MHASD Advanced Learning News
October
October is Gifted Education Month
Did you know that October is Gifted Education Month in Wisconsin?
Click here to read the proclamation by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction and signed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The WATG (Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted) has shared a document with ideas for celebrating and showing our support for gifted students, parents and teachers. Check out their ideas here.
Congratulations to the WordMaster Team Winners from last spring!
MHASD Advanced Learning Webpage
Middle School Enrichment Groups
Middle school enrichment groups like Future Problem Solvers, Math Madness, and Science Olympiad are starting now. If your child is interested, contact Mrs. Parmley (FPS or Math Madness) or Mrs. Stoddard (Science Olympiad) to learn more!
Hands On, Minds On- Now More Than Ever! WATG Virtual Conference Oct 18-20
Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted is holding it's annual fall conference in a virtual format this year. This conference is for educators, parents, and teens. Check out the conference schedule and registration options
https://www.watg.org/annual-conference.html
WATG is an organization dedicating to supporting and advocating for advanced learners. Check out their website for tons of resources and ways to get involved.
Calling All Students Age 12 and up!
Interested in engineering design? Robotic arm motion controls? Electrical circuits? Computational thinking? Then we have an exciting program for you! Students from all over Wisconsin will gather online to learn more about engineering, design, and coding. Interested in learning more about this? Watch the video below!
Now, come join us for a virtual conference on Sunday, October 18th from 9 am-noon. Once you register HERE, the ARDUINO® Classroom: STEAM Edition Kit will be mailed to your home in October to use during the conference. (Parents can also register for the Parent Conference at the same link.) You will also receive the link to the virtual session in October. Watch your email for the link! Can’t wait to see you at the conference!
NUMATS out of level testing
NUMATS, Northwestern University Academic Talent Search, is a program that utilizes out of grade level testing to better understand student strengths and academic needs. Students in grades 3-8 who qualify may be eligible to take the PSAT 8/9, ACT or SAT before the grade level at which they are normally administered. The
website has information about registration, fees, testing dates and testing sites.
*The 2020-2021 testing schedule is now OPEN, however, due to COVID 19, things subject to change in response to ever changing safety guidelines.
Contact Mrs. Parmley with any questions regarding out of level testing through NUMATS.
CTD, Center for Talent Development through Northwestern also offers several programs for gifted students including weekend, summer, online, and service learning programming.
High School Highlights
Students who are looking for additional opportunities at the high school beyond Advanced Placement courses should check out pages 62-67 in the MHASD High School Handbook. You can find information, requirements, and important deadlines for programs and opportunities such as being a Faculty Assistant, Independent Study, Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program, and Start College Now/ Early College Credit Program.
The deadlines for Start College Now are October 1 and March 1!
2020-2021 MHASD High School Course Description Handbook
Student Program Support Leaders
Based on the survey sent to families of advanced learners this summer, there were many respondents who expressed interest in working with small groups of younger students. Please note, this would be with the guidance of a staff member/adult as well. The goal is to help provide leadership opportunities for our middle and high school students, to build relationships across grade levels and schools with students of common interests, and to help provide more small group enrichment opportunities for younger students.
THANK YOU to those students who have already filled out the form. Enrichment groups are beginning to meet in the middle school and at the IC. If you filled out interest in helping with a group, you will be hearing from Mrs. Parmley soon!
If you/ your middle or high school child is interested in helping in this way and have not yet completed this form, please do so https://forms.gle/itgzxYZ6mCJqKJrS6
Social Emotional Needs, resources for parents
Mental health and meeting the social emotional needs of our kids it a top priority.
An excellent resource for families of gifted students is SENG. Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted is an organization that provides support through resources, articles, webinars, connections to mental health professionals, parent groups, online support groups and more. Kids who are gifted can often deal with unique issues including perfectionism, underachievement, anxiety, intensities, difficulty connecting to age group peers because of different interests or abilities, concerns with identity or fitting in. SENG offers resources and support to help navigate these concerns.
Another resource for parents is the NAGC- National Association for Gifted Children.
Galin Education
Galin is an organization that offers ACT test prep, academic coaching, or college admissions guidance. They offer several online enrichment courses for middle and high school students. Galin helps students realize and pursue their full potential by working with learning coaches, counselors, and tutors.
https://galined.com/enrich/
Did you know there is a Gifted Children's Bill of Rights?
Advanced Learning Coordinator
Christine Parmley
