Northwest Gifted Child Association (NWGCA)
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February 2016

2/1/2016

 
In this Issue
A Note from the President
Feb 23 - Smart but Struggling Panel in Bainbridge
Feb 25 - Advocating Effectively in Centralia
Feb 28 - Board Game Day in Woodinville
What Parents Need to Know about Smart Kids
  - Issaquah, March 30, 7:00pm
  - Mukilteo, TBD this spring
  - Lynden, TBD this spring
More NWGCA Talks for Parents & Educators
  - Othello, March 1
  - Yakima, TBD this spring
March 19 - Celebration of Talent Conference in Spokane
The BIG List of Summer Programs!
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship for 7th Graders
Highly Capable Programs Handbook
Invite us to speak to your group!
Calling all Parent Groups!
Recent Articles

A Note From The President

Springtime is in the air, and believe it or not, it's already time to register for many of the most popular summer camps that fill up fast - both in WA state and nationwide. Don't miss our ever growing list of summer enrichment opportunities below!  The list is long not to encourage you to do it all, but to help you find just the right fit for your child's needs and passions. While summer opportunities to socialize with intellectual peers can be a lifeline for many of our kids, remember that unstructured time is still important too.

You may have noticed that we haven't scheduled any big events lately. In our continual effort to reach the most people with resources and support, NWGCA is spending this year doing as much outreach to individual communities as possible. We've been very busy doing presentations for parent groups, as well as an increasing number of professional development sessions for educators. Our talks are FREE, though we always appreciate donations. Have we been to your area yet? Please invite us!

Austina De Bonte
President, NWGCA

Smart but Struggling?
Learn how to help twice-exceptional children meet their full potential Tuesday, Feb. 23, 7-9 p.m. in the Bainbridge Island SD Board Room, 9530 NE High School Road, Bainbridge Island. Ask questions, share experiences and gain strategies from the following panelists:
  • Dr. Jeff McCormick, BISD director of Assessment, Title 1, LAP & Highly Capable
  • Diane Leonetti, executive director, Special Services, Section 504/ADA coordinator
  • Lydia Harrison, M. Ed., Island Educational Services
  • Dr. Steve Curtis, licensed clinical psychologist, Lifespan Psychological Services
Read the flyer for more information.

Advocating Effectively for Gifted Education: What to Say and Why
Thursday February 25 at 6pm
Centralia, WA
Email Marcia Holland for location details

Parents often find themselves in the awkward position of having to explain why their smart kids need a different type of educational experience than their neuro-typical peers. Parents and educators will review neurology, social/emotional needs, academic accommodations, and feedback from gifted kids themselves. These elements all influence what parents and educators need to do to accommodate these children's learning differences.  The presentation makes the point that highly capable education is an intervention, not a privilege. Presented by Marcia Holland, Past President of NWGCA.

Board Game Day
NWGCA and the Northshore HiCap Parents Council are co-sponsoring an afternoon of board gaming, Sunday February 28 from 2:30-5:30 PM, at the Brightwater Center (22505 State Route 9 SE, Woodinville, WA 98072-6010).
  • All ages, family, and friends are welcome. But space is limited! Reserve your seat at Sign Up Genius.
  • If possible, please bring age appropriate games for your family or to share. A pool of board games will also be available.
  • This is not a drop off event--children need to be accompanied by an adult.
  • Donations of time (putting away tables & chairs at the end of the event) and/or money (towards hall rental costs) are appreciated.
  • Snacks will be available for purchase.
  • Feel free to come late or leave early. Some "between games" activities will also be available.
  • Directions to Brightwater are here. If you haven't been there before, it is slightly north of Costco on Highway 9. The community center is at the very end of the driveway to the left. There is ample parking.
Questions? Email [email protected]  

What Parents (and Educators, Coaches, Grandparents...) Need to Know About Smart Kids
March 30, 7:00pm 
Issaquah SD Admin Bldg, 565 NW Holly St, Issaquah, WA
Mukilteo, WA, TBD this spring
Lynden, WA, TBD this spring


Many parents are surprised to learn that their child's unique "quirks" are actually well-studied social & emotional behavior patterns that appear across large populations of highly intelligent children. Whether it's refusing to wear shirts with buttons or tags, overreacting to the slightest criticism, gravitating towards adults and older children, forgetting to turn in their homework, trouble with handwriting, anxiety about trying something new, or preferring a book to a party, these and many other perplexing behaviors are common in this population. Learn what's normal, what to expect as they grow, and why genuine challenge is vitally important for kids' social and emotional development, as well as developing their academic talents, from the preschool and elementary years all the way to high school and beyond. Presented by Austina De Bonte, President of NWGCA.

More Upcoming NWGCA Talks
We also are planning talks for parents and educators in the following communities:

Othello on Tuesday, March 1 from 6:30 pm-8:00pm
at the "DC building"
Contact Susan Jackson for details


Yakima, WA, TBD this spring
Contact Susan Jackson for details


Celebration of Talent Conference 
March 19, 2016 - Whitworth University, Spokane  Fifth annual conference designed to enlighten children, parents and educators on the subject of giftedness and the unique challenges and benefits that it brings. Gifted students will participate in a variety of fun and unique learning experiences with like-minded youth. Parents and teachers will attend presentations and interact with other parents and professionals on the challenges and joys of raising and educating gifted children. There will be presentation strands for elementary, middle school, and high school students as well as for parents, educators, and counselors.

Marcia Holland, Past President of NWGCA, will be presenting two sessions at the conference. Look for her there!

More Information & Registration
Schedule for the day
Presentations & Speakers


Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program is a unique pre-college scholarship for high-achieving, low-income 7th-graders. Young Scholars receive personalized high school and college advising, funding for summer and extracurricular academic programs, access to internships and study abroad opportunities, and other educational resources including books and technology. The Cooke Foundation also provides comprehensive support to help them gain admission to the top colleges and universities in the country with merit- and need-based aid. The application is open from mid-January through April 14, 2016.

The BIG LIST of Summer Camps
We have updated the big list of Summer Camps yet again, with more than a dozen new listings! There are so many great opportunities across WA state! There are options for kids as young as age 3, all the way through high school. Listings of premiere nationwide camps are also included.

It's not too early to be thinking about summer camps. Keep in mind that the UW Robinson Center summer programs tend to fill up within a few DAYS, and many other top programs fill quickly as well. Many are already open for registration.

Get the BIG LIST of Summer Camps
 
Articles   
ESSA and Gifted Education in WA

How to Nuture the Quiet World of Introverts


ADHD and Children Who Are Gifted

Hyperfocus: The Flip Side of ADHD

Does your Gifted Child Have ADHD?

Decades of Failing to Understand ADHD in Girls Has...

Understanding High Energy Gifted Kids


Diagnosis Questions - 2e and gifted

Stealth Dyslexia

The Catch 22 of Gifted Underachievement

What Causes Gifted Underachievement?

Four Types of Underachievement in Gifted Children

Brains on Fire

Is Genius Innate?


The Math Revolution

If I'd Known Then...

Tips from an Occupational Therapist



Donate to NWGCA!   
Looking for a great place to make a tax-deductible donation that really counts? We appreciate all donations, large and small, to help us reach out to parent groups across the state, provide resources and workshops. Donate to NWGCA   



More Info
Resources & Links 
  
Meet our Board of Directors
  
Join our Mailing List

We love to hear your feedback and ideas...  Please don't be shy, we are here to serve you. Email us

SENG parent
discussion groups

Joining a SENG Model Parent Discussion Group is a great way to connect with other families and deepen your understanding of your child's needs. New groups often start this time of year, here is contact info:

- Bellevue
- Seattle
- Spokane
  (Starting April 14)
- Tacoma

- Washougal
- Woodinville
  (Starting Spring)
- Online Groups

More information about SENG discussion groups


Invite us to speak to your group

The mission of NWGCA is to support parents of gifted children across the state and provide resources, information, and coaching about raising gifted children.  
NWGCA Board Members love to speak to parent groups, and we're even doing more and more professional development for educators these days. Our talks are FREE, and are available on a variety of topics that can be customized to the needs of your community. Please email us if you would like to schedule a speaker.
Highly Capable Programs Handbook 
The UW Robinson Center for Young Scholars has published an online handbook for school districts that are developing and/or reworking their hicap programs to be in compliance with the new laws. Please feel free to use this in your advocacy, or share with your district administrators as a valuable resource.

Download the Handbook  

Calling all Parent Groups!
We are slowly collecting contact information for more and more parent groups across the state, but we know there are still more out there. If you belong to a group, whether it's associated with a school district or not, would you please drop us a line about where you are located and how best to reach your group? Or, are you hoping to create a group but not sure how to do it? We can help you get started.
Email us



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  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
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    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Speaker Requests
    • Topics
  • Resources
    • Getting Started
    • Parent Groups
    • Professional Providers >
      • Testing & Assessment
      • Counselors & Therapists
      • Coaches & Consultants
    • Education >
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      • Homeschooling
      • Enrichment Programs
      • Summer Programs
    • Blogs and Forums
    • Books
    • Board Recommendations
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • community