2014 Summer Camp Opportunities

We are posting Summer Camp opportunities as they arise on our Columbus PACE  Facebook page, so please “like” the page to get updates as they come in.  https://www.facebook.com/columbuspace

Here are a few that have been shared with our group:

Open to current 8th grade students:

The Law and Leadership Institute is a statewide initiative that engages high school students from underserved communities in academic enrichment and legal career education throughout their four years of high school. Students enrolled in LLI attend class sessions on campus at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and at Capital University Law School and six other law schools across the state. However, enrollment into the Institute only occurs the summer before 9th grade during the LLI Summer Institute.

2014 marks the 7th year of LLI in Columbus! The 2014 LLI Summer Institute will be held June 23th through July 25th from 9AM until 4PM. Transportation, food and supplies are FREE to participants and students can even earn up to $150 for successful completion of the Summer Institute. In addition to learning the law students will learn valuable study skills, public speaking skills and techniques to improve their reading and analytical thinking. Summer Institute participants meet legal professionals, take field trips and compete in a mock trial competition.

LLI will accept applications from current 8th grade students on a rolling basis NOW through Tuesday, April 15, 2014. In Columbus only, we will also accept 10 new 9th grade students into the Institute. Completed applications may be sent by mail to the LLI headquarters: (1700 Lake Shore Drive, Columbus, OH 43204), fax (614-485-3075) or email (lli@lawandleadership.org). Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we cannot guarantee that space will be available in April.

Application and additional information can be found here:http://www.lawandleadership.org/docs/summer-2014-program-application#.Uwy_bmJdWSo

FREE summer enrichment opportunity for our middle school girls:

Applications are currently being accepted for the OSU summer program Digital Animation: A Technology Mentoring Program for Young Women at the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. Women mentors work with 7th and 8th grade girls. The free program runs weekdays, Monday (6/2)-Friday (6/13). Apply by Monday (3/3).

— > Applications: accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/apply.html
— > Read more: accad.osu.edu/womenandtech

February 2014 Meeting

Our February meeting will be held Monday, February 10th at the Shepard Center located at 873 Walcutt Avenue from 6:30 – 8:00. The topic is “How Can I Best Support My Child & GT Coordinator?” and will offer advice from the Gifted & Talented staff as well as experienced parents.

See you at the meeting!

There is also a new February 2014 newsletter. It includes some helpful info from Dr. Colleen Boyle, Interim Supervisor of CCS Gifted & Talented, with insights into the world of the Gifted & Talented student.

OAGC Resources – Lists for Advocacy

For keeping up with gifted-specific issues, please see the latest Advocacy Update on the Ohio Association for Gifted Children web site. You might also consider signing up for GTAdvocate (or the wider, high volume, OhioGift) listservs, to receive email updates. These are on the on the OAGC Advocacy page. (You might even want to consider joining O.A.G.C., or at least your local affiliate – like P.A.C.E. – if you are not already a member.)

Math for Middle School – Common Core impact

From the C.C.S. Board meeting last night: you may have heard concern about the “Common Core” impact upon mathematics curriculum.

There will be some informational meetings to hear the latest plans.

According to Twana Young, from Curriculum Leadership and Development:

The Columbus City School’s Mathematics Department is holding six informational meetings for the parents/guardians of students who will be in middle school during the 2013-14 school year. Any parent/guardian who is interested in gaining more information regarding the advanced math courses and criteria for enrollment in these courses is welcome to attend. The following items will be discussed at this meeting:

  • Common Core State Standards in Mathematics
  • New Middle School Common Core Mathematics Courses
  • Criteria for placement in advanced math courses in the middle school
  • New PARCC assessments

Remaining meetings will be 6:00 p.m. at:

  • April 29 – Ridgeview Middle School, 4241 Rudy Rd.,Columbus, Ohio 43214
  • May 2 – Buckeye Middle School, 2950 S. Parsons Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43207

Resource Info:
C.C.S. Math Dept.
Much information, for additional questions:
look for “Contact Us:”
Math Department Phone: (614) 365-5296

Twana Young
Director Mathematics and Science K-12
tyoung4762@columbus.k12.oh.us

Contact School Board Members – C.C.S. Cuts Crisis UPDATE

Despite what the Dispatch says about some relenting on the cuts (“Columbus Schools cancel big cuts as $25 million error found”), there is only a partial relenting. Gifted and talented stands to be more than decimated! On top of past years’ attrition, this would leave the department with half the number of staff it had several years ago!

Please contact your C.C.S. Board members, by phone and/or by email. (Contact information is below.) It is probably best to contact each one individually, to reinforce your message and to ensure that it does not get lost in communication.

I believe that they plan to vote on these proposals at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting, 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2013. You might also consider attending the Board Meeting.

(Most meetings are at 5:30 p.m., at the Columbus Education Center, 270 E. State Street. maps here)

THIS MEETING is at the earlier start time of 5:00 p.m.
at MAP:
Southwood Elementary School
1500 S. Fourth St.
Columbus, OH 43207

Remember that if you wish to make public comments, you must first sign up by calling the Office of Customer Relations at 365-8888 by [the scheduled meeting start time], on the day of the meeting.

C.C.S. Links:
Board InfoC.C.S. Board Agendas.

Some Points you may want to communicate:

  • There is no way that the remaining “Site Coordinators” (formerly known as Gifted Instruction Specialists) can fulfill all the coordination functions of the Regional Coordinators.
  • Regional Coordinators are the ones who put together all the Academic Options at the elementary and middle school level. These options can be the salvation of some students who are difficult to reach in the regular classroom. They are inspiration for those who do well in the classrooms as well, providing in depth experiences that reinforce classroom instruction. The ECLIPSE coordinator provides the same support for teachers and students in the ECLIPSE program.
  • Regional Coordinators also help provide support in identification, particularly at schools with fewer identified students.
  • Regional Coordinators support Site Coordinators, as well as other “regular” classroom teachers with in-services and collegiality that foster better instruction all around.
  • High School Coordinators are crucial in supporting the AP, IB, and other programs: encouraging students to participate, helping to create custom acceleration plans and WEPs, encouraging students to reach beyond to challenging summer and college programs. They also facilitate students’ in the difficult transition from Middle to High School.
  • While mundane testing functions might not be the best use of the the current Testing Coordinators, who could better use their wide range of skills in other teaching and coordination roles; someone in gifted and talented needs to coordinate testing, perhaps with other functions such as Arts coordination. However this coordination is accomplished, it is important it be done by a professional who understands GT, and the necessity of testing alternatives to “find” children whose promise may be masked by social and environmental factors. (N.B. Since C.C.S. lost a full time Arts Coordinator, state-mandated identification has plummeted! You can’t tell me that our kids are suddenly less artistic.)
  • When we lose these services, we risk encouraging families with gifted and talented “special needs” student to depart C.C.S. (At present, though we lose a number of such families (often when they cannot get a desired lottery program in one of the transitions; there are also families who move into Columbus, or seek to use open enrollment because Columbus has programs superior to many of the highly-touted suburbs.) When we lose these students, testing averages go down. Whatever you consider the problems with “high stakes” testing, it does have potential to adversely effect funding and reputation.
  • Many people have put in endless hours on a Task Force for the Future of Gifted and Talented, acting in faith and on behalf of our children to seek ways to extend and improve gifted and talented services at all grade levels. Given all the intersecting and overlapping factors, this proved an arduous task. When the going got tough, Dr. Gene Harris personally rolled up her sleeves and got involved to encourage this group to move forward. We are now nearing a strong, positive result, with recommendations for our students’ future opportunities. It would be profligate to throw these efforts out, and go back over twenty years to a smaller, weaker program. Our kids and community would lose so much, right when they stand to gain. It would be defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. … and pretty darned discouraging!

I’m sure you can think of even more points. Please feel free to share them with others through the comment option below.

While the way that this story developed in the news seems to make our district’s administrators look incompetent, the fact is that they are dealing with a “chameleon” in the ever-changing matter of state funding. We really don’t know what to expect from the legislature. They were set up for trouble with these uncertainties.

After the latest spin of the Ohio education funding roulette wheel, the gaps seems less daunting. With the gap now seemingly much smaller, it would be prudent to put off program destroying cuts until some levy or additional funding could be arranged. (Who knows, perhaps the corporations inspired by the CEC could even contribute funds to educate the best and the brightest, from whom potential future employees and leaders come?)

Encourage our board to put children first! Tell them to boldly take a strong positive attitude toward future possibilities. Tell them to have faith, and choose to fight for our children by maintaining and extending these important programs, and the people who make them happen for our kids!


To Contact Columbus City Schools Board Members

C.C.S. Links:
Board InfoC.C.S. Board Agendas.

March 2013 Meeting – Social & Emotional Needs – Monday March 11, 2013 – 6:30-8:00 p.m.

addendum:
Ms. Thomas’ presentation is available here!
Hilary Thomas’ Presentation on Social-Emotional issues

Please join us for our March meeting:
Monday March 11, 2013 – 6:30-8:00 p.m.
at the Shepard Center, 873 Walcutt Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43219 (MAPS)

Join fellow parents of gifted students, and guests, as we discuss The Social & Emotional Needs of Kids Identified as Gifted & Talented

Hillary Thomas, M.Ed. of Nationwide Children’s Hospital will be on hand to discuss this critical and often controversial topic with the group.

  • How do you know if your child is truly being challenged?
  • How do you balance acceleration with developmental realities?
  • How does this “identification” really affect our children?

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to participate in the discussion with others going through just what you are! Ask those questions that have been nagging at you! Come hear what our gifted educators have to say from the front-lines of this issue as well.

We will have child care at this meeting. Your child is welcome to bring a favorite book or game – or homework!


We are a community of parents, grandparents, guardians and families working to help gifted children shine. We know the frustrations, the joys and the intensity of raising a gifted child and we support all those who are on this difficult and wonderful journey.

Latest Flyer is available on the Resources page, in case you want to share with a friend!

Ohio Budget Bill impact on Gifted Education, and Education in general

Here are some resources if you are interested in the impact of the proposed Ohio Budget Bill (H.B. 59) on gifted education, and education in general.

For keeping up with gifted-specific issues, please see the latest Advocacy Update on the Ohio Association for Gifted Children web site. You might also consider signing up for GTAdvocate (or the wider, high volume, OhioGift) listservs, to receive email updates. These are on the on the OAGC Advocacy page. (You might even want to consider joining O.A.G.C., or at least your local affiliate – like P.A.C.E. – if you are not already a member.)

For those interested in sorting through other education-related issues in the bill, you may not want to sort through the 4206 pages of legalese. Check out StateImpact Ohio, A reporting project of local public media and NPR. Go directly to the article on What’s Inside Kasich’s Budget Bill: The Education Stuff. There you will find a view of the bill with many pertinent topics highlighted, and ways to navigate.

Of course, you can always download the entire H.B. 59, and search for “gifted.”

Let your legislators know what you think about House Bill 59! The latest Advocacy Update has a summary of key issues, as well as links to how to get in touch with legislators: Ohio House (Senate).

January 2013 Meeting – Summer Opportunities for Gifted Kids – Monday January 14, 2013 – 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Please join us for our January meeting:
Monday January 14, 2013 – 6:30-8:00 p.m.
at the Shepard Center, 873 Walcutt Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43219 (MAPS)

Join fellow parents of gifted students, and guests, as we discuss Summer Opportunities for Gifted Kids!

It may be cold outside now, but the time to plan for summer break is upon us!

This popular P.A.C.E. roundtable discussion is a perennial favorite to help begin the planning process for summer camp season! Bring your best ideas to share and hear from seasoned veteran parents and C.C.S. representatives about tried and true summer enrichment opportunities!

As always, there will be time for sharing other triumphs and concerns, as we follow our mission. We will have a report on the status of the Gifted Education Task Force as well.

We will have child care at this meeting. Your child is welcome to bring a favorite book or game – or homework!


We are a community of parents, grandparents, guardians and families working to help gifted children shine. We know the frustrations, the joys and the intensity of raising a gifted child and we support all those who are on this difficult and wonderful journey.

The latest Flyer is available on the Resources page, in case you want to share with a friend — or make a new friend!

C.C.S. Selective College Admissions Info Night

A few years ago, P.A.C.E. had Dave Dobos, who was once a member of the Columbus City Schools board, gave an excellent presentation on the ins and outs of admission to highly selective colleges. This month he is again addressing this topic, by moderating a panel of experts consisting of C.C.S. graduates willing to share their experiences in the college admissions quest. While the main focus is on the most selective colleges, the principles apply throughout the college admissions “game.”

Come and learn more about college admissions, with a panel of students moderated by Mr. Dobos.
This is recommended for families with students in grades 8 through 11.

December 20, 2012 – 6:30-8:30 p.m., at
Columbus Alternative High School
2632 McGuffey Road
Columbus, OH 43211
MAP

Selective College Night – Dec 20 2012 Flyer
For more information contact:
Joan Baker, High School Gifted Program Coordinator
Gifted and Talented Department, Shepard Center
614-365-6626 or jbaker6935@columbus.k12.oh.us