Association for Bright Children
DECEMBER 2016 - JANUARY 2017
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Saturday, December 3: Book and Games Day at Westmount Public Library
Wednesday, December 7: TVDSB event for gifted grade 8 students (see flyer below)
Tuesday, January 10: TVDSB SEAC meeting @ TVDSB Education Centre
Saturday, January 14, 21, 28 & February 4: ABC London enrichment events and parent meetings/presentations
Tuesday, January 17: LCDSB SEAC meeting @ LDCSB Education Centre
Saturday, February 25 (or Sunday 26): Games Day @ Cardboard Cafe
Thursday, March 2: Exploring the Stars event @ Cronyn Observatory
Winter Classes (January 14 - February 4)
This winter we are excited to bring you experts in the fields of science, fine art, and yoga to stimulate the minds of children ages 6-15. The full details are available on our website at http://www.abclondon.ca/register-for-an-event.html. As always, spaces are limited to promote quality instruction and interaction, so be sure to register for the classes your child wants right away.
Saturday, Jan 14, 2017, 01:00 PM
London Public Library, Westmount Branch, Wonderland Road South, London, ON, Canada
Games Day (plus Book and Games Exchange)
If your family has board games at home that you have enjoyed but would like to swap, you can bring those and leave them on our exchange table too!
During the exchange, we encourage you to take a newly acquired board game and invite a friend to play in the common areas of the library. If you'd prefer, you can also bring a favourite game from home to share with some friends for an hour. We'll bring some games too. It's going to be fun!
RSVP on our website for your free ticket.
*You can bring as many books and games as you would like and you can take one book or game for every one you bring.
Saturday, Dec 3, 2016, 03:30 PM
London Public Library, Westmount Branch, Wonderland Road South, London, ON, Canada
ABC LONDON CELEBRATES SUCCESS!
So far this year, we've hosted two First Lego League Junior teams of kids 6-7 and 8-10, who received the Rising Stars and Inquiring Minds awards along with their Junior Engineer medals at a recent expo.
We've also hosted First Lego League for kids 9-13 for the first time this year, and are proud to share that this team won the Robot Performance Award at the regional tournament held in London on November 26.
In October and November, we hosted art classes for kids 5-7 and 8-10 and a number of other events including Pokemon Go! and science for kids 6-14. All of this in just three months thanks to the volunteers and teachers who make ABC events possible.
Our last event of 2016 is an open event on December 3 - Book and Games Day @ Westmount Public Library. Visit our website to register and take advantage of the many opportunities organized by ABC for you and your children to connect with the bright and gifted community in London.
Lego Robots
Lego Robots
Lego Robots
Thanks to parent coach Beth Mai and community helper Josina McCulloch for the many hours they spent with this team this fall!
Brainstormers
Brainstormers
Brainstormers
Thanks to parent coach Beth Mai and community helper Josina McCulloch for the many hours they spent with this team this fall!
South London FLL
South London FLL
Thanks to parent coaches Dave Zimmerman and Wes Taylor for the many hours they volunteered with this team this fall!
South London FLL
SLACK: ABC's way to talk about what matters to you
if you are already using Slack, you know that it's an easy way to share ideas and resources. It's also a handy way to ask other parents for advice, to get input as you advocate for your child, and to share in a private group things you might not say in a public forum.
To join, open this link, enter your email, and you'll get an invitation sent to your inbox:
https://abclondon.stamplayapp.com/
You can join the group chat or message individuals privately - this way no one else can see what you write. You can also share documents, useful links, and all kinds of material.
We'll be using Slack most often as we move forward to enrich the conversations between ABC London members. Between this newsletter and the next one (due February 1), we'll be on Slack with other news, events, and discussion topics. Join us there.
ABC London Parent Meeting
Join other parents of bright and gifted children and experienced members of ABC London's board to share your experiences and learn from other parents living your reality. The focus of this meeting will be sharing resources parents have found helpful to them on their journey so far.
Register for this free event at abclondon.ca.
Saturday, Dec 3, 2016, 03:30 PM
London Public Library, Westmount Branch, Wonderland Road South, London, ON, Canada
SEAC Meetings / Contact Your Rep
Your child does not need to have been already identified as gifted in order for you to get advice and support.
Tuesday, January 10 @ 12:15 - 3:00, London Room, TVDSB Education Centre
Tuesday, February 7 @ 12:15 - 3:00, London Room, TVDSB Education Centre
Representatives: Christine Thammavongsa (thammavo@execulink.com) and Shachar Weis (shacharweis@gmail.com)
Tuesday, December 20 @ 6:00-8:30, LCDSB Education Centre
Tuesday, January 17 @ 6:00-8:30, LCDSB Education Centre
Tuesday, February 21 @ 6:00-8:30, LCDSB Education Centre
Representative: Kathleen Keane (keane.kathleen.f@gmail.com)
Recommended Reading
In this newsletter, we'd like to offer you Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children and Adults.
From the publisher:
Gifted children and adults are being misdiagnosed and given medication for disorders they don’t have. This book is your guide to help prevent that. Some of our brightest, most creative children and adults are misdiagnosed as having behavioral or emotional disorders such as ADD/ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Asperger’s Disorder. Many receive unneeded medications and/or inappropriate counseling. How can this happen? Many physicians, psychologists, and counselors are unaware of characteristics of gifted children and adults that mimic pathological diagnoses. Six prominent healthcare professionals describe ways in which parents and professionals can distinguish between behaviors that are pathological and those that are “normal” for gifted individuals.
Topics include:
- Diagnoses most commonly given to gifted children and adults
- Traits of diagnoses incorrectly given to gifted children and adults
- Parent–child relationship problems
- Issues for gifted adults
- Advice for selecting a counselor or healthcare professional
This book is available through Great Potential Press, and Amazon.ca.
TVDSB Navig8 Event
This event has been designed to bring together elementary gifted learners and their parents/guardians to learn about enrichment programs and services offered at the secondary level. Students will also have the opportunity to plan out various pathways and courses of interest prior to registering for their respective secondary schools.
At this event they will have the elementary gifted itinerant teachers, parents/guardians, and fellow peers who will all be transitioning into secondary next year. Please do ensure you bring a writing utensil for planning!
Please RSVP for this event using this brief Google survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdj9KOubkO8zj-VpNkxuy28c2kUwBIxJR-ADzn4ty1Jt2yjxA/viewform
Wednesday, Dec 7, 2016, 06:00 PM
Thames Valley District School Board, Dundas Street, London, ON, Canada
CONNECT WITH US!
Do you have a question about your child? Looking for advice or support as you raise your child and navigate their education? Are you an educator with an interest in gifted children and want to learn more? Connect with us!
Slack: abc-london.slack.com
Email: abclondon@abcontario.ca
Website: abclondon.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Association-for-Bright-Children-of-Ontario-London-Chapter-460077914015270/