Boulder Valley Gifted and Talented - Winter 2018 Newsletter
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President's Welcome
We’ve reached an interesting point with January. In terms of taxes and resolutions, we’ve ended 2017 and begun 2018. In school, many of us have ended first semester and plunged into second—but continue through the academic year. We’re at an end, a beginning, and a middle simultaneously. What a great place to be!
At BVGT, we hope that your conclusions were satisfying, that your beginnings promise hope and wonder, and that your middles have you on a path toward better-yet moments. We delight in the connections we made in Fall, but are working toward more events, small and large in Winter/Spring, when we can connect, acquaint, listen, learn, and play together. You’ll read about some plans below, but watch for details as our emerging projects land.
We look forward to being with you.
Kristin Kusmierek, BVGT Co-President
Programming Recap
BVGT enjoyed a busy and productive fall semester full of enriching programs for parents, educators, and students!
We kicked off the school year with our 10th Anniversary Trivia Night at Decadent Saint/Wild Cider Tasting Room in Boulder. We raised over $1,000 for BVGT through ticket sales and generous donations. Thank you to Decadent Saint and Wild Cider for your generosity in hosting this fun event, to the Gebhardt Family for providing so many wonderful prizes for our trivia winners, and to John Bradley, our amazing trivia MC. Look for a similar event next fall!
In October, we hosted Susanne Keeley from Chicago for a presentation on executive function skills at Summit Middle School. We had a packed house for this event where our audience learned about how to help kids develop strategies for dealing with schoolwork deadlines and better personal organization. Ms. Keeley has made notes from this presentation available on her website at www.gostrong.org/handouts.
In November, we hosted Dr. Linda Silverman from the Gifted Development Center for a presentation titled “Counseling the Gifted.” This talk looked at some of the different characteristics experienced by gifted individuals and how counseling can help them deal with intense emotional lives and challenges they may face fitting in with peers. Thank you to Douglass Elementary for hosting this event. For additional resources and to learn more about Dr. Silverman and the Gifted Development Center, located in Westminster, visit www.gifteddevelopment.com.
We look forward to an enriching spring semester and welcome your input into what types of programming you would like to see BVGT provide. Please contact our Programming Chair, Janine Frank, with ideas and suggestions at programming@bvgt.org.
Upcoming Workshop: Supporting Gifted Children in Early Childhood Settings
Early Childhood Educators join BVGT in collaboration with the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County to better understand what giftedness looks like in very young children.
Learn how to best recognize and prepare to support these youngsters and their families, leading to wonderfully deep teaching relationships and enriched and happy classroom environments. Participants will leave with a basic understanding of giftedness and concrete tools to support gifted children in their classrooms.
Facilitator Catherine Zakoian, MA, LPC, NCC, is a child and family psychotherapist with specialized expertise working with gifted and profoundly gifted children, teens, adults, families, and organizations. Additionally, Catherine is an EC Credentialed Coach with over 10 years experience as an early childhood mental health consultant.
Date: Tuesday, March 6
Time: 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Location: Aspinwall @ Josephine Commons, Community Building, 771 Excelsior Place, Lafayette, CO 80026
Cost: Free
Training credit hours: 2.5 Clock Hours
Refreshments provided.
Register here. Registration required by February 19.
Space is limited, so register early.
Event Flyer – Additional Details
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Membership Reminder
BVGT Membership is open to everyone interested in raising awareness and supporting education of gifted individuals and furthering the mission and goals of BVGT.
Your $40 annual membership helps strengthen our efforts and makes a difference in the lives of gifted individuals in Boulder Valley. The larger our BVGT community, the more effective our advocacy becomes.
You will join on the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented website and receive membership in both the state and local organizations. Be sure to choose Boulder as your affiliate. Joining is easy. It only takes a minute or two!
Click here to join today!
For questions about membership in Boulder Valley Gifted and Talented, email membership@bvgt.org.
Parent Liaison Info
BVGT Parent Liaisons create linkages between BVGT and school communities. Liaisons meet roughly six times during the academic year to hear about BVGT events, learn about local educational trends and practices, and share info among parents of area schools.
Our next Parent Liaison meeting will be on Thursday, February 1, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon, at the Reynolds Branch Library, Boulder.
If you’d like more information—or to sign on as your school’s liaison—contact Kristin Kusmierek and Tricia Carpenter at parents@bvgt.org.
CAGT Legislative Day 2018
The following article was written by Charlie Kim, CAGT High School Student Liaison, Fairview High School, Boulder.
The Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT) hosts an annual Legislative Day. This year it will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2018, during school hours. Students will be given a unique opportunity to spend the day at the State Capitol and shadow a state legislator, who they follow throughout the day. This is truly a unique opportunity. There are a limited number of students that can be accepted across our state, as there are only so many legislators that can be paired up with students.
Is your 8th-12th grader interested in a career in politics, government, or some other form of public office? They might be interested in Legislative Day, especially if they are involved in Government, Politics and Policy Club, or Speech and Debate.
To qualify and be considered for this unique event, students must write a short essay demonstrating their political passions. Those who are unable to shadow a state legislator still have an opportunity to go to the State Capitol and observe state legislators at work. Any interested students are invited to apply through the CAGT website (http://www.coloradogifted.org/legislative).
Deadlines: Student Shadow registration ends Friday, February 2nd. This is a multi-step process that includes a registration form, a Student Shadow Application form (including essay and questions), and Parent/Teacher permission/recommendation forms. Accompanied Students and Adult registration ends Friday, February 9th. Please note that if capacity is reached before the deadline, registration will close early.
GT Events Around Town
The following is provided for your information and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. As always, adults are responsible for determining appropriateness of any activity or website for children. Please direct any questions directly to the host organization. Check out the "Around Town" section of our BVGT website for a complete and current listing of many local events which may be of interest to our gifted and talented families.
Beyond Giftedness Conference XXV and Parent Mini-Conference
Keynote Presenters: Dr. Jim Delisle and Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman
Date: Friday, February 23
Location: Arvada Center for the Arts
Main Conference: $140, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Parent Mini-Conference with Jim Delisle: $60, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Click here for more information about Beyond Giftedness XXV.
Book studies offered by the BVSD Office of Advanced Academic Services at multiple locations around the district (Broomfield High, University Hill Elementary, Ryan Elementary, Southern Hills Middle)
Book: Embracing the Whole Gifted Self by Dr. Patty Gatto-Walden
Cost: $16 for the book, scholarships available
RSVP to join. (Up to 20 participants can be accepted.)
Location: Broomfield High School, 1 Eagle Way, Broomfield
Day: Tuesdays
Date: January 23, 30, February 6, 13
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
Facilitators: Gina Malecha (Broomfield High counselor), Jennie Belval (former TAG Advisor & school board member)
RSVP: gina.malecha@bvsd.org
Location: University Hill Elementary, 956 16th Street, Boulder
Day: Thursdays
Dates: January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22
Time: 8:15-9:45 a.m.
Facilitators: Jana Krutsinger (University Hill Elementary TAG Advisor), Robert Dorr (School Counselor)
RSVP: jana.krutsinger@bvsd.org
Location: Ryan Elementary, 1405 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette
Day: Mondays
Dates: January 29, February 5, 12, 26, March 5
Time: 8-9:30 a.m.
Facilitators: Heather Szabo (Ryan TAG Advisor), Sara Castellano (Ryan TAG Parent and Preschool Teacher)
RSVP: heather.szabo@bvsd.org
Location: Southern Hills Middle School, 1500 Knox Drive, Boulder
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: January 31, February 7, 14, 21
Time: 2-3:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Deb Darnell (Southern Hills TAG Advisor), Betsy Shehigian (Emerald and Kohl Elementary TAG Advisor)
RSVP: deborah.darnell@bvsd.org
Insider Perspectives on Autism
Sponsored by The Insider Panel Group and Jon Garson, LCSW, along with sponsors BVSD and PEN
Date: Thursday, January 25
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: BVSD Education Center, 6500 Arapahoe, Boulder
PEN's 2nd Annual Stress and Anxiety Symposium
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Boulder Valley Christian Church, 7100 S. Boulder Rd., Boulder
Cost: Adults – $50.00 / Youth – $10.00
Click here for more information about the PEN Stress and Anxiety Symposium.
PEN presents Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety Documentary
Date: Thursday, March 8
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Louisville Middle School
Cost: $10/Adult, $3/Youth
This intimate and honest documentary and virtual reality experience looks at anxiety, its causes and effects, and what we can do about it. Featuring interviews with kids, young adults, experts and researchers. Q & A will follow the screening. The film is subtitled in Spanish, and interpretation will be available for the after discussion.
Click here for more information about PEN's March 8 screening of Angst at Louisville Middle School.
University of Denver Policy Symposium & Gifted Education Conference: "Talented Voices: Diversity and Equity in Gifted Education"
Policy Symposium: Wednesday, February 7, 4:30-7 p.m.
Conference: Thursday, February 8, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Location: 1999 E Evans Ave, University of Denver - Morgridge College of Education, Katharine A. Ruffatto Hall, Denver
Click here for more information about "Talented Voices: Diversity and Equity in Gifted Education"
Jeffco GT Parent Seminar
Topic: Creating 21st Century Innovators
Speaker: Ian Byrd
Date: Monday, February 26
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
Location: Jeffco Education Center 5th Floor Board Room, 1829 Denver West Dr., Golden
Parents of gifted children need access to a variety of resources, networking and support to help guide them through their child’s academic journey. The Jeffco Gifted and Talented Department offers Parent Seminars in conjunction with JACG (Jefferson County Association for Gifted Children). The Parent Seminars focus on supporting the children, parents and educators while offering the resources and networking that are needed.
Click here for more information about Jeffco GT Parent Seminars.
Maker Bolder's Rocky Mountain STEAM Fest 2018
Date: Saturday, March 3
Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont
Cost: $10
All things science, arts and amazing! You’ll roll your sleeves up and get immersed in learning and fun. Everything from knitting to combat robots, and from boat building to zip line cars.
Click here for more information about Maker Bolder's Rocky Mountain STEAM Fest 2018.
Yunasa West Summer Camp for Gifted Kids
Camp Dates: June 9-16
Application Deadline: Monday, March 12
Location: Sedalia, CO
Yunasa is geared toward the uniqueness of gifted children while having all the enjoyment of a sleep away camp. Campers learn techniques for balancing the intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual and physical aspects of their lives through small group workshops led by Yunasa’s esteemed faculty.
Click here for more information about Yunasa and the Institute for Educational Advancement.
Book Reviews
BVGT book reviews are lovingly submitted by Jocelyn Gebhardt. Jocelyn is a founding board member of BVGT and current BVGT Co-President as well as an employee of the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver. She works in the Children's Books section and runs Story Time every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Colfax Ave. location. Please feel free to stop by!
Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth, Written and Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, 2017
Jeffers wrote this book for his newborn son. With Jeffers' signature quirky illustrations, this book is a kind and loving explanation of our planet—for newbies and all the rest of us—and it's my new go-to baby present (alternating with the last book in this review, After The Fall), though they both are for all ages. Its messages are for everyone, too, such as, "We may all look different, act different, and sound different... but don't be fooled. We are all people." On the subject of animals: "They can't speak, though that's no reason not to be nice to them." And speaking of Earth itself, "Make sure you look after it, as it's all we've got." This is a sweet, gentle, and thoughtful book that you'll be happy to read over and over and over again.
Winter Dance, Written by Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by Richard Jones, 2017
The star of Winter Dance is a fine red fox who doesn't know what to do now that winter is coming. The caterpillar gives advice, but it doesn't fit Fox. The squirrel gives advice, but it doesn't fit Fox either. One by one, all the animals of the forest offer suggestions, but none seem just right for Fox... but wait! Just in the nick of time, Fox gets the best advice of all. Story Time adults loved this book as much as the kids did! Great language and beautifully illustrated.
When's My Birthday? Written by Julie Fogliano, Illustrated by Christian Robinson, 2017
Not many adults need reminding that the ONE sure-fire way to get a young child's attention is to start talking birthdays! When's My Birthday? is written using a cheerful, upbeat rhyme and is illustrated with fresh, mixed media pictures. All are invited to the party—you and she and he! From the candles on the front endpapers to the candles on the back ones, this is one happy book! I love it so much that I read it to a few twenty-somethings over the holiday break. Everyone loved it. I hope you do, too!
Dear Girl: A celebration of wonderful, smart, beautiful you! Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and her daughter, Paris Rosenthal, Illustrated by Holly Hatam, 2017
The subtitle of this picture book says it all. This book is filled with affirmations for the young (or not so young) girls in your life. Simple illustrations go hand-in-hand with the text, and it is a great combination.
"Dear Girl,
Sometimes you've just gotta stop... AND DANCE!"
The ending is especially sweet, but you've got to discover it for yourself. Love love love this book.
After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again), Written and illustrated by Dan Santat, 2017
This is a stunner of a book. The story seems simple enough. Humpty Dumpty is the narrator who refers to his famous fall, then admits a few things have changed since he was mostly put back together. The incredible illustrations show what Humpty is NOT doing. He's NOT sleeping on the top bunk. He's NOT climbing to get the yummy sugary cereal on the top shelf. He looks with longing up to his favorite place: on top of the wall with the birds. As the story builds, the reader can sense Humpty's courage returning, bit by bit. I was completely and utterly captivated by the ending—and the last thing I want to do is ruin it for you. Treat yourself and your loved ones to one of the best books ever. I read THIS book to a few sixty-somethings, and there was a stunned silence for a minute after I finished—then spontaneous cheers with beaming smiles! Inspection of illustrations! It well and truly is all about what you do AFTER a fall. This book should win every award going, and with good reason. Enjoy!
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