Membership Special
Now through April 15
In honor of all GCS 3rd graders new to academically gifted programs, anyone who joins Guilford County PAGE with a new family membership ($15) will receive membership good through 2015-2016 academic calendar. Join now!
Open Registration!
Gifted students have many choices but also many considerations when searching for their best college fit.
Susan Goodkin is an accomplished national college admissions consultant who's helped many students and their parents not only find the best college for them but also navigate the admissions process. Last fall, Goodkin presented a webinar for Guilford County PAGE and drew a wide audience and rave reviews for the valuable information and Q&A session.
This will be the best FREE hour you spend on your child's education.
Choose the date that works best for you and register now:
Thursday, March 26, 12-1 p.m (EST)
Sunday, March 29, 2-3 p.m. (EST)
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Guilford County PAGE Board Members to attend NCAGT Conference
We are proud to have two board members, Vice President Michelle Himmelman and AG Liaison Katherine Humphreys, attending this year's conference in Winston-Salem, March 5-6.
Himmelman, an education consultant with a master's degree in gifted education, will be speaking on two panels at the conference. (See her column below.)
The conference is open to the public for a fee, and advance online registration is required. This year NCAGT celebrates "AIG: At the Heart of North Carolina."
New this year will be a screening of the documentary film 2e: Twice Exceptional, followed by a discussion with the film's director.
THE SCREENING IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC on March 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Grand Pavilion Ballroom in Winston-Salem.
Watch the trailer and read more info. |
Gearing up for the NCAGT Conference
I will be attending the 41st annual NCAGT state conference in Winston-Salem on March 5-6. This is a conference that I attend each year and have served as a presenter in the past. I always walk away with new information and ideas on how best to understand and teach our gifted students. The camaraderie and collaboration that takes place during these two days sets the stage for attendees to explore multiple facets in the world of the gifted child. The topics range from social emotional issues to best practices In educating gifted students. Both educators and parents are invited and encouraged to attend this annual conference. Many topics are applicable both in and out of the school setting.
This year, I will once again be presenting a session entitled, Practical Differentiation: Fostering DOK and HOTS. This presentation will highlight Webb’s depth of knowledge and higher order thinking approaches that appeal to our gifted learners. During this year’s conference I will also be participating in a panel discussion on behalf of Guilford County PAGE, hosted by the NCAGT Advocacy Committee and aimed at informing conference attendees of effective approaches when advocating for the needs of our gifted students.
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 Q&A with Dibrelle Tourret, GCS AG Director
Q: With the move to a 10-point grading scale for NC high schools, how does it impact AP, IB, and Honors classes?
A: Currently AP/IB courses have two extra quality points (A = 6) and Honors courses have one extra quality point (A = 5). Beginning with the class of 2019 (freshmen in 2015-16), the quality points will be reduced: AP/IB and college courses will have one extra quality point (A = 5) and Honors courses with have 0.5 extra quality point (A = 4.5).
However, the 10-point grading scale will be implemented for all high school students beginning in 2015-16. This is to ensure that students within the same classroom are being graded using the same scale.
The different weighting systems will not disadvantage the class of 2019 and beyond since they will not be “in competition” with older grades for class rank, scholarship consideration or other GPA-related activities.
Q: How many extracurricular activities should a student be involved in?
A: Extracurricular activities should match the interests and stamina of each student. While colleges are certainly looking for scholars who are also actively involved in their school and local communities, they are also looking for evidence that the student has identified specific areas of interest which have become more honed throughout the secondary years. Students should progressively move into leadership roles or activities that show increasing commitment to the area of interest. Rather than becoming a member of every school club available, there should be a logical connecting thread to a student’s extracurricular choices.
Q: Will colleges see grades earned during middle school for high school classes (Math I and II)?
A: Yes. It seems amazing that college admission will include grades that our 7th and 8th grade students earn, but such is the case for our most advanced students. Students’ grades on Math I and Math II do appear on their high school transcript. In fact, they are right at the top of the academic information section which is listed chronologically. These grades do not, however, impact the student’s high school Grade Point Average (GPA)—negatively or positively. They are not included in the calculation of the GPA at all.
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Special Thanks
On February 21, a group of 33 Guilford County PAGE members toured Greensboro's first maker and hacker space, The Forge, and got a chance to learn about and watch demonstrations of various tools that allows the community's builders, tinkerers, and makers to share ideas and bring them to life.
Parents and children alike were intrigued by the 3D printer—just one of the many great tools and equipment available to The Forge members.
Upcoming Event at The Forge
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Saturday, March 14, 9:26 a.m.-12 p.m.: The Forge will be celebrating Pi Day by hosting a Career Exploration event spotlighting math-intensive jobs. They will have employers in the workshop area focusing on aviation manufacturing, machining, and welding jobs, and in the “soft space” there will be employers looking for talent in IT and code-related jobs.
If you know of an employer that would like to exhibit, please contact Joel@skilltv.net to reserve a table. |
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