MAY PACE MEETING
School Transitions

Thursday May 26th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Location: Woodward Park Middle School
5151 Karl Rd., Columbus, OH 43229

Elementary to Middle School, Middle School to High School, onto higher education, even the transitions from one year to the next, can be hard for some of our students.  Please join us at this month’s meeting for guidance in helping your students navigate these changes.  Principals, guidance counselors and gifted specialists will share their tips for making these transitions.

Reminder – it is election time at PACE.  Next year’s officers will be elected at the May meeting.  Please contact PACE at pace@ColumbusPACE.org if you are interested in this opportunity.

APRIL PACE MEETING
Gifted and Intense

Thursday April 28th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Location: Ridgeview Middle School
4241 Rudy Rd., Columbus, OH 43214

Dr. Colleen Boyle, Supervisor of the Columbus City Schools Gifted and Talented Division, will be speaking about understanding the intense experiences, as explained by “overexcitabilites,” of gifted children and teens.  She will share strategies for helping our students deal with these experiences.  Parent Christina McMenemy will be joining us to share her experiences in parenting gifted and twice-exceptional students.

Next meeting, May 26th: “Transition Meeting – Elementary to Middle School, Middle to High School, High to College”

You may have seen a few things in the Dispatch lately about potential school closings, and changes. (More details of this came to my attention via my civic association – Forest Park Civic Association).

Besides regional plans, there is also a plan for Citywide Alternative Programs Options. Some of these may have a significant impact on Columbus Alternative High School, as well as other programs of interest.

Please plan to attend meetings scheduled to discuss the work of the Columbus City Schools Facilities Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee.

Citywide Alternative Programs Options (PDF City-wide Alternative)
Wednesday April 20th—Fort Hayes Campus, Building 110 (cafeteria), 7:30-9:30pm

Info on regional meetings can be accessed through
Links:
Columbus City Schools: Facilities Master Plan
Facilities Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee

Interested in wearing your support for PACE on your sleeve?  Order a PACE t-shirt so we can spread the word about how we:

• Support gifted children and their families.
• Advocate to see that needs of gifted children are met.
• Work with Columbus City Schools to advocate for and develop programs for children gifted in academics, cognitive ability, creativity, and the visual and performing arts.

Shirts are $10 each.  For order info, send a message to pace@columbuspace.org or order one personally at the . . .

FEBRUARY PACE MEETING
Parents Supporting Parents

Thursday February 25th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Location: John Burroughs Elementary School
551 S. Richardson Ave, Columbus, OH 43204
Main Entrance – East Side

Come hear parents discuss raising their gifted children.  This meeting is all about parents coming together as a community to help support their gifted kids.  Share your ideas, triumphs, even your disasters, with the group.  Learn more about dealing with emotional needs, educational needs, advocating for your child, anything that other parents can share about raising a gifted child.

JANUARY PACE MEETING
Summer Enrichment Programs

Thursday January 21st from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Columbus Alternative High School
2632 McGuffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43211

Thinking about ways to keep your child engaged over the summer months?  We have reached out to these organizations to invite them to provide information on the summer opportunities they provide: The Support for Talented Students, OAGC (Ohio Association for Gifted Children), OWJL Camp (for middles schoolers at Ohio Wesleyan University), Direct Martin Essex School for the Gifted Summer Program at Otterbein College, Columbus College of Art and Design, COSI, The Columbus Zoo, Ohio Center for Law Related Education, TINKER: Columbus, CATCO Performing Arts Theater, Thurber House, The Ohio State University.

Scholarships Available!

Looking for a way to make those summer programs possible? Support for Talented Students provides scholarships for summer enrichment programs for gifted and talented Central Ohio students currently in grades 3-11 whose families could not otherwise afford the costs

www.supportfortalentedstudents.org

Summer Opportunity Links

Columbus City Schools Gifted and Talented Department keeps a list of some summer enrichment opportunities.

http://www.ccsoh.us/summeropportunities.aspx

Here is a Columbus Dispatch article from Tuesday, December 15th regarding gifted students attending a recent State Board of Education meeting to protest a proposed update to the Ohio Gifted Rule, or set of standard standards:

Students complain Ohio may gut gifted-education standards

Here is a Columbus Dispatch editorial from Saturday, November 14th regarding the proposed update to the Ohio Gifted Rule, or set of standard standards, and concern to this update expressed by Ann Sheldon, executive director of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children (OAGC):

Careful with gifted policy: Standards for brightest students need full and open discussion

Order your PACE t-shirt at the next PACE meeting on December 3, 2015 at Fort Hayes High School, 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215.

Shirts are $10 each.  For order info if you’re unable to attend the meeting, send a message to pace@columbuspace.org.