Kate Simkowiak

CONNECTIONS Conference

Message from The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – Jan. 3rd

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Coalition needs your input.

Have you talked with a legislator in the past year about Highly Capable Programs/gifted education? If yes, please send us an email at wagifted@earthlink.net and tell us:

– Who you talked with
– Their District
– Topic of the conversation
– How the Legislator views the issue of programs and funding for Highly Capable students – e.g. enthusiastic supporter prepared to speak up; lukewarm; not in favor of; needs more information; a believer that “all students are gifted;” etc.
– Your name and email address in case we need to contact you.

We need this information to target our planning to build legislative support for ample funding of HCP. Thank you for your participation.

Opportunities for advocates:
1. A reminder of the Connections Conference sponsored by our partner the Northwest Gifted Child Association on February 9, 2013.

2. We present the following as an informational piece only. This does not constitute either a recommendation or endorsement.
Seabury School, Tacoma, is presenting its 3rd Annual Gifted Education Seminar on February 20th. Click here if you are interested in this event.

3. Last, but certainly not least, Gifted Education Day, March 19, 2013, Columbia Room of the Legislative Building in Olympia. More information will be forthcoming soon. Please plan to join us – March 19th.

If you are planning to be in Olympia, you can find a lot of excellent information at Visiting the State Capitol.

Other reminders:
4. We are up to 637 followers on Facebook. We hope to reach 750 by the time the Legislature begins considering ample funding for HCP. If you use Facebook, please “like” us NOW.

5. As usual, all three gifted groups need funding. Attached are two membership/donation options: The Joint Memberships in the Coalition, NWGCA and WAETAG or membership in the Coalition only. Please consider joining/donating to one or more of these support organizations.

NWGCA – Connections Conference February 9th, 2013

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Keynote Speakers

Keynote 1 — 8:30 – 9:30 AM

Chris McCurry, PhD
On Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, and Marshmallows – This address will describe ideas about what makes for success in academics and in life. Dr. McCurry will present research findings as well as clinical and parent experience that explores what are being called “non-cognitive” skills (emotional intelligence, attention, curiosity, and self-regulation, among others) and the important role these skills play in our children’s success and in our own work as parents.
Jane Hesslein
What Your Kids Want You to Know – This presentation is for teachers and parents who have wondered what the gifted kids in their lives might wish they knew. These unique and valuable insights are the result of two requests made to fifth-grade gifted students at the end of their school year. The responses were articulate, often heartening, and sometimes surprising. What these students had to say is something that every parent and teacher can use.
Breakout Sessions:

The Anxious Gifted Student: From Procrastination to Perfectionism

-Chris McCurry, PhD

Gifted 101

-Austina De Bonte

Supporting the Social/Emotional Growth of Gifted Adolescents

-Sandi Wollum

The Absent Minded Professor: Raising Gifted Kids Who Can’t Find Their Jackets

-Sandi Wollum

Gifted 101 (repeat session)

-Austina De Bonte

Tips for Building Successful Parent/Teacher Relationships

-Jane Hesslein

Brown-Bag Lunch Discussions
12:45 – 2:00 PM

Bring your brown-bag lunch, select a table topic, and participate in a facilitated discussion with other attendees.

Location: Aylen Junior High

101 15th Street SW
Puyallup, WA 98371

Presented by

and
Academic Booster Club of Puyallup
Register Onlineor

Mail check to NWGCA:  PO Box 30134, Seattle, WA 98113
Register by January 31, 2013:  $60.00
Register at the door:  $65.00
Additional family members:  $5
Partial scholarships available.  For more information, contact Tawna at 360-739-7901

Complete presentation descriptions and speaker bios available at http://www.nwgca.org/connections-conference.html

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!

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.