Douglas County School District Advanced Academics & Gifted Education
Equity of Access
Opportunity ~ Agency ~ Empowerment
Vision: We seek out, surface, and nurture the potential in each student from all races, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
Mission: We partner with staff, students, families, and our community to design/refine/implement equitable and culturally responsive systems of identification and programming for high potential/advanced/gifted students from all demographic groups in all schools.
Email: gifted.education@dcsdk12.org
Website: dcsdk12.org/gifted-education
Location: 620 Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: 303-387-0191
MANAGING PERFECTIONISM: STRATEGIES FOR PARENTS
From Raising Lifelong Learners
It’s important for kids to strive for excellence, have high standards, and value hard work. But high standards are not the same as unrealistic expectations. When our kiddos have perfectionist tendencies or thinking, they can suffer from low self-esteem and a host of other negative consequences.
Perfectionistic Tendencies and the Impact of Perfectionism
Children who struggle with perfectionism have unrealistic standards for themselves or others. They believe that they must be perfect to be valuable and worthy of love. This can result in negative self-talk, fear of failure, relationship challenges, and even mental health issues. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are often related to struggles with perfectionist thoughts.
Even parents with good intentions and high expectations can inadvertently promote perfectionistic thoughts or perfectionistic behavior in children who believe they must earn love by being a higher achiever.
The Raising Lifelong Learners Podcast Episode #199 – Perfectionism Strategies
Do you have a child who struggles with perfectionism or perfectionistic tendencies? In this episode, we’ll talk about how to identify perfectionistic behaviors. I’ll share some of my favorite strategies for helping our kids identify and counter their perfectionistic thoughts and patterns. Listen HERE.
Asynchronous Development Of Gifted Children And Their Unique Needs
By: AuthorPamela Li Sep 18, 2023
Asynchronous development occurs when different parts of the gifted brains do not develop synchronously. Asynchrony results in the uneven development of different skills. Typically, an asynchronous child excels academically and in cognitive abilities ahead of their chronological age but struggles socially.
Read the full article HERE.
DCSD’s Elementary Discovery Program: Application Process Is Open!
The DCSD Elementary Discovery Program is a center based gifted program designed to meet the needs of highly advanced gifted elementary school students (grades 2 - 6) who require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from gifted programming and services provided through their school. Student’s placed in this program receive their typical school day instruction in a self-contained classroom with other highly gifted students.
Want to know more about the program and/or explore if it might be right for your student(s)? You can find further information, resources and the Discovery application on the DCSD Gifted Education Website. We will be holding Discovery Information nights at each of our locations.
Northridge Elementary, Tuesday, October 3, 6:00 to 7:30 P.M.
555 Southpark Rd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Pine Lane Elementary, Tuesday, October 3, 6:00 to 7:30 P.M.
6485 Ponderosa Dr, Parker, CO 80138 (Event in Intermediate Building)
Renaissance Expeditionary Magnet School, Monday, October 23, 6:00 to 7:30 P.M.
3960 Trail Boss Ln, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Please use this Google Form to R.S.V.P for an in-person Discovery Information night. This will help us plan for the number of families joining us.
OR join us for a VIRTUAL information session:
September 13th, 2023
6:00-7:00pm
Please R.S.V.P using this Google Form.
Information including the virtual link will be sent directly to you upon receipt.
Unable to join us?
Explore these resources:
Advanced Learning Plans for 2023-24
Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented (DCAGT)
DCAGT’s objectives are to:
Support the efforts and activities of CAGT, the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), and neighboring CAGT affiliates.
Present gifted resources and educational opportunities to families, caregivers, educators, and the community.Encourage advocacy and best-practices for gifted children.
Reach and connect the gifted community with opportunities to share experiences and exchange information.
They are currently looking for passionate parents that would like to serve on the board or volunteer to support events. Contact them via email at info@dcagt.org.
Visit their website HERE.
Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT)
OUR VISION & MISSION
It is CAGT’s belief that all humans have an inherent right to develop their full potential. The Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented fosters an understanding of all gifted children and their exceptional needs, and advocates for appropriate education and affective support through partnerships with educators, families, students, administrators, legislators, and the general public.
CONVERSATIONS WITH CAGT
Can you believe we have started our 4th season!! We hope you are ready for new and informative “conversations” for the 2023-2024 school year. This season the format is the same as last year and we will be presenting live CWCs on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
This season, we have new sessions with more amazing, gifted experts from Colorado, the nation, and around the world. If you missed any conversations, or want to view them again, we have archived Seasons 1, 2, and 3 for your convenience. We hope you can tune in live each first and third Tuesday on our Facebook page to view our Conversations with CAGT in real time at 5:00. You will be able to ask the CWC guest speaker any questions you might have about their session. Please come join us!
- Tracy Ford Inman- Ode to Joy: Remembering Why We Do What We Do – 8/15/23 (Recording)
- Paula Prober – Understanding Your Rainforest Mind: Guidance for Gifted Adults – 9/5/23 (Recording)
- Julie Skolnick– Gifted and Distractible – 9/19/23 (Recording)
10/3/23 – Dr. Deborah Ruf Is High Intelligence a Ticket to Ease and Prosperity? Not Exactly.
10/17/23 – TBA
*Click here to go to CAGT News for information on our next CWC!
Jeffco GT Family Virtual Learning Night Guest Speaker
Jefferson County Public Schools has graciously opened an invitation to surrounding districts to a family learning night next week.
GT Family Learning Night: 10/3/23 (6:15-8:00)
Please click HERE to RSVP and learn more about this virtual event with guest speaker Jenny Hecht. We hope you join us for a great learning opportunity.
“It’s Going to be Okay…I Promise”: The Dilemma of Parenting Neurodivergent Kids in a World Beyond Our Certainty and Control
It’s important to us as parents to ensure that our children feel safe and secure. However, the past three years have constantly reminded us that we cannot guarantee safety or control outcomes. This is a challenge for all human beings, but particularly so for those who experience the myriad sensitivities and intensities of neurodivergence. Join Jenny Hecht to explore how we can free ourselves from the myths of certainty and control in a way that will benefit us and our children, and enable us to better navigate life’s uncertainties.
FREE Great Books Discussion!
“Utopia,” by Wislawa Szymborska
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
6:00–7:00 p.m. CDT
Why does the island of Utopia remain uninhabited, despite “all its charms”? Join us for an online discussion of Wislawa Szymborska’s compelling poem, “Utopia,” on Tuesday, October 10, to discuss this question and many others with fellow literature enthusiasts. An expert Great Books discussion leader will facilitate the discussion, and we guarantee that you will leave with more ideas about the poem than when you entered the virtual room . . . and, of course, more questions! The discussion is open to adult book group participants, educators, and students in high school and up.
We will discuss the version you can access online here. Please read it at least twice before the discussion date.
“Utopia” is published in our anthology Imperfect Ideal: Utopian and Dystopian Visions, which you can buy in our online store for 75% off the cover price of $24.95. Just use the code GB75 when you check out, and get ready to savor and discuss 23 extremely thought-provoking works!
2024 Boettcher Foundation Scholarship Information & Webinars
The Boettcher Foundation is hosting webinars on “Everything You Need to Know About Scholarships.” During these webinars we will discuss how students can “ACE” their college and scholarship applications, including tips on how to help your applications stand out. You can register to attend one of the webinars by clicking on the date you wish to attend (please note that you only need to attend one, as the same information will be presented during each webinar):
- Tuesday, September 12th from 5:30-6:30pm
- Wednesday, September 27th from 5:30-6:30pm
- Thursday, October 5th from 12-1pm
Because our Zoom attendee number is limited, please only register if you will be able to watch the webinar during the scheduled date and time. While we do encourage you to join in real-time so that you can ask questions, if you cannot attend any of these webinars, you can still watch an abbreviated recording of the presentation on the FAQs and Resources page of our website (located under the question asking if the Boettcher Foundation provides resources on how to be competitive in a scholarship application).
We also encourage you to visit our website to learn more about the Boettcher Scholarship.
Cooke College Scholarship
Daniel's Fund Scholarship Application Now Open!
The Daniels Scholarship Program helps make college possible for motivated students from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, allowing them to attend the college of their choice. Daniels Scholars receive financial and personal support, plus a new laptop computer. Scholarships range from $30,000 over four years to a full ride, depending on college choice.
The application for the Daniels Scholarship Program will be open from September 15 through October 15, 2023 at 4:00 pm MT and typically takes students less than one hour to complete.
Please encourage students to learn more and apply online now at DanielsFund.org/scholarships!