Archive
UPDATE: SAT and ACT testing for 7th graders restored
In April 2022, in a post about new talent search programs, I wrote that the SAT and ACT were no longer available to students in 7th grade. Taking these above-grade exams can be useful for highly advanced students, and sometimes test scores are requested by summer programs or other selective programs.
I can happily report that, after a lawsuit, both the ACT and the College Board (administrators of the SAT) are again allowing students under age 13 to take their exams on regular Saturday test dates.
Summer programs, already?
It’s not even the end of the year, and I’m already getting emails from summer camps for the 2023 season. It feels early to be thinking about summer, but for many programs, registration will open in January, so it isn’t too soon to explore what’s out there and prepare to apply to highly sought after programs.
I’ve just updated the Summer Programs page on the website, to make sure all the links are working and all the programs I’ve listed are still operating. I hope you’ll find this helpful in your search for a summer program your child will love.
If you know of a program that would be a good addition to my list, or if you find any errors in the list, please reach out through the Contact page. Thanks.
“Madam Math Circle” for girls
Madam Math Circle invites girls in grades 4 through 7 — or girls who feel they can handle 4th- to 7th-grade math — to free, weekly, online classes that will nurture their love of math, connect them with like-minded peers, and prepare them for competitive math programs including Math Olympiad, Math League and the AMC 8 exam.
Madam Math Circle was founded in August 2020 by two high-school students who were disheartened by the lack of female participation in math competitions. Classes are taught by high-school students with a passion for math.
Classes will meet via Zoom on Sundays this fall, starting this Sunday, September 26, from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern. (Don’t be confused — the calendar on the Madam Math Circle site shows the class time as 4 to 5 p.m., but that’s Pacific time.) Class spaces are assigned on a first come, first served basis.
Want to see what a class is like before you register? You can watch previous classes in their archive.
AJC calls kid artists to create Art from the Heart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution invites kids 13 and under to submit hand-drawn artwork that shows appreciation for those working tirelessly during these times, from healthcare workers and delivery drivers to employees in grocery stores and restaurants.
The Art from the Heart project will accept submissions until June 1, 2020. Selected drawings will be published on AJC.com and in a special section of the newspaper to be printed this summer.
Georgia Tech takes its summer programs online
Georgia Tech will deliver a series of STEAM-oriented online workshops for middle- and high-school students during the summer of 2020.
Topics for the week-long STEAM Whistle Workshops include creating mobile apps, music production, art with an engineering twist, meteorology, and more.
The summer workshops are being offered through the university’s CEISMC office, which manages outreach to the pre-K-12 community, and is the group that operates K.I.D.S. Club and Summer PEAKS.
Registration for June sessions is open now. Registration for July sessions is coming soon. Cost is $100 to $150 per workshop.
Free, online coding classes for children of healthcare workers
STREM HQ is offering one month of free coding classes to children of healthcare workers.
The classes are designed for kids ages 8 to 12. Sessions will begin April 13, 2020.
DeKalb poetry slam for young writers
Young poets who live in DeKalb County are invited to read their original works at a poetry slam on Friday, April 19, 2019 at the Mason Mill Recreation Center.
The event is open to writers ages 5 to 17. There are only 20 available spots, and the deadline to sign up is April 5.
There’s no cost to participate; tickets for audience members are $5 each.
Girls’ coding program at Georgia Tech now taking applications
Girls in grades 6 to 10 are invited to apply to TheGirlCodeProject, a program that teaches girls about computer programming through video game design and encourages them to pursue STEM education and careers.
TheGirlCodeProject has three parts:
- Lecture, a computer camp where the girls learn the GameMaker programming language, April 2-6, 2018
- Design, during which small teams of girls work together, under the guidance of Tech students, to create a video game with a STEM theme, April 7 to August 24, 2018
- Presentation, when each team presents its game to a panel of judges, with prizes and scholarships awarded to the winning team, August 25, 2018
TheGirlCodeProject was established at Georgia Tech in 2016 and is led by faculty and students of the university.
Applications will be taken through March 2, 2018 and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Free admission to Atlanta History Center on MLK Day
The Atlanta History Center is offering free admission on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Admission to the Margaret Mitchell House is also free that day.
Among the activities available that day are:
- A Trek to the River’s Edge, a documentary about student activists in the civil rights movement in Atlanta
- Freedom Ride interactive simulation
- Newsreel footage from the March on Washington, and a viewing of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech
A complete list of activities can be found on the Atlanta History Center web site.
Tour Europe in June 2019 for 75th anniversary of D-Day
North Atlanta High School invites students and parents from the metro Atlanta community to join in a trip to Europe in June 2019 to visit historic sites and participate in celebrations honoring the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
The two-week trip will be coordinated through EF Tours. The itinerary includes visits to England, France, Belgium, and Germany.
Participating students may be able to earn high-school credit for completing the tour. The trip is open to students ages 13 and up.
Cost is $4,360 for students and $5,010 for adults. These prices include round-trip airfare, transportation while abroad, all hotels, most meals, admission to attractions and events, and travel insurance. Prices may go up as the trip date approaches. EF Tours is offering a $200 discount if you register and make a non-refundable deposit of $95 before Dec. 31, 2017. EF Tours can provide students with an online fundraising page for the trip.
The gifted coordinator at North Atlanta High School, Dr. Deanna Hasty, has provided a flier with more information. If you have additional questions, you can contact her using the e-mail address found in the flier.
Gifted Atlanta 