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: hagroff@dcsdk12.org
Website: dcsdk12.org/gifted-education
Location: 620 Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: 303-387-0191
The Superpower of Self-Advocacy
By Deb Douglas, from Sengifted.org, September, 2021
This fall, send your kids back to school with a new superpower --- SELF-ADVOCACY!!!
Self-advocacy is a critical skill that empowers students to speak up, set their own goals, and find support in realizing their dreams. “My favorite definition comes from Loring C. Brinckerhoff: Self-advocacy is the process of recognizing and meeting the needs specific to your learning ability without compromising the dignity of yourself or others.”
In an ideal situation, this year’s teacher has experience meeting the needs of gifted learners and is aware of your child’s unique strengths and struggles, interests, preferences, and quirks. But unfortunately, many of our brightest kids aren’t in the ideal situation. Still, when given the tools and insights they need, students can improve whatever situation they’re in. They can learn to successfully self-advocate – to tell the adults around them when, where, and how they want their education to be differentiated – without compromising anyone’s dignity.
Read the full article HERE.
The Importance of Play for Your Whole Family
It’s easy to think of examples of how play helps young children and preschoolers. But what about older kids, teens, and even adults? The importance of play for your entire family is significant and the focus this PODCAST by Colleen Kessler from Raising Lifelong Learners.
Play helps:
Relieve stress. Play is fun and can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Improve brain function. Playing chess, completing puzzles, or pursuing other fun activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social interaction of playing with family and friends can also help ward off stress and depression.
Stimulate the mind and boost creativity. Young children often learn best when they are playing—a principle that applies to adults, as well. You’ll learn a new task better when it’s fun and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems.
Improve relationships and your connection to others. Sharing laughter and fun can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy with others. Play doesn’t have to include a specific activity; it can also be a state of mind. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers, make new friends, and form new business relationships.
Keep you feeling young and energetic. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Play can boost your energy and vitality and even improve your resistance to disease, helping you function at your best.
Elementary Reading Programs Under Consideration in DCSD
DCSD Elementary Reading Program Pilots
Elementary Discovery Program Application Process Is Open!
The Discovery application process for the 2022-2023 school year is now open!
The Douglas County School District Elementary Discovery Program is designed to meet the needs of gifted elementary school students who require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from regular school gifted programming.
If you think your child may need this level of gifted programming, please find out more on our website linked HERE.
Join DCAGT (Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented) on their Facebook page on October 25th, 2021 from 6:00-7:00pm for a presentation and question/answer session all about the Discovery Program.
Douglas County Gifted Education Advisory Council (DCGEAC)--Still seeking members!
Our next quarterly DCGEAC meeting is scheduled virtually Wednesday, November 17, 4:30-6:30 P.M. Meetings are open to the public so if you are interested, you are welcome! Send an email to Heather Groff at hagroff@dcsdk12.org to receive the link.
Purpose:
Provide information, support, and resources to empower students, families, and educators toward successful lifelong learning/development through a variety of outreach methods, opportunities, and activities.
Serve in an advisory capacity to DCSD regarding new policies, trends, programming, and concerns.
Provide a collaborative voice to advocate for gifted students, policies, programming, and issues and act as a liaison between families/community and DCSD.
We have parents with gifted children that represent each of our feeders in elementary and secondary schools, charter schools in each region. We are also seeking high school students from each region to add their voices. Please see the openings below and let us know if you are interested by filling out the self nomination form HERE. Please email Heather Groff at hagroff@dcsdk12.org with any questions. We look forward to partnering with you!
Castle View Feeder: Elementary
Chaparral Feeder: Elementary, Secondary, Discovery
Douglas County Feeder: Elementary
Highlands Ranch Feeder: Elementary
Legend Feeder: currently filled
Mountain Vista Feeder: Elementary
Ponderosa Feeder: Elementary
Rock Canyon Feeder: currently filled
ThunderRidge Feeder: Elementary
Charter: currently filled
Secondary Students (grades 6-12):
Castle Rock (DCHS, CVHS)
Highlands Ranch (HRHS, MVHS, RCHS, TRHS)
Parker (CHS, LHS, PHS)
Charter
DCAGT Facebook Live SAVE the DATES!
Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented (DCAGT) is our district's GT parent advocacy group. We want to reach and connect the gifted community with opportunities to share experiences and exchange information. We hope that you will join us in our community events.
SAVE the DATES! Facebook Live and GT 101--Details about upcoming events coming soon!
November 8
December 1
January 10
January 31
February 28
March 30: GT 101
April 11
May 2
May 16
Happily Family FREE Online Conference, October 14-18
You'll get 5 days of free support and inspiration from 25 leading parenting experts and authors.
We can’t wait for you to join this conversation about how to raise resilient, connected, mentally and emotionally well kids in difficult times – whether you are a parent, family member, or a professional who works with kids.
The Happily Family Conference is completely online, with experts from the fields of mindfulness, happiness, education, and brain science.
This time you’ll hear from new voices…
- Rosetta Lee - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
- Kristen Jenson - Protecting Kids from Pornography
- Tracy Gillett - Natural Parenting: Trusting in Your Child, Yourself, and Nature
And wisdom from familiar sources...
- Dr. Daniel Siegel - Empathy, Attachment, and Knowing Our Kids
- Jessica Lahey - How to Prevent Addiction
- Dr. John Duffy - Parenting a Teen in an Anxious World
- Suzanne Tucker - How to Shift from “Time Outs” to “Time Ins” with Your Toddler or Teen
and many more!
And it’s all for free! Just click and sign up so you don’t miss anything and get your invite to the special pre-conference watch parties!
The conference is NOT about:
- how to be a perfect parent, feeling guilt or shame, or adding more stuff to your to-do list.
The conference IS about:
- worrying less, having more fun, doing less, letting go of perfectionism, being a “good enough parent”, knowing that you’re not alone, and more…
For more information click HERE.
2021 Colorado Free Application Day$ (Oct. 19-21, 2021)
In 2021, Colorado's Free Application Day has expanded to become Free Application Day$! The fourth annual statewide initiative has grown from one day to three days and takes place from Tuesday, Oct. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021.
Applicants who submit their admission applications to Colorado's colleges and universities during this three day period can do so for free. Just follow the application instructions listed HERE.
And remember, while the application must be submitted during this three-day period to be eligible for the fee waiver, applicants can begin working on their admission applications now! Just save your work online and submit the admission applications from Oct. 19 - 21.
G/T/N Awareness Week Starts October 25th!
You're invited to register today for our first Gifted / Talented / Neurodiverse Awareness Week, powered by THE G WORD. Did we mention it's FREE?
We'll be announcing the full five-day slate of virtual programming in the coming days, so register today to be the first to hear about it in your inbox!
G/T/N Awareness Week is brought to you by our dedicated community of diverse voices - experts, thought leaders, podcasters, partners and advisors.
More information and registration found HERE.
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Parent Day 2021
Saturday, November 13, 2021 Only
7:30 a.m. Check in
8:00 a.m.- 4:45 p.m.
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Boulevard, Aurora, CO
You must be fully vaccinated to attend
NAGC21 Parent Day is a one-day event that gives parents, grandparents, and caregivers the tools, resources, and networking opportunities they need to best support their gifted and talented child’s education and development. After attending a special two-hour Parent Program, Parent Day attendees are free to choose from 100+ convention sessions in 16 topic tracks, and to visit the Exhibit Hall.
All attendees must pre-register; there is no on-site registration.
Cost: $50 per adult (Two or more from same family $40 each)
Breakfast and lunch are available for purchase.
Registration closes on Friday, November 5, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.
Space is limited to a maximum of 175 attendees.
Click here to read all about it and register. NAGC Parent Day Flyer
Colorado Association for Gifted Children Conversations with CAGT
We are back! We have a brand new season with more amazing gifted experts from Colorado, the nation and around the world. And if you missed any conversations, or want to view them again, we have archived Season 1 for your convenience. We hope you can tune in each week on Tuesdays to our Facebook Live page for our Conversations with CAGT live at 5:00 P.M.!
October 12th – Nisia Palatan – Removing Barriers in Education
October 19th – Angelina Paolozza – An Introduction to Addressing Fairness in Ability Tests
Archived webinars from Season 2 are HERE.
You can also watch the recording of archived webinars from Season 1 HERE.
Future Problem Solvers
PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING:
- - Develops the critical and creative thinking skills necessary to adapt to a changing world.
- - Increases awareness of the future.
- - Enhances communication & collaboration.
- - Utilizes an effective creative problem solving model encouraging youth to actively shape their future.
- For more information, see HERE.
Continental Math League (grades 2-12)
You and your students are invited to join us for the 2021-2022 school year. The fun and excitement expressed by students of all grade levels continues to be gratifying. As many of you have mentioned, both mathematical skills and reading skills are improved for students participating at all levels.
If you have not yet joined the League, we welcome you to do so and, thus offer your students an unusual opportunity to learn mathematics and enjoy it at the same time. Schools may participate at any one or more of the various grade levels listed below. Additional comments follow the table.
For more information, see HERE.
Chess Club, Spelling Bee, Science Fair
Chess is a wonderful game that teaches strategy and flexible thinking.
The Spelling Bee is a fun way to build community around children who love to learn about words.
A Science Fair can become a family affair with students thinking like scientists and presenting their ideas, hypotheses and experiment results to their peers.
Ask your school's GT Facilitator to help you find out more about these ideas--or others you might want to try!
Twice Exceptional
15 Year Review: Parenting Twice-Exceptional Children through Frustration to Success
By Beverly Trail, originally published by NAGC's Parenting for High Potential in 2006
Originally published 15 years ago, this article on parenting twice-exceptional children is still relevant today. The article covers the meaning of twice-exceptionality, how parents can empower their children, creating a safe home environment, nurturing strengths and interests, promoting positive coping strategies, how parents can advocate for their children and more.
As parents, you can empower your twice-exceptional children to overcome their disability, or through your actions, you can foster learned helplessness. Twice-exceptional children have high potential, but that potential will not be realized unless you support their social and emotional development and help them learn to cope with their mixed abilities. It is difficult to watch your children struggle and some parents will rush in to rescue their children from failure. However, rescuing children decreases their self-esteem because it supports their feelings that they are incapable of meeting the challenges of school without their parents’ help. Conversely, self-esteem increases when children learn to deal with their disability and frustrations. If twice-exceptional children realize they can successfully overcome their challenges, they will grow up to become successful adults. Avoid the temptation to focus on your child’s challenge areas. Instead, use the following strategies to promote positive social and emotional development.
Read the full article HERE.
Gifted Teens: FAFSA and Scholarship Opportunity
Boettcher Scholarship
DUE NOVEMBER 1 AT 5:00 P.M.
We need our most dynamic thinkers, doers, and difference makers to stay in Colorado so they can positively impact their communities across our state. That was the foresight behind the Boettcher Scholarship Program when it was created more than 65 years ago. The vision continues today as our Scholars personify the promise of Colorado and potential of Coloradans.
Awarded in partnership with our state’s four-year, nonprofit institutions of higher education, our comprehensive Scholarship program has two models. Read on or visit here to learn more about our eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and how to apply.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program
The College Scholarship Program application is open! High school seniors can access the application here until November 18 at midnight in their local time zone.
High school juniors can sign up here to receive notifications about the application for next year.
Parenting and Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
Perfectionism in Children: How Parents Can Help Bright, Complex Kids
By Jean Sunde Peterson, Ph.D., coauthor of Bright, Complex Kids: Supporting Their Social and Emotional Development
Striving for excellence is often viewed as good, and unforgiving perfectionism as “bad.” Parents, grandparents, and guardians may wring their hands over the latter. They may observe in kids high stress, preoccupation with mistakes, tantrums, unreasonable self-expectations, chronic self-criticism and dissatisfaction, unwillingness to take even small social and academic risks, constant comparison with peers, assumptions that others are observing critically, and inability to enjoy any activity, for example.
Read suggestions for supporting perfectionism HERE.