St Croix Valley Chapter of MCGT

St Croix Valley Gifted | New Website Announcement

2012-03-04T09:49:00.001-08:00

We are pleased to unveil our brand new chapter website, now located at:

www.stcroixvalleygifted.net
www.stcroixvalleygifted.net

This blogspot page will remain active in the near term to help redirect people to the new site. Please visit www.stcroixvalleygifted.net for all further St Croix Valley Gifted news and events.

March Meeting Moves to New Location, New Time

2012-02-27T15:14:00.001-08:00

We've needed to change locations, the result of a double-booking error. Thankfully, we are able to keep with the same date at a new space provided by St. Croix Catholic School. We also have a new time, adjusting by 30 minutes in hope that this will make it easier for families to transition from evening meals and work / enrichment obligations. Download NEW March flyer.

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
Address | 611 3rd Street S., Stillwater -- use rear entrance from parking lot

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.

March MCGT Gifted 101 Mini Conference & Resource Fair

2012-02-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

Looking for the next St. Croix Valley (SCVMCGT) chapter meeting? Details about our next meeting, 3/27 at St. Croix Catholic School, are available now! Please contact us with any questions.

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The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) and the MCGT Homeschoolers Chapter will host a joint event, the eighth annual MCGT Gifted Education Resource Fair and second annual Gifted 101 mini-conference.

When | Saturday, 10 March 2012
Where | Edina Community Center, Rooms 350 and 351 | 5701 Normandale Road, Edina, MN 55424

Kids | The Works will be providing fun activities for kids attending the resource fair.

Event Flyer | Download here

Schedule
9:00am to 1:00pm - Resource Fair
9:00am to 10:30am - Workshop Session 1
1:00pm to 2:30pm - Workshop Session 2

Workshops
At each workshop session there will be three different workshops available. Thomas Greenspon will speak on perfectionism and how to deal with it. Teresa Boatman will speak on young gifted children. Deborah Ruf will speak on levels of giftedness. The sessions will be geared to parents who are new to the world of gifted. Those who attend the sessions will have plenty of time to explore the Resource Fair in between sessions.

Resource Fair
The Resource Fair lets you see and learn more about educational materials and resources for gifted learners from toddlers to adults. Vendors and parents of gifted children will be on hand to discuss the resources with you. Parents, educators, and children are welcome to explore the following:

Curricula and other materials which can be used with gifted children for homeschooling, supplemental after-schooling, or as replacement curricula for school-based independent study. These will be available for sale.
Fun toys and gifts for children and adults of all ages.
Information about distance learning programs for gifted students.
Information about local and national organizations for families of gifted children.
Books on giftedness and gifted education will be available for purchase at the MCGT book table.

Resource Fair Admission Only | MCGT members $5 per family | $10 per family for non-members.
Workshops + Resource Fair Admission | MCGT members $10 per family | $15 per family for non-members.

Admission is payable at the door with an opportunity to join MCGT to receive the discounted admission price. You are welcome to bring your own lunch and drink.

Pre-Registration | If you wish to attend the Gifted 101 workshop and in order to ensure that sufficient materials are available, please preregister at the 2012 Resource Fair page on the MCGT website. If so desired, a lunch from Jimmy John's may be ordered and paid for during preregistration. Those planning to attend only the Resource Fair do not need to preregister.

Conference Information | http://mcgt.net/2012-resource-fair
Online registration form | http://mcgt.net/2012fairandworkshops

Questions | Call the MCGT office at (952)848-4906 or email info@mcgt.net

The MCGT Gifted Education Resource Fair began in 2005 as a way for parents of gifted children to share their knowledge with other families and to spread the word to parents and teachers about the best programs and materials for gifted children. Please plan on attending this annual event and feel free to invite your friends.

Update! East Metro Chapter Changes 2/9 Meeting Location

2012-02-05T18:44:00.000-08:00

St. Croix Valley MCGT (SCVMCGT) is helping our sister East Metro chapter spread the news that their February 2/9 meeting location has changed!

Topic | Summer Programs for Gifted Children

East Metro will facilitate an open discussion and have resources available on summer programs for gifted children. Bring your laptop and summer program information to share with the group.

When | Thursday, February 9, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Where | St Michael’s Church (Entrance at back parking lot door)
Address | 611 3rd Street South Stillwater, MN 55082
Download | East Metro meeting flyer

Remember that SCVMCGT next meets on Tues., 3/27, with the featured topic Tested: Helping Parents Make Sense of the Scores. Learn more about our March Meeting below at our January 31 blog entry.

Welcome, Visitors and New SCVMCGT Chapter Members!

2012-02-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome!

Thank you to everyone who attended our first official chapter meeting at Stillwater Public Library, Gifted 101 on Tues., Jan. 31. We were thrilled with the enthusiastic turnout. Now that you're here, we invite you to explore our site, download our FAQ and brochure, as well as discover some of the other resources and event news we've made available.

Considering a new MCGT membership? No need to delay -- you can register online via the main MCGT website and designate the St Croix Valley chapter as your new member affiliation. Membership benefits information is found at the MCGT website, with further details about the St. Croix Valley chapter in our brochure. Download the brochure using the link at right.

Interested in our new SCVMCGT email group? We will be setting the new email group live during the first two weeks of February. If you joined MCGT during the meeting, recently renewed your membership, or have contacted the MCGT office to transfer your chapter affiliation to SCVMCGT, we are in the process of confirming those details with the main office. The email group serves as an online discussion forum where members can expand on ideas, ask lingering questions from chapter meetings, or seek input on guiding and advocating for the gifted child(ren) in your life. It's also where we will share relevant local events, resources, and topics of interest. Group access is a members-only benefit -- we hope you'll join us soon!

Need to complete our meeting survey? We are collecting your ideas for future SCVMCGT meeting topics and family activities. If you did not complete and return a survey before the meeting ended, please bring it to the March 27 meeting. Don't have one? Download a new copy (.docx requires MS Word), complete it via computer, and return the survey via email. A .pdf version also is available for print-only, which you may return in person.

Know others who would be interested in MCGT? Curious about our next SCVMCGT chapter meeting? You'll find details about our March Meeting in the previous blog post -- just look below for the next topic. Download the meeting flyer, send it with a link to our website to friends or colleagues, or share via your favorite social networking site. You may also be interested in reading our introduction letter to parents.

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

2012-01-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

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

Statewideand national standardized testing sets eligibility for gifted programs,

grade acceleration, and more. What dothe 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.

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

2012-01-29T14:37:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-25T14:35:00.000-08:00

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.

2012-01-09T16:47:00.000-08:00

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

Parents of District 834

2011-12-08T07:30:00.001-08:00

Voice your opinion on the steps being taken to reduce the budget. Now is the time for community discussion. Click here for more information. There are many community meetings being scheduled.

Specifically- see section under Class Sizes/Other Programs. One option is to reduce services for gifted students. It is unknown what exactly this would mean to our children. Now is the time for our opinions to be heard!

MCGT Conference

2011-08-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

2011 MCGT Annual Conference

When:
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Where:
University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Co-sponsored by:
Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented and The University of St. Thomas School of Education

More information to come as it is made available, or go to http://mcgt.net/conference for details

Resources

2011-04-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

There have been several new resources added to our pages. See the suggested reading and resource tabs. Thank you to Nick Ardito and Jo Tate for their recommendations!