The Gifted Advocate

Dear Worthington Families,

Happy New Year! We hope this newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits as we embark on a brand new year filled with endless possibilities for our gifted learners. In this edition, we're excited to share updates, valuable resources, and numerous opportunities tailored to nurture the unique talents of our gifted and high ability students. A few highlights of this edition of the Gifted Advocate include:

A Summer Bliss for Gifted Minds: Unleashing Potential Beyond the Classroom

As we look ahead to warmer days, we have curated an array of enriching opportunities designed to captivate and challenge the curious minds of our gifted learners. From specialized camps to academic programs, we hope to provide you with some options to consider for your child(ren) in an environment that fosters intellectual growth and personal development. Continue to watch for communications with more information about these and other opportunities as they become available to ensure your child's summer is a perfect blend of fun and intellectual stimulation.

Empowering Parents: A Treasure Trove of Resources

We understand that supporting gifted learners goes beyond the classroom, and we are committed to providing parents with the tools and knowledge to navigate this extraordinary journey. In this issue we are providing you with a variety of resources to help you navigate the parenting of a gifted learner. We are dedicated to empowering you as partners in your child's educational journey. Watch your inbox for invitations and updates on these invaluable resources.

Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of nurturing the potential within your gifted child. Here's to a year filled with growth, discovery, and success!

Warm regards,

Suzanne Palmer, Gifted Services Coordinator

This year’s K-12 Science Day will be held on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 at Worthington Kilbourne High School. Science Day has grown to include a number of different options for students. The events planned for the 2024 science day include: Science Fair, Invention Convention, Design Challenge and Cubing Competition. To sign up to volunteer or judge, register students to participate, or learn more, visit the Science Day website (www.worthington.k12.oh.us/ScienceDay).

Volunteer/Judge Sign up form: Science Day Judges and Volunteers Registration (google.com)

For Elementary & Middle School

We are incredibly excited to announce the return of the Worthington Summer Enrichment Academy in 2024! We are looking forward to hosting this amazing program once again! We have experienced great growth and program enhancements over the years and can’t wait to welcome students back this summer.

This four-day program is open to all students currently in grades K-8. WSEA will be held June 3-6, 2024 at Worthingway Middle School.

The morning session runs from 9:00 – 11:30 AM, and the afternoon session runs from 12:30 – 3:00 PM. We offer a supervised lunch hour for an additional fee for those students participating in both the morning and afternoon session.

WSEA information, including registration details and course offerings, can be found by visiting the Worthington Summer School website. The course offering list and registration will be available mid-February.

We hope to see you at WSEA this summer!

The OWjL (Ohio Wesleyan University Junior League of Columbus) is a residential summer camp program of challenge and enrichment for central Ohio's gifted and talented middle school students who are currently in grades 4-8. It is sponsored by Ohio Wesleyan University and founded by the Junior League of Columbus, with major support from corporations, foundations, community service groups and individual contributions. For more information about the camp, please visit the OWjL website.

This year OWjL is expanding and has two types of camp experiences:

1. Residential Camp – a week-long residential summer program for gifted and talented

students who are currently (at time of application) in grades 6, 7, and 8. Camp dates:

• Week 1 June 9-14, 2024 - Grades 6, 7 & 8
• Week 2 June 16-21, 2024 - Grades 6, 7 & 8
• Week 3 June 23-28, 2024 - Grades 6, 7 & 8

2. Day Camp (New for Summer 2024!) – a week-long day program for gifted and talented students who are

currently (at time of application) in grades 4, 5, and 6. Camp dates:

• Week 4 July 22-26, 2024 Grades 4, 5 & 6
  

Some important information about the program:

• Applications are available now by requesting an application on OWjL's Application Request page.

• Application deadline is January 31, 2024

• Notification of Acceptance - email notifications sent around the end of March.

• Financial Aid/Scholarship Applications - due to OWjL Office by March 1, 2024.

• Additional scholarship opportunities for gifted students in need of financial assistance may be available from the Ohio Association for Gifted Children ( OAGC) and Support For Talented Students (STS). The application period is open until April 12, 2023.

For 7th & 8th Grade Females Only

B-Wiser Science Camp is offered at The College of Wooster to females who’ve just completed the 7th or 8th grade and includes courses with a full laboratory experience to empower their skills in both science and engineering.

B-WISER stands for Buckeye Women In Science, Engineering, and Research. This premier science camp serves middle school girls interested in STEM fields throughout the state of Ohio. The residential program includes daily courses with a full laboratory experience to advance campers’ skills in a range of scientific disciplines. Campers stay overnight in college dorms and utilize campus laboratory facilities.

B-Wiser Science Camp is offered at The College of Wooster to females who’ve just completed the 7th or 8th grade and includes courses with a full laboratory experience to empower their skills in both science and engineering.

Through cooperative learning, students take a full daily curriculum with classes in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and engineering that boost their self-confidence in the sciences. The girls have the opportunity to interact with female career exemplars who share their journeys in many areas of science and then each evening the girls participate in hands-on programs on topics ranging from civil engineering to boomerangs to light and waves.

The camp is scheduled for June 10-15, 2024 on The College of Wooster campus in Wooster, Ohio. Registration opens in January. The application deadline is April 20, 2024.

The cost of running this non-profit program is approximately $1000 per camper; this includes room, board, and supplies, as well as the shared costs of instructors, facilities, and presenters. We ask that families with the ability to pay the full cost consider contributing this amount to support the program. However, B-WISER aims to be accessible to all. Inability to pay should not be a barrier to attending the camp. B-WISER works to raise funds via gifts and grants in order to offer a subsidized rate, so that any interested student might attend. The subsidized camp rate for 2024 is $600. In addition, students who qualify for Ohio’s free and reduced school meals program are encouraged to apply for financial aid scholarships to further reduce the price.

For more information, visit https://bwiser.spaces.wooster.edu/.

If you are looking for other summer opportunities for your child(ren), you are invited to access this compiled LIST of various summer program options available throughout the Central Ohio area, the state, and even throughout the US. Please note: Inclusion on this list does not constitute or imply endorsement by Worthington Schools of any camp or program. You are encouraged to research summer opportunities you might be considering to determine if they would be enriching experiences for your child(ren).

There are many enriching summer opportunities available to the gifted students of Central Ohio. This issue has just highlighted a few of the many available. Most summer programs come at a cost to families, and therefore, may not be possible for some students to participate. Both Support for Talented Students (STS) and the Ohio Association for Gifted Children (OAGC) provide this need-based financial support for families of gifted identified students.

Support for Talented Students (STS) is a local non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide the opportunity for gifted students to participate in activities that families may not otherwise be able to afford.

OAGC, also a non-profit organization, has a mission to promote and support the development of gifted students. They, too, offer a scholarship to gifted students, K-12, for special activities that extend their special talent/interest areas. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is February 15, 2024. You can find more information and apply by visiting the OAGC Scholarship form.

Calling all creative students!!!! Do you have a great idea? Have you uncovered an interesting problem? Have you ever wanted to invent something? Or make an existing invention better? Then Invention Convention, a part of Invention League, is just the program for you.

FACTS ABOUT INVENTION CONVENTION:

►Invention Convention is offered at no cost to students, parents, teachers, schools or districts.

►More than $650k in scholarships and prizes have been awarded since 1996 through the Invention Convention.

►It is aligned with National Standards...and most recently expanded in support of our national focus on STEM learning.

►In addition to Invention Convention being an exciting, fun program - students also develop important life skills.

Invention Convention is open to all students in grades K-12. Gifted Identification is not required.

For more information on how to participate in your school or on your own, please contact info@inventionleague.org

You can learn more about Invention Convention by visiting the Invention League website. In order to be considered for advancement to the state-wide event, students must meet all criteria established by the Invention Convention. Visit www.inventionleague.org for more information on required elements, including the student journal.

Students interested in showing off their invention and practicing their presentation in front of judges before the official Invention Convention Regional Virtual Competition can sign up to participate in Worthington's Science Day scheduled for Saturday, February 3rd. For more information on the Worthington Science Day or to sign-up to participate, please visit: www.worthington.k12.oh.us/scienceday.

Destination Imagination is a program designed to encourage a team of students to be creative, curious and critical thinkers. Gifted Services is very pleased to announce that EIGHT teams will be participating in the tournament this DI season.

We wish the following teams the best of luck as they work on their central challenges for this year’s Destination Imagination season:

Bluffsview Bears coached by Erin Lombard, Bluffsview

The Fruity Group coached by Rebecca Garabed and Matt Hartman, Colonial Hills

Evening Street Seagles coached by Lauren Eiter, Evening Street

DI Destroyers coached by Jonathan Spiker, Liberty

Six Scientists 2.0 coached by Katie Coffman and Courtney Cooke, Wilson Hill

Worthington Estates team coached by Sheena Costa Flowers, Worthington Estates

The SUPER Park Sharks coached by Katie Leonberger and Lauren Southerland, Worthington Park

The Kidney Kids coached by Lauren Southerland, Worthington Park

Under Ohio Revised Code 3324 we are mandated to identify students as gifted in the area of the visual and performing arts. We are currently accepting referrals for students in this area which includes the visual arts, music, dance, and theatre. While there is a mandate for gifted identification in the area of the arts, there is no mandate for gifted services in this area.

Students who are referred for evaluation in this area of gifted identification, will be evaluated using one to three different instruments. The first phase of the evaluation is the completion of a state approved checklist of gifted traits in the arts. An arts educator who is familiar with your child and the area in which he/she is being assessed will complete the checklist based on observations from the beginning of the school year.

Students who meet the state screening score, but not the state qualifying score, will be assessed with a second checklist. Students who earn a qualifying score on either checklist assessment will be invited to participate in the second phase of assessment. This phase is a display of talent using a portfolio of visual art or an original music, dance, or drama performance coupled with a display of requested technical skills as appropriate to the area being assessed. A full explanation of the process and the referral form can be found on the Gifted Services Website.

Below are the remaining National test dates held in Worthington. If for some reason our district SAT and ACT test dates conflict with your student’s schedule, he/she is welcome to take these tests at any of our neighboring districts on alternate dates as long as they register in advance. PSAT testing is sponsored by the high school guidance departments. Please contact your high school for information about PSAT test dates.

Advanced Placement (AP)

• Dates: May 6-17, 2024
• Location:
• TWHS AP exams will be administered at the Worthington Education Center due to construction.
• WKHS AP exams will be administered at Worthington Kilbourne High School.
• Registration is open for AP testing. Please visit www.worthington.k12.oh.us/APExam for details on timing, cost & registration. The registration deadline is February 23, 2024.

ACT

Registration: http://www.act.org/

Location: Thomas Worthington High School

Dates:

• February 10, 2024

SAT

Registration: https://satreg.collegeboard.org

Location: Worthington Kilbourne High School

Dates:

• March 9, 2024
• May 4, 2024
• June 1, 2024

If for some reason our district SAT and ACT tests dates conflict with your student's schedule, they are welcome to take these tests at any of our neighboring districts on alternate dates. For more information on how to register for either of these tests, please visit www.act.org or www.collegeboard.org.

BigFuture from College Board is a free online resource that helps students take the best first step after high school. They will help you and your high schooler explore careers, plan for college, and pay for college. Whether they're interested in a four-year university, community college, or career training, BigFuture has what they need to start planning their future, their way.

To learn more about the resources available from Big Future, including how to win a $40,000 scholarship visit the Big Future website.

The Ohio Association for Gifted Children (OAGC) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote and support the development of gifted students. Each year OAGC awards college scholarships to Ohio students identified as gifted in one or more of the following areas: cognitive ability, specific academic ability, visual/performing arts, or creative thinking. Students must also be about to enroll fulltime in their first year of college or are currently enrolled fulltime in an undergraduate program of an accredited university. An ACT composite of 27 or higher or SAT composite of 1200 or higher is also required for students to be eligible to apply for the college scholarship. Information about the college scholarship can be found at: Scholarships – OAGC.

Applications for the scholarship are to be submitted no later than February 15, 2023.

The Carol Strip Whitney Scholarship represents a life of passion, as she has taught gifted children for 45 years.

Applicants must be graduating HS seniors with a minimum 3.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 4.0 on a 5.0 scale and reside in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, or Ohio. Candidates must be participating in extracurricular activities and be considered gifted. Candidates must demonstrate high moral character in his or her daily life and attend or plan to attend an educational institution in the US.

Deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

The Gifted Services Department has a video presentation to assist parents and their children going into middle school with plans for the 2024-2025 school year.

The videos can be accessed here: Transition Night Presentations.

This presentation provides an opportunity for parents to hear from various faculty members regarding the social and emotional needs of the gifted adolescent and appropriate coursework and opportunities for gifted learners at the middle school level.

View the 8th Grade Gifted Transition presentation for students transitioning to High School in the fall of 2024.

Parenting gifted children can be both rewarding and challenging. These children often have unique needs, abilities, and sensitivities that may require tailored support. Here are some general tips and resources to help parents navigate the journey of raising gifted children.

Tips for Parenting Gifted Children

• Understand Their Needs:

• Recognize that gifted children may have advanced cognitive abilities, emotional intensity, and a heightened sense of curiosity.

• Be aware of their specific needs, such as intellectual stimulation, opportunities for creativity, and social-emotional support.

• Encourage Passion Pursuits:

• Support and nurture their interests and passions, even if they may seem advanced for their age.

• Provide access to resources and activities that allow them to explore and delve deeper into their areas of interest.

• Promote a Growth Mindset:

• Encourage a growth mindset by praising effort and persistence rather than focusing solely on achievements.

• Help them understand that challenges and setbacks are opportunities for learning and growth.

• Create a Stimulating Environment:

• Foster a stimulating home environment with books, educational games, and activities that cater to their intellectual curiosity.

• Provide exposure to a variety of experiences and subjects to help them discover their strengths and interests.

• Balance Challenges and Support:

• Find a balance between challenging them academically and providing emotional support.

• Be attuned to their social-emotional needs, as gifted children may experience heightened sensitivity or perfectionism.

• Connect with Like-Minded Peers:

• Seek out opportunities for your child to connect with other gifted children, whether through school programs, community groups, or online platforms.

• Encourage friendships with peers who share similar interests and intellectual abilities. Note: This issue provides information about summer opportunities that may appeal to the gifted learner.

Resources for Parents

• Organizations and Websites:

• Ohio Association for Gifted Children (OAGC)

• OAGC Family & Community Handbook - A resource with a wealth of information for parents to better understand gifted in Ohio, characteristics of gifted children, educational strategies, advocacy methods, extracurricular learning options, and resources for families.

• 2023 OAGC Family & Community Day Presentations:

• Beyond Legos: Hands-on Activities to Nurture Spatial Reasoning - Anne Flick, Lauren Webb, Cathy Chenoweth present "Beyond Legos: Hands-On Activities to Nurture Spatial Reasoning." Research shows spatial reasoning outranks both verbal and mathematical scores in predicting success in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. The visual arts also require spatial skills. Studies show these skills can be learned by anyone. Come learn how parents can support the development of spatial reasoning with a few tricks and lots of great games to play with your kids.

• Early College: Which Path is Right for Your Child - In this presentation, parents and advocates will learn about avenues for accessing post-secondary level content, considerations in determining what path (dual enrollment, community college, residential programs, etc.) is best suited to their child/student, as well as the potential impact on further post-secondary study.

• The Question is the Answer - We know the ability to ask and answer good questions is a crucial real-world skill. We also know that people do not apply their critical thinking skills without critical thinking dispositions. Critical thinking dispositions are the habits and mindsets that trigger the use of critical thinking skills across different contexts. Inquisitiveness, truth-seeing, and self-confidence can be developed using great discussion questions, multiple quick question frames to use with their children, and tips for how to harness the answer of follow-up questions.

• National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

• Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)

• Books:

• "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children" by James T. Webb, Janet L. Gore, Edward R. Amend, and Arlene R. DeVries.

• "Raising Gifted Children: A Practical Guide for Parents Facing Big Emotions and Big Potential" by Catherine Zakoian.

• Educational Apps and Games:

• Explore educational apps and games that cater to advanced learners, offering challenges and engaging content.

• Educational Programs:

• Look for enrichment programs, summer camps, and extracurricular activities that provide opportunities for intellectual growth and social interaction. Note: This issue provides information about summer opportunities that may appeal to the gifted learner.

Remember that each gifted child is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting them. Pay attention to your child's individual strengths, interests, and needs, and seek out support from both online and offline communities. Regular communication with teachers and school administrators can also help ensure that your child's educational needs are being met in the academic setting.

The Educational Service Center of Central Ohio will host monthly meetings for parents and guardians of twice exceptional students beginning this January 2024.

• The meetings will be held on the fourth Saturday of each month at the Liberty Branch Library of the Delaware County District Library system.
• Meetings will be held from 10:00-11:30am on these Saturdays with discussion around methods of support for twice exceptional children. Guest speakers will be attending as well!
• Meeting information:
• First meeting - Saturday, January 27 from 10:00 to 11:30 am
• Location - Liberty Library Branch, 7468 Steitz Rd, Powell, OH 43065
• Community Room A (on lower level)
• Host - Marge Mulcahy ESCO of Central Ohio Gifted Coordinator
• Link to sign up form for this meeting (encouraged but not required): https://forms.office.com/r/MFz0iX3s3e
• Additional meeting dates at the same location and during the same time:
• Saturday, February 24
• Saturday, March 23
• Saturday, April 27
• Saturday, May 18 (one week early due to Memorial Day weekend)