GTC Update

On Tuesday, February 14, 2017, the GPS School Board held their monthly work study.  Item three on the agenda was to hear a presentation about the proposed GTC program and allow the board to ask questions. 

This is a hi-light of topics covered at the board work study regarding the GTC:

• Program application criteria
• Teacher qualifications
• Option to replicate the program elsewhere in the district if data indicates such a need
• Why the location of Highland Junior was chosen
•  High school support for gifted students
• Cost of the program (see links below)
• Transportation via busing at regional bus stops
• The origin of the program name.  

If you wish to view the video record of the GTC portion of the work study, it begins at 1:41:00 and concludes at 2:40:00 at this link. 

From the GPS BoardDocs webpage:

• Click here to view the power point which was shared with the board
•  Click here to view the financial costs of the GTC program – This part of the discussion begins at 2:25:00 of the video

Parents, Now what?

The GTC program is now pending board approval.  The GPS Board will be able to approve the GTC program at their February 28th Business Meeting.  

Q:  As a parent, how can I show support for the GTC program?  

A:  Do one or all of the following:

1.  Attend the February 28th GPS board meeting.  It begins at 7:00 pm and is at the district office.  This will show the board that the GTC is something that is valued and needed by gifted students in our community.
2. At the board meeting, fill out a "request to speak form" to spend 1-3 minutes letting the board know the information below.
3. Send the entire board an email at board@gilbertschools.net with the information below.

Express appreciation that ...  

1. The district is supporting the GPS Gifted Education Vision statement by expanding gifted education programming into the secondary grades.
2. District staff has worked many, many hours to research secondary gifted programming according to the Strategic Operating Plan, as indicated on page 8.
3. The board is mindful of the genuine needs of Gilbert's gifted students.
4. Also, briefly tell them what having the GTC will mean to you and your gifted child(ren)
5. OR if you do not live in the east area of the district and your gifted child is not yet old enough to attend the GTC in 2017-18, express a hope that a second location closer to your home may be opened up in the near future.

• We can let the board members know that the GTC is a well thought out, needed program in Gilbert.  By keeping our communications positive we can make a difference!  

See you Tuesday!

Your Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted Executive Board

Books for Young Advanced Readers

Do you have a voracious reader?? Are you on the lookout for books that are advanced with appropriate content? Check out this website for more info!! This Reading Mama

ASU Barrett Summer Scholars Program

The Barrett Summer Scholars (BSS) program provides students with the opportunity to experience college firsthand and prepare for enrollment and success at Arizona State University and Barrett, the Honors College. The program is designed for academically-talented and motivated students entering the 8th, 9th, and 10th grade in fall 2017. Our residential program invites students to live on campus, engage in college-level coursework, and participate in a community of peers from across the state.

Applications are due March 3rd

Website:  https://eoss.asu.edu/bss

Gifted students are not necessarily high-achievers

"As a gifted/talented specialist and as a district GT coordinator, I have lost count of the number of times I have sat with a parent and explained why his or her very capable, high-performing student did not qualify for the gifted program. Often, the outward accomplishments of high-performing students seem much more noteworthy than the lower achievements of some gifted students. There are many traits of gifted students that may not be evident in what the public sees, which is grades and performance..." by Heather Brown Read more at this link.

Legislative update on 2017 Efforts for Restoration of Gifted Funding

Legislative Update Week Ending  02.10.2017

HB 2199 will be heard in the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Click on this link to view the Appropriations Committee agenda.

Please email/call these House Members of Appropriations subcommittee on Education and members of the House Appropriations Committee asking for support of HB2199.  Click here for their contact information.

Junior High GTC Program Update

At the January 24th GPS board meeting, the school board heard the superintendent's report on the proposed GTC program.  The superintendent and her cabinet are recommending the program to the board.  

On February 7th, GPS held a parent information meeting about the new proposed GTC program.  You can find out about the program by visiting the GTC webpage.

The Next Step ...

On February 14th, the GPS School Board will hold its monthly Work Study.  At the Work Study the board will hear a formal presentation from the Curriculum Department/Gifted Education Dept. with the details of the GTC program.  They will recommend the program to the board. 

Parents and general members of the community may attend the work study in person.  Please not that public comments are not heard at board work studies.  Parents and community members may also watch online.  By attending the work study you will show the board that parents are watching and are interested in gifted education services for secondary students.

• To attend in person, the work study begins at 6:30pm and is at the district office, building B in the board room.
• To watch online click here to go to the Livestream page of the district's website. 
• 24 hours prior to the work study the agenda for the meeting will be posted to BoardDocs.  By viewing the agenda you can see where the GTC presentation is in the schedule and there will also be a link to the power point slide show.

The board will vote on the GTC program at their monthly board business meeting on February 28th.  Public Comments are heard at board business meetings.  A GTC update will be made on the GSG blog/Facebook page prior to the board meeting on the 28th.

Positive Parent Advocacy ...

After you, the parent, become familiar with the GTC program through the means listed above, you can make a difference by emailing the GPS board to express appreciation that ...  

1. The district is supporting the GPS Gifted Education Vision statement by expanding gifted education programming into the secondary grades.
2. District staff has worked many, many hours to research secondary gifted programming according to the Strategic Operating Plan, as indicated on page 8.
3. The board is mindful of the genuine needs of Gilbert's gifted students.
4. Also, briefly tell them what having the GTC will mean to you and your gifted child(ren)

• All Board members can be emailed at the following address: Board@gilbertschools.net ... and yes, feel free to include the above links (#1-3) in your email to the board!  Keeping your communications POSITIVE will make the biggest impact.

We can let the board members know that the GTC is a well thought out, needed program in Gilbert.  We parents can make a difference!  

Sincerely,

Your Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted Board

Gifted Overexcitabilities In Real Life

"If you hang around in gifted circles for any length of time, you’ll start to hear a lot of talk about overexcitabilities. I thought it might be fun to do a post on overexcitabilities, and what they look like in real life- my little poppies-style!

I remember being completely fascinated by theories of personality development, especially back in college when I sat in Dr. Spiegler’s Personality 101. Today, I’m going to dust off the cobwebs in my noggin’ and share a bit of the info with you all, and then I’ll show you what OEs look like in real life! First the nitty-gritty and then the fun, folks!

Polish psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski is perhaps best-known for his Theory of Positive Disintegration, a complex human personality theory based on emotions and development. Without boring you with too much detail, I will share these snippets ..."

Post link:  http://my-little-poppies.com/gifted-overexcitabilities-oes/

IMPORTANT AAGT ANNOUNCEMENT

This weekend, please tweet/email/call your AZ representative with one of these:

1. Why gifted education is important to you 

2. How Gifted Education (or lack thereof) had impacted your family

Go to the Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted state advocacy page to get the link to find your representative: http://www.gilbertgifted.org/stateadvocacy.html

GSG New Website Hi-Lights: Local Level Advocacy, #5 in our series

On the new Local Level Advocacy page of the GSG website you will find resources that answer these questions:

• What gifted education program options and resources are available in Gilbert Public Schools?  In the Gilbert area?  For elementary students?  For secondary students?
• Gifted education is not a "one-size fits all."  Did you know that our local community colleges have an "underage" or "early college" program available?  
• Did you know that there are online resources specifically to support gifted students? 
• Did you know that GPS has a Gifted Education Parent Council?  

There is helpful information on the GSG Local Level Advocacy page.  Check it out!