2009 Ohio Summer Honors Institutes & Essex School

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Information about 2009 Ohio Summer Honor Institutes a and Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted is posted on the Ohio Department of Education website, under Programs for Gifted Children.

These are terrific opportunities for students who are currently in 9th and 10th grade (Institutes), or 11th (Essex), to spend time on college campuses this summer attending programs designed specifically for those identified as gifted and talented. There is a wide variety of subject matter and locations around the state. I urge you to check them out! Some popular courses do fill quickly.

Applications for the 2009 Summer Honors Institutes will be available on January 9, 2009 and are due on April 10, 2009. (Lists of courses available should be available, probably accessible from the link above.)

It can be difficult to find things on the ODE web site. Here is another link to a FAQ about the Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted and the Summer Honors Institutes.

Our first meeting of School Year 2008-2009, rescheduled

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The meeting with topic originally scheduled for September 15 will occur at our normal October meeting time!

On Monday October 13, 2008, we will meet 6:00-7:30 p.m. This is a change in time from last year. After much discussion, we thought many parents who would prefer an earlier meeting time to accommodate getting younger children to bed in a timely manner.

We have also changed the location, for the more central location of the Columbus Education Center at 270 E. State Street (downstairs where the School Board meetings are held).

Please join other families of Gifted & Talented students, as we meet together in accordance with the P.A.C.E. Mission.

We will have as our special guests Francie Nolan, Supervisor for Exceptional Children from the C.C.S. Gifted and Talented Program, and several other representatives from the C.C.S. Gifted and Talented staff. They will present an overview of all the Gifted & Talented programs in C.C.S., and engage in discussion with parents and families in the P.A.C.E. community.

Colleges That Change Lives Program and College Fair

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Parents of High School Students — Wednesday, September 10 at 7pm at Aladdin Shrine Center is an Informational Program and College Fair. This program features information from and about a group of colleges from all over the country identified for their quality programs, including some from Ohio. You may want to check out their website: www.ctcl.com

From the website: “Each Colleges That Change Lives program begins with an enlightening 30-minute panel presentation on completing a college search today.

CTCL deans and directors will share with you the latest research on specific campus characteristics and learning components that lead to the most successful college experience. They will challenge you to view popular college rankings as just one measure of quality among many, and encourage you to make the college search process a well-informed journey that leads to the best possible outcome: finding the best college fit: one that could be life changing.

Immediately after the panel presentation, the college fair begins, lasting approximately 1.5 hours.

The CTCL events are free to the public, and pre-registration is not required. ”

“Not on the Test” – regarding rote teaching trend

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I found this in the Public Education Network Weekly NewsBlast, and post here and on my personal blog.

“Not on the Test” satirizes the American education system’s renewed focus on rote teaching.

Tom Chapin, a Grammy Award-winning musician perhaps best known for children’s music, has released a new song titled “Not on the Test.” The song satirizes the American education system’s renewed focus on rote teaching, in which tests have become the sole reason to teach and learn. Music, art, drama and sports were what kept Chapin engaged in school. In addition, these subjects make the teacher’s (and the student’s) job easier and infinitely more rewarding. Unfortunately, they are also what have been cut from curriculums across the country as Chapin explains lightheartedly in song.

Chapin’s web site for “Not on the Test” has helpful links and information, including audio, video, lyrics, and art. Tom Chapin’s Official Web Site also features “Not on the Test.”

As one concerned that budget cuts will eviscerate a good education, I resonate and recommend.

Summer Opportunities Fair 2008 C.C.S. video report

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Step Into Summer Opportunities Fair 2008 is the highlight of a video recently posted on the Columbus City Schools website. The report dated 3/4/2008 may presently be found on the right side of the main page.

For a more permanent link, should the above go “extinct,” try this. (You may need to download and then view, depending upon your setup.)

caveats: The file is over 25 MB! (Don’t try this on dial-up!) It is also in a proprietary format (WMV – Windows Media Video).

Addendum: the link on C.C.S. main page is extinct. use the second link.

STS Scholarships

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Applications for Need-based Scholarships are available for students in grades 3-11 from Support for Talented Students, Inc. at SchoolMatch. Scholarships may be used for enrichment activities not normally provided in the schools. Activities may be during the summer or during the following school year. Applications are available at
http://www.schoolmatch.com/STS/STS.htm or from a Gifted and Talented Specialist at a Columbus City School. Deadline is March 14, 2008. The Gifted and Talented Specialists will collect the applications and complete the School Sponsor portion. For more information contact Beth Gasior at 365-6626.

Photo ID for Testing

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The question came up at our recent meeting: how can I get a photo ID, required for admission to many of the above-grade-level testing programs?

These are programs such as the Midwest Academic Talent Search or Ohio Talent Search, where above-grade-level tests (including ACT/SAT) are used to more accurately measure the ability and achievement levels of gifted children. Gifted children’s abilities are not effectively measured by the standard tests, where they tend to max out the scale. More effective measurement can aid planning and instruction to nurture our children.

If you need a State of Ohio ID, you can get one from any Deputy Registrar. You’ll need some original proof of birth (e.g. birth certificate or immigration (BCIS) document), and a secondary ID with proof of Social Security number. For renewal the ID itself suffices, as long as it has not been expired more than 6 months. The cost is $8.50. More information is available on the site of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). (Look under “Driver Licensing.”)

Selective Admissions Pilot

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Parents of current 8th graders in CCS who are interested in attending CAHS or Eastmoor Academy next year may want to consider the Selective Admissions Pilot recently announced. Applications are available at the middle schools. Criteria includes a minimum 3.0 GPA, and either standardized test scores at 90th percentile in 6th grade or identified as gifted and talented in either Superior Cognitive Ability or Specific Academic Ability. 50 slots at each school are available for this selective admission. Deadline is February 11, so families need to complete paperwork quickly.

About Subscribers and Registered Users

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