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| Gifted-Talented Resource Group |
| FEBRUARY 2006 NEWSLETTER |
| INTRODUCTION |
Welcome, new parents, to the newsletter of the Gifted-Talented Resource Group. The email list for this newsletter continues to grow as you spread the word to other parents.
This newsletter is usually emailed monthly on the 30th. So please email your submissions to the editor, Leslie Mann, by the 25th of each month: LmannJCH@aol.com.
G-T was formed by the district as a steering committee to lend support to D303's gifted and talented students and their families. This newsletter keeps you up-to-date on the committee’s doings and serves as a source of information for all the parents of gifted and talented students in our district. So, if you know of an activity, program or Web site that serves G-T kids and their families, this is the place to share it with others. |
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| Thanks to the G-T volunteer webmaster, Jim Chimienti, our new Web site is up and running. Go to: www.gtrg-d303.org. Please use this site to access this newsletter as well as other G-T-related information. |
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The steering committee meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. at the Ragamuffin coffee shop in St. Charles. In March, the third Thursday falls on the 16th. You are welcome to come. We will email you if the date changes.
On March 15, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Sally Walker will talk to D303 parents and teachers about “Surviving Your Gifted Child” at the Norris Cultural Arts Center. Sally is the executive director of the Illinois Association for Gifted Children (IAGC). This event is FREE. |
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Thanks, everyone, for volunteering at our first annual Tri-Cities Area Resource Fair on Feb. 22. It was a HUGE success. Special thanks to our fair chairman, Lora Brandt, who put hundreds of hours into this project, and to the Batavia parents who joined us to co-host this event.
In addition to Lora, thanks to these volunteers who put in a long evening on the 22nd: Ann-Marie Hejna, Jane Gravelle, Lauren Marder, Karen Stopka, Nancy Thompson, Patti Lopuszanksi, Donna Slowik, Jim Chimienti, Melissa Cox, Kara Blake, Jean Moravek, Luke Halleran, Cyndy Halleran, Peg Sanders, Sarah Sanders, Alyssa Brandt, Ryan Brandt, Luke Blake, Courtney Smith, Jess Stewart, Hannah Smith, Craig Filippi, Lucas Filippi, Gaby Filippi, Natalie Filippi, Marisa Filippi, Trish Borger, Bonnie Derylo. (Pardon any misspellings here, please!)
Fifty organizations came to the fair to tell families about their summer and after-school programs. Another 10 sent their brochures for us to distribute. Judging from the number of thank-yous Lora received after the fair, they considered it very worthwhile.
More than 250 families (not individuals) attended the fair, plus educators from different districts in the valley. Their feedback was all positive. Comments included “please do this again next year” and “you have filled an unfilled niche.” |
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| At the steering committee’s February meeting, D303's career specialist, Sue Gloss, visited us and told us what is available for students in terms of job shadowing. Sue has a database of parents in different professions who are willing to host high school students at their places of work. If you want your child to job shadow to learn more about a certain profession, call Sue at 587-7130 or email her at sgloss@d303.org. |
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| On February 15, 2006, the Illinois Association for Gifted Children sent out an advocacy alert, asking people to write letters to legislators to help restore funding in Illinois for gifted education. The Illinois State Board of Education's proposed budget does NOT include a line item for gifted education. Contacting key legislators can make a difference. Please see the Gifted/Talented Resource Group's website (under Advocacy section) to see sample letters, and to get names/addresses of these legislators. |
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Thanks, Trish Borger, for stepping up to the plate and volunteering to file for our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for this group, so that we can proceed with fund-raising. This group receives no funds from the school district, so we are on our own financially. IF 501 FILING IS FAMILIAR TERRITORY FOR YOU AND YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP OUT, PLEASE EMAIL TRISH AT PLBorger@earthlink.net.
In the meantime, members of the steering committee are using their OWN MONEY for start-up costs for this group, including registering for the Web site. Please, parents, if you are willing to help out by contributing a few dollars, contact one of the committee members listed below. |
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If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, please contact one of the members of the steering committee:
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