March Meeting 3/27 | Tested: Helping Parents Make Sense of the Scores

The St. Croix Valley Chapter of MCGT meets bi-monthly, which means our next event is approaching in March 2012.

Topic | Tested: Helping Parents Make Sense of the Scores

When | Tues. 3/27, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Where | Social Hall, St. Croix Catholic School / St. Michael's in Stillwater

Cost | FREE for MCGT members, $5* per non-member family  

Statewide and national standardized testing sets eligibility for gifted programs, 

grade acceleration, and more.  What do the data really show and

how do you use it to guide decisions about your child’s education?  SCVMCGT welcomes Wendi M. Schirvar, Ph.D., Educational Psychologist, who will lead conversation about the ins and outs of standardized testing and how to decipher what the results mean.

Who | Parents, caregivers, educators

Kids | School-age kids welcome! Hands-on activities with Visiting Wizards - kids will meet in adjacent space

*The full amount may be applied toward new MCGT member registration at the meeting; cash or check payable to MCGT, in support of local chapter operations.

Please feel welcome to contact us with questions about the chapter, membership, or to alert us about community events that may be of interest to members.  We also encourage you to visit our online FAQ and download our chapter brochure as quick sources of information about SCVMCGT.

Stillwater Area High School Hosts Brain Development Expert, 2/6

Dr. Gary Johnson, a nationally-recognized expert on brain development, shares information on the effects technology has on children’s developing brains.


When: Mon. 2/6,  7:00 - 8:30pm
Where: Stillwater Area High School Auditorium
Cost: Tickets are free and can be picked up at any Stillwater Area Public School, or the Early Childhood Family Center.


Gary Johnson, Ph.D., the clinical director of the CALM Clinic for attention, learning and memory in Minneapolis, MN. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of adults and children with attention and learning disorders. He frequently speaks at conferences, schools and professional organizations about the expanding body of research on the effects of technology on attention. These findings suggest that early and excessive electronic stimulation may not only affect brain functioning, but stimulation may actually change physiological development of the brain. Through the Harvard Medical School, he has trained with Ned Hallowell, M.D. and John Ratey, M.D., authors of Driven to Distraction and is involved in several neuroscience research groups.  Download flyer

Mensa Promotion: Stanford EPGY Programs for Math and Language Arts

Families of young Mensa members who are enrolled in grades 2-6 may purchase EPGY math and language arts for $135/year (total for both) or $95 for 5 months.   The EPGY online programs are accelerated and pace based, making them suited for homeschooling or as a supplement to other school curricula.


From the EPGY website: The Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) at Stanford University is a continuing project dedicated to developing and offering multimedia computer-based distance-learning courses. Combining technical and instructional expertise, EPGY provides high-ability students of all ages with an individualized educational experience, optimized in both pace and content. Through EPGY, students have access to courses in a variety of subjects at levels ranging from kindergarten through advanced-undergraduate. Since its inception over 50,000 students from 35 countries have taken courses from EPGY.


Learn whether your child's CogAT or other test scores signal qualifying eligibility for Mensa membership at their website.  Through February 15, you can save $10 on the prior evidence review as part of the Mensa application.  Visit www.us.mensa.org/application and use code CPE to get the discount.

The St Croix Valley Chapter will hold its next meeting in Jan 31, 2012 in the Margaret Rivers Room B at the Stillwater Library  6:00-8:00 PM
Gifted 101: Kids and Education
Interact with a panel of parents, a teacher and an educational psychologist.  Discover support and resources from the new St Croix Valley Chapter of MCGT
Stillwater Library Margaret Rivers Room B
January 31, 2012  6-8 PM
School aged children welcome- games fun and homework help available- all supervised

FREE to members of MCGT
$5/family to others (fee waived if you become a member that night)

To download the flyer for full information please click here