Kate Simkowiak

Events

Special events

Gifted Education Day Itinerary for Friday, February 11th

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Hello Challenge Families!

Attached in this notice is the 2011 GED Itinerary which includes:

Our finalized meeting schedule with our legislators

Driving and parking directions

Maps of the Capitol campus

Details about any tours or committee hearings happening while we’re there

2011 GED Itinerary

and

campus-map

If you are joining us, please download the packet, review it and bring it with you to Friday’s event. Also, don’t forget to wear your purple shirts. We will be taking a group photo on the Legislative steps at 11:30 a.m.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

CPA Board

Note: If your child is riding the bus with the fourth grade, you can disregard this message as the field trip students have a slightly different agenda. Thank you.


Event – Open House at the Robinson Center

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Dear Families, Friends, and Alumni of the Robinson Center—

You are invited to the Robinson Center Open House!

Valentine’s Day is all about love and chocolate, and the University of Washington’s Robinson Center would love to spend time with you over some delicious chocolate desserts!

In addition to enjoying the chocolate, you’ll have an opportunity to meet Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and Nancy B. Hertzog, the Robinson Center’s new director. You’ll also be able to reconnect with old friends and visit with current Robinson Center students and families.

When
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Where
Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars
University of Washington
Guthrie Annex 2
Follow this link for a map.
Complimentary parking is available in the Central Plaza Garage. Enter at 15th Avenue NE and NE 41st Street.

We look forward to this opportunity to bring together alumni, students, and families of the Robinson Center, share new initiatives, and perhaps start a Robinson Center alumni association.

Did we mention the chocolate? There will be chocolate.

RSVP via email to Sharon Walker at sharonw@uw.edu.

Are You Coming to Gifted Education Day 2011? Here’s How You Can Let Us Know!

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YOU ARE INVITED

Please plan now to attend Gifted Education Day in Olympia

We are all in this together! And we need you!

DATE: Friday, February 11th, 2011

TIME: 7:30 AM ~ leave Terrace Park School by carpool and/or caravan

Estimate 3:00 PM ~ leave Olympia ~ (optional, pizza dinner)

WHERE: State Capitol Building in Olympia, WA.

WHO: Parent(s), Child(ren), Teachers and Administrators of Edmonds School District Highly Capable Programs

PLEASE NOTE: If you attended the Thursday, January 6th meeting in the Commons and completed the sign-up sheets there, or have already turned in a form to the school, we have your information and you do NOT need to return this form, unless you wish to order more t-shirts. Thank you!

Please click on the Attendee form link below, print, complete, and return the form and any payment due for t-shirts to your child’s teacher or the CPA box in the Terrace Park Office by Monday, January 31st.

You may also email the requested information to challengeparents@gmail.com.

Attendee form

Please join us for a CPA Parent Coffee Chat this Saturday

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Ever want a sympathetic ear for those perplexing, frustrating and even proud moments? We know parenting those gifted kids can be a lonely job, but rest assured you don’t have to go it alone!

Join your fellow parents and ask a question, share a tip, a story or just a knowing smile.

Come, grab yourself a cup ‘o Joe, pull up a chair and let it all hang out.

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Corner Coffee Bar in Perrinville (at the corner of 76th and Olympic View Drive)

Connections Conference–January 29th, Redmond High School

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Northwest Gifted Child Association and Lake Washington Gifted Education Advisory Council are sponsoring The CONNECTIONS conference on Saturday, January 29th from 8:00 to 12:30 p.m. at Redmond High School.

CONNECTIONS is a symposium for parents of gifted children, providing information and sharing opportunities on the unique issues they face. Listen to and talk with experts on gifted children and meet other local parents who may be dealing with the same issues or have stories of what has worked for their families. See the graphic below for details on presenters and location.

People who register at www.nwgca.org using PayPal before January 25th can get the discounted registration fee. Registration fees include a one-year membership in Northwest Gifted Child Association for those who do not have a current membership.

The CONNECTIONS Conference is sponsored by Northwest Gifted Child Association and Lake Washington Gifted Education Advisory Council.

Summer Enrichment Program at the University of Oregon

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The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) at the University of Oregon is now taking applications for our 2011 sessions.  SEP is a residential summer program that supports the academic enrichment of gifted and highly able students in grades 6 – 10.  In each of the program’s two-week sessions, students attend six academic classes of their choice during the day and participate in a variety of social activities in the evening.  The program encourages students to create a personalized schedule that reflects their academic and personal interests.  In addition, residing on the university’s main campus offers them some early exposure to learning and living in a university environment.

SEP applications for 2011 are now available to be downloaded directly from our website at www.uoyouth.org.  In addition to obtaining an application, by visiting uoyouth.org you will discover course offerings from last summer, a sample of the camp’s daily schedule, the enthusiastic remarks made by participants and their parents, and other informational materials to download and share with your gifted students and their families.  Visiting uoyouth.org is the quickest and easiest way to obtain current program information and locate answers to frequently asked questions.  By downloading application materials, you also allow us to direct program resources towards our educational endeavors rather than mailing costs.

While we encourage you to save time and conserve resources by accessing and distributing the wealth of information available onwww.uoyouth.org, we do understand the potential advantage of having physical documents at the ready.  If you would like to receive paper copies of SEP applications, brochures, or other informational materials, please let me know.  We are able to accommodate requests for mailing program materials in batches of two to two-hundred.  We also frequently share information about SEP through school and district websites and newsletters, and we can provide program descriptions for those purposes as needed.

Recommendations from educators and support associations for gifted students have always been critical to our recruiting process. Your work makes our programs possible.  If you know students who might benefit from a program like this, or if you have specific questions about SEP, I would love to speak with you.  Please get in touch anytime.

Take care,

James Engberg, Ph.D.

SEP Coordinator

Superintendent’s Roundtable is this Wednesday

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From the Edmonds School District:
Please join us this Wednesday, Jan. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Educational Service Center for this month’s Superintendent’s Roundtable, on the topic “Role of Federal Money in Our Schools: AYP and Stimulus Dollars.” Panelists featured for the roundtable include:
  • Bill McKeighen, Budget and Finance Manager
  • Nancy Katims, Assessment and Research Director
  • Katy Wysocki, Student Services Director
  • Charlotte Beyer, Cedar Valley Community School Principal
  • Margaret Mesaros, Spruce Elementary Principal
  • Dan Davis, Meadowdale Elementary Principal

The Educational Service Center is located at 20420 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood, 98036.

Gifted Education Day Planning Meeting–Thursday, January 6th

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Please join the CPA board on Thursday, January 6th in the Terrace Park Commons at 6:30 for a planning and information session on Washington State Gifted Education Day.

Gifted Education Day is an annual event held at the Capitol in Olympia. Challenge program families have attended in large numbers for several years now. While annual attendance is important, this is an especially crucial year for us to show the legislature how important gifted education is for our children and our families.

CPA will provide light snacks and beverages for the meeting. We will also have handouts from the Coalition for Gifted Education and other organizations involved in the planning and preparations for Gifted Education Day.

News from the Northwest Gifted Child Association

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Conference for parents of gifted scheduled for Saturday morning, January 29, 2010, at Redmond High School. REGISTER NOW at www.nwgca.org

Parents of gifted rarely have the opportunity to get information about the specific academic, emotion 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 truly bright children. Don’t miss this half day symposium for parents of gifted. See the attached flyer for more information on topics that will be covered.

Legislature Restores Full Funding for Gifted in Special Session December 11, 2010!

Once again the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education, with the help of committed parents and educators, have prevented the Governor and legislature from eliminating funding for gifted education in the special legislative session held this weekend. 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. That is, the 6.287% across-the-board-cut ordered by the Governor this fall is rescinded.

Please send an email of appreciation to your legislators for preserving the funding for gifted education. Let them know, again, that gifted education serves a learning difference for our state’s most capable learners.

Marcia Holland, President

Northwest Gifted Child Association

www.nwgca.org