Bede Music Box

HEBAGT Horizons Newsletter HEBAGT New Website HEBAGT has a new and improved website! It is now at www.hebagt.org . Here are some of the changes to our website: We have the Current Events scrolling on the home page. There is a “What’s Hot” button listing things that are important for G/T Students. There are maps and driving directions available for each event under the “Calendar of Events”. We now have information under “Summer Scholarships” regarding the TAGT scholarships. These scholarships are given by how well you fill out the application, not by financial need. We will be putting our newsletters on the site. TAGT Scholarships School is just starting up and in a few months your HEBAGT organization will be talking about “Summer”! After the first of the year your Gifted and Talented group will be offering the opportunity again to visit with vendors that offer summer camps and also an opportunity to learn about TAGT (Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented) Scholarships. Watch for the news- letter announcement on the date and times. Last year we had the best number of submitted applications in recent years. I would hope that more will apply for scholarships and take advantage of this great benefit from TAGT. More information in the near future. Robert Thompson, Region XI Regional Directo Congratulations HEBAGT S ends Parent Leaders to State Two former HEBAGT Presidents are now leading the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented. Rick Peters served as President-Elect last year and in November became President for 2006. Only one other president has come from the ranks of the parent members in their his- Robert Thompson is now serving TAGT as Treasurer, so 2 of the 5 TAGT Execu- tive Committee members are HEBAGT parents. Congratulations to both men. Dr. Richard Sinclair, Dean of the Texas Academy for Math and Science (TAMS) HEBAGT Horizons Newsletter ABC’s of Gifted Advocacy Raymond F. “Rick” Peters All children deserve a chance to develop their potential including Establish positive communication with your child’s teacher. Help the teacher to understand your child by sharing stories. Join both HEBAGT and TAGT to become informed. Your voice will be stronger as a member of these groups that are dedicated to the development of gifted children. Become active in your child’s education. Volunteer to help your child’s teacher (during school or after), depending on your own work responsibiliti es. Volunteer to serve on the various HEBISD committees. Time spent in this way not only develops a relationship with your child’s school, but serves as a shining example to your child as to the value you place on their education. If ever a need exists to elevate a concern, always start with the teacher and never skip a step in the “chain of command”. HEBAGT Horizons Newsletter KUDO’S From HEB One of Bell Manor’s fourth grade Advanced Aca- demics students became a certified scuba diver at San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea State Park in Toyavale, Texas. According to his dad, read below letter, Nathan Coward is one of the youngest certified scuba di- vers in the metroplex. Nathan is a fourth grader in Stacy Herron’s Class and Susan Harper’s Advanced Academics/ class for reading. He is cleared for publicity and photos according to FERPA guidelines. Mark your calendar for Explore UT! What: “Explore UT: The Biggest Open House in Texas!” When: Saturday, March 4, 2006, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: The University of Texas at Austin Who’s invited: Students K-12, teachers, and families, every one is wel- He was able to complete all of the required skills and tests this weekend at Balmorhea and passed with flying colors. This is a major accomplishment and we can all be very proud of his achieve- ment. He is, according to PADI statistics, one of the youngest certified divers in the Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex. We also attended a “Star Party” at the McDonald Observatory Saturday night HEBAGT Horizons Calendar of Events January 28, 2006—Summer Activity Fair February 4, 2006 TAGT Parent Conference, Keynote Speakers: Dr. Paul Beljan & Dr. Debra Tox- clair, Odessa, TX February 21, 2005—7:00-8:30pm Guest Speaker is Wendy Conklin April 28, 2006—H EBAGT Talent Show at Spring Garden Elem. 2400 Cummings, Bedford Other Local Events April 8, 2006—Carrollton-Farmers Branch Association for Gifted & Talented Annual Spring Sympo- sium, “Helping Gifted Kids Soar” Guest Speaker, Dr. Sylvia Rimm Workshops for Adults & Children Mapping Fun on the Web Google Earth is Google's entry into mapping fun http://earth.google.com/ . It not only has mapping tools like those on www.MapQuest.com , it has added in satellite imagery. Photos were taken over 3 years by high flying aircraft and satellites, and some areas are lots more detailed than others. Some cities have 3-D views from the ground up. Users share interesting finds. Http://moon.google.com will even show you small areas of the moon! You do have to download the free product and it requires certain graphics cards. People have begun to put these features to work for specialized maps. A marathon runner created this site to help record distances he traveled during a running or walking workout. Zoom down to your neighborhood, double click on your house and then double click a block away to see how it works! There are related websites such as Google Maps Mania http:// googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/ This site is a game similar to Risk http://www.capturethemap.de . Have fun with maps! Book Reviews Two recent books that I highly recommended are: Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Bright- est Young Minds by Jan and Bob Davidson, published by Simon and Schuster. The book takes a close look at how gifted education “achieved” its currently low status in public education and how parents and schools can change this situation. It has an excellent appendix, “What You Can Do,” and an exhaustive bibliography. Grandparents’ Guide to Gifted Children by Dr. James Webb, Janet Gore, Dr. Frances Karnes, and A. Stephen McDaniel, published by Great Potential Press., is exactly as advertised-it provides an excellent resource for gifted geared to grandparents. Besides an excellent overview of gifted characteristics, it on their website, www.nationdeceived.org . Below is a review printed last year that is offered once again. It remains the book I most often recommend. As an educator with 20+ years experience in gifted education, and the father of a gifted teen, I am often asked by parents for books that will help them understand the intensity that many gifted children pos- sess. I wholeheartedly recommend Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, published by Perennial. Even though the book is 13 years old and is not specifically about “gifted” children, I have yet to find a more informative book for parents. It provides many positive ideas to help you learn to live with intense children. If you are the parent of a child described in the title, you ill read this book and say, “Aha!” Reviewed by Tracy Weinberg, TAGT Associate Director HEBAGT Horizons Save the Date! Spring Symposium 2006 Helping Gifted Kids Soar a conference for Parents, Educators and their Gifted and Talented Students Saturday, April 8, 2006 Workshops for parents, teachers and students grades 1-12 C-FB ISD Technology and Learning Center Do you wonder why your gifted child so metimes struggles with schoolwork? How can you help your children achieve their potential? Come to the 5 annual Spring Symposium for some answers. Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Sylvia Rimm, psychologist, columnist, author of Why Bright Kids HEBAGT Horizons SUMMER ACTIVITY FAIR Sponsored by: Hurst-Euless-Bedford Association for the Gifted and Talented (HEBAGT) Birdville ISD Association for the Gifted and Talented (BISD AGT) DATE: Saturday, January 28, 200 TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon * Come-and-go Event PLACE: 1849 Central Drive, Bedford, TX, in the Pat May Center The Pat May Center is behind the Administration building and faces Pennington field OPEN TO: All parents and students interested in educational and artistic summer camps/programs. We will have around 20 different booths representing educational and artistic summer camps/programs in the area. We will also have brochures on camps that are in the area but not or 817-267-5185 Wendy McGahey at 5mcgaheys@sbcglobal.net or 817-788-1484 HEBAGT Horizons WE NEED YOU! We will need several go-getters to work as officers with HEBAGT for next school year. Most of the officers hold down full time jobs and are still able to help out with our organization. If you are interested in joining a fun and exciting organization, then contact Tammy at info@hebagt.org The Lone Star Leadership Academy The Lone Star Leadership Academy is a weeklong residential leadership development program for outstanding Texas 5th-8th graders. This program is listed in TAGT’s Insights guide to summer programs for gifted students. In addition, gifted and talented students may apply for TAGT sum- mer program scholarships of up to $300 to participate in the Lone Star Leadership Academy. An informational parent letter is attached. Lone Star Leadership Academy is a Monday-Friday experiential learning leadership development program for outstanding 5th-8th graders from across the state of Texas. Participants experience curriculum taught in Texas classrooms through visits to historically, politically, scientifically and environmentally significant sites. Programs take place in Dallas/Fort Worth (5th/6th graders), Austin (6th/7th graders) and Houston/Galveston (7th/8th graders). Career speakers introduce Davidson Institute for Talent Development: www.ditd.org Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP): www.tip.duke.edu E-mail list that discusses Gifted & Talented in Texas: www.egroups.com/group/texastag Gifted Development Center: www.gifteddevelopment.com Information on Issues for the Gifted & Talented: www.hoagiesgifted.org National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC): www.nagc.org Neag Center for Gifted Education & Talent Development: www.gifted.uconn.edu Texas Education Agency Advanced Academic Services: www.tea.state.tx.us/gted Questia: an online library: www.questia.com/CM.qst?d=am3 HEBAGT Meeting Information February 21, 2005—7:00-8:30pm Guest Speaker is Wendy Conklin Topic is “Stimulating Creativity in your Home” Ms. Conklin’s website: www.mentisonline.com Benefits of Membership To provide a support forum for parents of gifted and talented children and to encourage parents’ par- ticipation in public education and other programs for gifted children. To keep parents and educators updated on local, state, and national legislative programs which benefit education for gifted and talented children. To familiarize parents with the administrators of the HEBISD who are the decision makers for the G/T programs. To inform parents and educators about resources available to gifted and talented children to achieve their utmost capabilities. To send out informative e-mails and newsletters regarding important issues for gifted and talented chil- dren To find out changes being considered for the G/T curriculum and be able to voice your opinion on these before the changes are implemented. Hurst-Euless-Bedford Association for Gifted and Talented Membership Form Name(s): __________________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ City: __________________________________ State: _____________ Zip:___________________________ Phone: ( ) ___________________ Wk/Cell: ( )__________________Email: ________________________ Student names(s), grade level(s), school(s) _____________________________________________________ —————————————————————————————————————————————————- ————————————————————————————————————————————————— ___Parent ___Teacher ___Administrator / Is this a ___ new membership? ___ renewal? Please check one: ____Individual Membership ($7) ____Family Membership ($10) ( 2 voting members )