New gifted school forming in Marietta
A new private school for gifted children is accepting applications for 2014-15, its inaugural school year.
Atlanta Gifted Academy, located in Marietta, will serve children ages 3 to 12. The academic program will utilize Stanford University’s EPGY (Education Program for Gifted Youth) curriculum and project-based learning.
The school also is offering a series of week-long summer camps focused on various STEM topics.
Atlanta Gifted Academy was founded by Claire Anderson, a local parent with a master’s degree in education.
Affordable summer camp teaches basics of programming and robotics
The CougarBots, a robotics team made up of students at DeKalb County’s Henderson Middle School and Lakeside High School, will run a one-week programming camp this summer for rising 3rd-6th graders.
The camp will be led by the students and their coaches, who will introduce children to the simple Scratch programming language and LEGO NXT robotics programming.
The CougarBots camp will take place June 9-13, 2014, on the campus of Henderson Middle School. Cost is $150.
For more information or to register, download the camp’s flyer, or contact the group via e-mail.
Atlanta Science Festival begins this Saturday
Science lovers, rejoice.
The Atlanta Science Festival kicks off this Saturday, offering a solid week of science-related activities on more topics than I’m going to list here. They’ve got robotics, biology, environmental science, astronomy, and more, at locations in and around Atlanta.
It all culminates in the Exploration Expo, a huge, free event on Saturday, March 29, at Centennial Olympic Park. Dozens of companies and schools will host hands-on activities geared toward kids and families.
The festival is a joint effort among Emory University, Georgia Tech, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. If all goes well, they’re hoping to make it an annual springtime ritual.
Parent Day offered by Georgia Association for Gifted Children
The Georgia Association for Gifted Children will hold a workshop for parents this Sunday, March 9, in Athens.
Drs. Angela and Brian Housand will present the topic, “Raising Gifted Kids in a Digital Age.” Participants can then participate in two breakout sessions: “Failing to Succeed” and “Today’s Technology and Gifted Students.”
The workshop will be from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Foundry Park Inn & Spa. Registration is $20 if you sign up by tomorrow; it’s $25 at the door.
Appalachian Institute summer camp in N.C. mountains
I almost never post anything here that’s not located in the metro Atlanta area, but I’m making an exception because this camp just sounds so lovely — and it’s only a few hours’ drive away.
The Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning has posted its program details and registration for 2014. Held each summer at Warren Wilson College in western North Carolina, this enrichment camp offers children ages 8-17 (rising 3rd – 12th graders) the chance to learn about topics that interest them. This summer’s choices include creative writing, performance art, chemistry, computer logic, Greek mythology and more than I can possibly list here.
What I adore about the AICL curriculum is that — unlike in many programs for gifted kids — it’s not so STEM heavy. Sure, this program offers physics-related classes, but it also has a class in jug bands and another in creating costumes from newspapers. And even the physics classes are taught in a fun context (e.g., trebuchets). I just can’t think of any other summer program I’ve seen that does more to honor the many varieties of gifted children.
There’s a day camp option, as well as a residential camp.
Students need not be gifted identified by their school to attend. As the camp’s web site puts it, “[W]e call our campers motivated learners, figuring anyone who shows up to take biology, math, or art in July is motivated.”
Summer debate programs at UGA, Emory
Middle-school and high-school debaters are invited to hone their skills and prepare for the 2014-15 debate season by taking part in summer programs offered at Emory University and the University of Georgia.
Both programs are open to beginning and experienced debaters, with the students divided into groups based on their experience levels. Students conduct research and work on communication and logic skills.
Emory’s program, the Emory National Debate Institute, offers sessions ranging from two weeks to six weeks. Middle-school students will attend a day camp at Pace Academy. The sessions for high-school students will take place on the Emory campus. Students typically live in dormitories throughout the session, but a commuter option is available with a slight cost savings.
The University of Georgia’s Georgia Debate Institutes is open to rising 7th to 12th graders and offers sessions lasting one, two or three weeks. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The application deadline is June 10; there is a discount if you apply before May 1. Again, students may choose to commute daily to the campus instead of living in a campus dorm, and commuting students will receive a tuition discount.
Parent survey about gifted education in DeKalb County
Parents with children in DeKalb County public schools, the county is asking for your feedback about its gifted education program.
An online parent survey is being conducted by an outside firm called Beanstalk Innovation, as part of a complete audit of the county’s gifted services. The survey will be available through March 10.
To learn more about the audit, its purposes and activities, you can view the PDF of the Gifted Audit Presentation that was presented to the Board of Education at its meeting earlier this month. Thanks to Dr. Kathy Howe, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, for taking the initiative to send me this PDF to share with the gifted community.
Spring and summer programming classes at START:CODE
START:CODE, located in the Decatur / Northeast Atlanta area, is now registering middle- and high-school students for its summer camps. In these one-week camps, students learn to program in Scratch, Python, and Java, creating games and other projects. The week culminates in a friendly team competition and showcase to demonstrate what they have learned and created.
START:CODE also is accepting registration for its spring session of classes, which begin at the end of this month. This session includes a new class for elementary school students: Introduction to Digital Electronics and Programming. In this class, kids learn about hardware and sensors, as well as the Scratch programming language, to see how programming can work in concert with electronic devices like light sensors, sound sensors, and other inputs.
START:CODE continues to offer other after-school and weekend classes for older kids, as well as daytime classes for homeschool students.
Summer Science Academy at Emory registering now
The Emory University School of Medicine is now accepting registrations for the 2014 Summer Science Academy, open to students who will be in high school in the 2014-15 school year.
The academy, which is operated by the Office of Multicultural Medical Student Affairs, is an effort to open the world of science to girls and members of minority groups, who are statistically under-represented in scientific professions. However, all students are welcome, without regard for gender, race or ethnicity.
The two-week program offers lectures, labs and field experiences in scientific areas including chemistry, biology, neuroscience, genetics and human disease. Students can attend a day program or choose a residential program and live on the Emory University campus.
The deadline to apply for the residential program is March 14. Applicants will be selected based on their interest level, grades and letters of recommendation.
For the day program, registration is first-come, first-served.
Financial assistance may be available.
Apply now for next year’s STT 9th-grade science course at Fernbank
Current DeKalb County eighth graders who are interested in hands-on science should check in with their school’s guidance office about enrolling in next year’s Scientific Tools and Techniques (STT), offered at the Fernbank Science Center.
STT is a half-day program taught in the first semester of ninth grade, focusing on scientific inquiry. The county provides bus transportation from the student’s home school to and from Fernbank. The program is free to DeKalb County students.
Students who successfully complete the course will earn one credit for biology and one for earth systems.
Each school sets its own application deadline. Fernbank will hold an open house on Thursday, Feb. 13. For more information, contact Denise Savage at the science center, at (678) 874-7102.
Gifted Atlanta 