Passing the Torch

As of the 2018-19 school year, the Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted mission

will be carried out by Gilbert's ​Gifted Education Parent Council (GEPC).

Click here to learn about the purpose and mission of the GEPC.

Follow on Facebook:

The GEPC at  https://www.facebook.com/GilbertGifted/

The Arizona Association for Gifted & Talented (AAGT) at https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaAssociationforGiftedandTalented/

2018 Legislative Action: Gifted Education Funding

The 2018 session of the Arizona Legislature is in full swing!  We want to keep you informed of AAGT's efforts to advocate for the restoration of funding for gifted education.  Currently gifted education is an unfunded state mandate.  The state has not funded gifted education since 2009.

This year House Bill (HB) 2112, sponsored by Rep. Heather Carter, has passed the House Education Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. (Click here to view the video of amazing testimony given at the House Appropriations Committee.)  It continues to move forward in the process!

Mirror bill, Senate Bill (SB) 1161, sponsored by Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, has passed the Senate Education Committee.  This year there is a new chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and he has agreed to put SB 1161 on Tuesday's agenda, February 20th.  Last year the former chair did not permit our bill to be placed on an agenda, so this year we are already making progress!

Gilbert's Gifted Education Parent Council (GEPC) is working with AAGT to spread the word on these legislative efforts and how you can help.  The GEPC is asking that all stakeholders (parents, grandparents, educators, etc.) send an email to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Many thanks to the GEPC for preparing the sample email below.  Please try to email these Senators by Monday evening.

Sample email to Chairman Kavanagh and Vice Chair Petersen ...

Subject line:  SB1161 - Support for Gifted Education Funding

My name is  (your name here) and I am a (parent, educator, gifted student, administrator). I understand you will be hearing SB1161 on February 20th. This bill addresses Gifted Education funding. I am writing in support of SB1161, that helps restore funding for gifted education, assessments, and support needed to meet gifted students’ needs.

Arizona has a mandate stating that all public school districts must both identify gifted learners and provide appropriate educational programs and services for these students, yet there is no funding allocated specifically to gifted programming. Gifted allocations were defunded in 2010 due to fiscal budget cuts. Parents like me hope that there can be some effort made to help restore funding to gifted programming.

Gifted education is important to me (because...)

Thank you for your time,

(your name and contact info)

jkavanagh@azleg.gov Chairman

wpetersen@azleg.gov Vice-Chairman

sallen@azleg.gov

sborrelli@azleg.gov

kfann@azleg.gov

khobbs@azleg.gov

mquezada@azleg.gov

stsmith@azleg.gov

January Parenting Classes on Giftedness

Parent University and the Gifted Education Parent Council present 2 classes on giftedness this January  ...

Click this link for registration:
www.gilbertschools.net -- Parent Zone -- Parent University -- Gifted Education

• Click here to learn more about the Gifted Education Parent Council.
• Click here to learn what other classes Parent University is offering this school year.

Mark Your Calendar! Event November 14th

Parent Class and Kids' Game Night

GPS Parent University and the Gifted Education Parent Council (GEPC) 

are partnering for this event: 

Presents:

The Vibrant Social and Emotional Life of a Gifted Child

Val Vista Lakes Elementary Library

November 14, 2017

5:30 - 7:30 pm

The social and emotional development of gifted children can be like a roller coaster ride!  This discussion will focus on how the nature and traits of giftedness impinge on the normal affective development of these students.  We will explore ways both parents and students can better manage the ups and downs of growing up gifted.

Register for the Parent University class here:   

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcSflNV0FwNSyjkmdE5tNuMdI545zZ13CKPRTfCkEnX7O-9g/viewform 

Attention Kids in Grades K - 8

While your adults participate in the lecture, come meet new friends and enjoy a fun game night! Please bring your water bottle, snack for yourself, and favorite non-electronic game (such as: board game, card game, K’nex, Legos, chess, checkers, etc.). High School Student Volunteers will assist with game night. Kids meet in the Val Vista Lakes Elementary Multipurpose Room at 5:15 pm. 

Sponsored by:

Questions?  Contact:  giftededucationparentcouncil@gmail.com

 Together we can ensure that every GPS gifted student has the opportunity to learn and grow.

Click here to view a printable flier.

Preparing for Parent Teacher conferences: Part 2

Tools to Articulate the Needs of the Gifted Child

By Stephanie Newitt

Before we can articulate the needs of gifted children, we must first understand their characteristics and intensities as they relate to giftedness.  Below you will find simple parent worksheets to aid in this process. Print and complete the worksheets while thinking of your gifted child.  This process will not only give you insight to better understand your gifted child, but will provide vocabulary for you to use when describing your gifted child to family members, teachers, doctors, mental health practitioners, etc..   

Click on the links below:

  

The Differences between Bright and Gifted Children

This form lists common characteristics of both bright and gifted children, allowing parents to compare and contrast these characteristics as they apply to their particular child.

Strengths and Possible Challenges of Gifted Children

If your child identifies with more than half of these characteristics, you have learned that giftedness comes with its own set of strengths and challenges. Being gifted is not easy. The more their strengths and challenges are both understood and serviced, the more likely it is for gifted children to lead successful lives.

Intensities of Giftedness

The purpose of this form is two-fold. First, to increase awareness that giftedness impacts not only intellectual development, but also psychological and nervous system development. Second, to inform parents, teachers and caregivers that responsive behaviors to the overexcitabilities listed therein are typical for gifted children. Gifted children, therefore, will need to be taught in such a way that their overexcitabilities are taken into account and their emotional and social growth is fostered.

Preparing for Parent Teacher Conferences

Feel free to bring a copy of these completed worksheets to your Parent-Teacher conference.  These will assist in forming a common base for discussion about the strengths and needs of your child.  It may be beneficial to leave a copy of the completed worksheets with your child’s teacher.

As parents we do not know the scope or the limits to the resources that teachers have available to them.  As you articulate the genuine needs of your child for them to grow, be sensitive to the teacher by asking the open-ended question, "What resources are available to meet these needs?"  Give them time, even days, to research this as needed.

GPS Gifted Education Parent Council

If you have not yet connected with your school’s representative on the GPS Gifted Education Parent Council, please do so.  They will be aware of additional resources and opportunities that may be of interest to you.  You are not alone in this gifted journey.

Part 3:  Emotional Intelligence

Part 4:  Understanding Visual-Spatial Learners

Stephanie Newitt is a co-founder of Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted and a member of the GPS Gifted Education Parent Council Executive Committee.  She has a B.S. in Family Science and is the mother of four gifted children, ages 14-24.

Anxiety and Depression: Implications for Gifted Youth

September presentation:  “Anxiety and Depression:  Implications for Gifted Youth”

We would like to thank Dr. Laura Wingers for being GSG’s first guest speaker of the year.  Her presentation on “Anxiety and Depression:  Implications for Gifted Youth” was very informative.  We learned some of the symptoms that manifest themselves in gifted children and some of the supports (old and new) that are available.  The presentation reminded us that many of these feelings are normal, however, when they get in the way of life, growth, relationships, etc. that is the time to seek for help.  Dr. Wingers also recommended a book list with resources to support parents. 

If you missed  the Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted guest lecture, you can find the link Dr. Wingers’ slide show presentation on the News & Events page of our website.  Disclaimer:  The presentation is for informational purposes only; not a substitute for individual/professional consultation.

If you would like to hear Dr. Wingers again, she is presenting at Parent Day of the NAGC Conference on Saturday, November 14^th, on “Developmental Asynchrony in the Young Gifted Child: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Update from the GPS Gifted Education Parent Council - April 2015

Here is an update from the GPS Gifted Education Parent Council (GEPC).

The philosophy of gifted education is to support a student’s strength while also supporting his/her deficits.  The GPS Gifted Education Parent Council (GEPC) encourages parents to become more knowledgeable about giftedness and the changes in GPS gifted program options.  Please note the following events:

Ø  GPS Gifted 101 Class

§     Monday, May 11, 5:30-6:30pm, Community Education Building,  

     6839 E. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212 (Power and Guadalupe Road)

Ø   Regional ALP Info Meeting

§  Monday, April 20, 6:00-7:00pm, Oak Tree Elementary School,

      505 W. Houston Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233

§        Monday, April 27, 6:00-7:00pm, Augusta Ranch Elementary School,

       9430 E. Neville Ave, Mesa, AZ 85209

Ø   Towne Meadows Self-Contained - 1101 N. Recker Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234

§       Online applications accepted April 13^th – May 13th

§  Tours: Tuesday, April 21, at 10:00am Wednesday and May 6, 1:30pm, Towne Meadows Elementary School

§       Open House: Thursday, May 14, 6:00-7:00pm, Towne Meadows Elementary School 

Ø   7th Grade Self-Contained Open House

§       Wednesday, May 6, 5:00-6:00pm, Highland Junior High School,

      6915 E. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212

Ø   NAGC 62^nd Annual Conference (National Association for Gifted Children)

§  Nov 12-15, 2015

§  Location:  for the first time in NAGC history, this conference will be in Phoenix, AZ.

§  There will be a Parent Day with Children's classes.  More info at - http://www.arizonagifted.org/nagc-2015/

Ø  For more information on giftedness, please visit  www.gilbertgifted.org

Ø  For more information on GPS Gifted Education Program options, visit www.gilbertschools.net à “For Parents” à “Gifted Education”