meet on Tuesday, October 25, at the Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave. SW, Burien. We will be “open for business” at 11:00 and available to talk with you before the meeting proper begins at noon. We anticipate being done by 2 pm. Please join us!

As you know, on October 24th the Governor is scheduled to present  her proposals for a supplemental budget to be considered by the Legislature in their special session scheduled for November 28. It is anticipated that this will be a major topic of discussion.

2. Highly Capable Programs have acquired several strong endorsements and some publicity in recent weeks.

A. The Washington State School Directors Association reaffirmed their long standing position on HCP services at their September Legislative Assembly.

7.1.7 Education for Gifted
The WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation which would assure funding for the education of gifted students at a level of 10 percent of the student population, place that funding within the basic education allocation system and set a minimum number of students to be funded in small school districts. (Adopted 1987; Amended 2005)

Their number one priority for the coming legislative session is:

1.  Full Funding of Basic Education
WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation that fully funds and implements all aspects of Washington’s redefined program of Basic Education as outlined in ESHB 2261. (Chapter 548, Laws of 2009)

and since HCP is now a part of basic education, that includes HCP funding.

B. KIRO radio in Seattle broadcast a piece on HCP and the transcribed version is available at http://mynorthwest.com/11/560022/Above-average-students-need-help-too. WSSDA included it in their daily eClippings, which go electronically to all members and others statewide who have signed up to receive them.

C. At their Legislative Assembly last weekend, the State PTA voted unanimously for the following proposition, which also scored highly in their recent on-line survey.

HIGHLY CAPABLE: The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that ensure highly capable children (K-12) receive an appropriate basic education, which includes access to highly capable programs (K-12).

The Washington State PTA recommends that the Legislature and Quality Education Council build on the work of the Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group. This shall include, but not be limited to:

Advocating for a standard definition of highly capable and working to ensure students who are both highly capable and students of color, who are poor, or who have disabilities, have equitable access to the state’s highly capable program.

Further, Washington State PTA supports the recommendation that districts that do not currently offer highly capable programs refer to the guidelines set forth in the report of Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group.

3. Don’t forget the WAETAG State Conference at the Convention Center in Wenatchee on October 28 and 29. http://www.waetag.net/ (There will be sessions for parents.)

4. You can help us gather some much needed information. What services does your district provide for students who are gifted in one area but not another, i.e. strong in writing/reading, but not strong enough in math to qualify for whatever program the district offers. We know some districts provide enrichment and/or acceleration in the domain of strength while others do not. What does your district do?

Please send your responses to wagifted@earthlink.net. Thank you.

5. Don’t forget to renew or become a member of the Coalition or the Joint Membership. All three groups need your financial support. As you can see by the items above, we still have lots of work to do!