Gifted Update
October
Hello, Quarter 2!
Greetings, families!
It is hard to believe, but we are only two days away from the end of quarter 1. I hope your school year has gotten off to a good start. My student teacher, Ms. Jeanna Harclerode, and I have been working on lots of fun activities with your scholars this quarter. At the elementary school, students have been creating things with Legos, making marble racetracks, researching the history of Women's Suffrage, solving tricky math problems, and learning about circuits. High school students so far this year have been working on projects like National History Day and Hockey Scholar, and today they are joining an Amazon Future Engineer Class Chat.
My Exciting News
NAGC!
I have been chosen by the National Association for Gifted Children as one of their Javtis-Frasier Scholars this year. This means that I will be attending their annual conference from November 11-14 in Denver, CO. This opportunity will allow me to learn about even more great things that are happening in the world of gifted education and discover more great opportunities for your children. If there is ANYTHING at all you would like me to try to find out from the world's experts in gifted education, enrichment, and acceleration, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I am happy to do whatever I can to help your kids.
Remind
I have created a WHSD Gifted Ed. Remind account. If you would like to receive notifications about upcoming opportunities for your child, please go to https://www.remind.com/join/whsdgifted to sign up!
For now, please see the opportunities listed below. If you or your child has any questions about them, please let me know.
* All Grades *
Patch Design Contest
Your artwork could go on an ocean adventure aboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus! Nautilus Live Ocean Exploration Trust is asking students ages five to eighteen (5-18) to submit original artwork to be considered for the official Nautilus Expedition Season Patch and Sticker. The patch and sticker will be worn and displayed by members of the Corps of Exploration during our annual exploration cruises and represent the expedition season for the team. More information is available here: Patch Design Contest
Young Scholars Program
The Davidson Young Scholars is a free program for profoundly gifted students and their families that gives them the opportunity to connect and engage in a community that understands their needs. After applying and testing into the 99.9th percentile on IQ and achievement tests, profoundly gifted students will have access to summer and virtual events, ambassador programs, annual Summit Conferences, and other enrichment opportunities through the Davidson Young Scholars Program. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis during the January-November application cycle. More information can be found here: https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-programs/young-scholars/
Art Competition (1st Amendment)
Art Competition (Soap)
Can soap dispensers be exciting and informative? That is the goal of SC Johnson’s Happy Hands Contest. The Happy Hands Contest was developed as an opportunity to educate students grades K-12 on the importance of hand washing while also allowing them to create an original design for an SC Johnson Professional hand soap dispenser. Submissions are evaluated for visual appeal, overall hand hygiene design, creativity and unique design elements. The top design will win a $300 gift card and their design will be printed on soap dispensers across America. Design templates can be retrieved from Ms. K. Submissions are due before November 30, 2021. More information is available here: https://happyhands.scjp.com/en-us/index
* Specific Grades *
Grades 3, 4, & 5 - Poster Contest
The Sons of the American Revolution is sponsoring an Elementary Poster Contest this year. The theme of the poster must be "Revolutionary War Event or Events.” Details can be view here: http://passar.org/Layouts/poster_contest.htm and examples of previous winners can be viewed here: https://www.sar.org/americanism-elementary-school-poster-contest-2/
Ages 11-19 - Art Contest
Grades 6, 7, & 8 - Essay Contest
The VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance for 6-8 grade students to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen. This year’s theme is “How can I be a good American?” Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000. Submissions are due by October 31 to the local VFW post listed below. More information is available here: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships
Post 4200 Vietnam Memorial Post
98 Penrod St
Johnstown, PA 15902
Grades 6, 7, 8, & 9 - Brochure Contest
The Sons of the American Revolution is sponsoring a Middle School Brochure Contest. Students will develop a brochure showing what they have learned about “One of the Nation’s Five Founding Documents” (Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Federalist Papers, & Bill of Rights). More information and samples from previous winners are available here:https://www.sar.org/sgt-moses-adams-memorial-middle-school-brochure-contest/
Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - Science Bowl
Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 - See Hamilton!
Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 - Virtual Field Trip
The National World War II Museum is sponsoring a Pearl Harbor 80th Anniversary Virtual Field Trip. This opportunity is available to students in grades 7-12. The virtual field trip will take place on Tuesday, December 7 @ 9:45 a.m. and should last until 11. Students should see Ms. K. to sign up! More information is available here: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/distance-learning/k-12-distance-learning/electronic-field-trips/path-pearl-harbor
Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 - Essay Contest
Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 - Virtual Poetry Program
Grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 - Ocean Bowl
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl will be held this spring at the Pittsburgh Zoom (may go virtual). If you are interested in marine science, this is for you! This is a scholastic quiz-style competition focused on ocean sciences. Winners receive trips and all competitors are eligible for scholarships! Students should see Ms. K. if they are interested.
Grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 - Speech Contest
The Sons of the American Revolution is sponsoring the annual Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest. The student must present an original speech with the topic based on original research and deal with an event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. More information is available here: http://passar.org/Layouts/oration_contest.htm
Grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 - Technology & Computing Award
Grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 - Audio Essay
The VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 64,500 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. This year’s theme is “America: Where do we go from here?” Submissions are due by October 31 to the local VFW post listed below. More information is available here: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships
Post 4200 Vietnam Memorial Post
98 Penrod St
Johnstown, PA 15902
Grades 10 & 11 - Poetry Contest
Grades 10 & 11 - Summer Program
The Foundation for Free Enterprise Education presents Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week, an intensive program that educates high school students about the American free enterprise system. Students would attend a week-long summer camp program in Williamsport, PA at either Lycoming College or the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Students have four different weeks to choose from. More information is available here: https://www.pfew.org/pfew-info and the application is available here: https://www.pfew.org/student-application
Grades 10, 11, & 12 - SAT/ACT/PSAT advice
If you are interested in getting some SAT/ACT/PSAT advice, check out this webinar from the National Society of High School Scholars. On Nov. 3 @ 7 p.m., Tom Ehlers, founder and president of Method Learning and Princeton University graduate will present the latest guidance to parents and students as far as will students need to submit SAT or ACT scores, the best timeline for taking the SAT/ACT/PSAT, the differences between the SAT and ACT, understanding PSAT scores, and more. Go here to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jpgQbzOpSsyZSAEPvMaNDw?ns_at=38961&utm_source=cs&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=C8949
Grades 11 & 12 - Essay Contest
The Sons of the American Revolution is sponsoring the annual Knight Essay Contest. The contest requires an original essay written in English, with a minimum of 750 words and a maximum of 1000 words (excluding title page and bibliography). The topic of the essay must be an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. More information is available here: https://www.sar.org/george-s-stella-m-knight-essay-contest/ and last year’s state winner is viewable here: http://passar.org/Forms/Knight%20Essay%20-%20Valley%20Forge%20Chapter%20.pdf