OCT Advanced & Gifted Gazette

๐ Hello October! ๐
๐ October isโฆ
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Bullying Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness, build empathy, and take action to ensure every student feels safe and supported. For gifted kids, this month is especially important: it reminds us that their social-emotional needs are just as critical as their academic ones.Breast Cancer affects 1 in 8 women and 1 in 1000 men in the United States. This month, we are reminded to be proactive about fighting this invasive disease and not to forget to support those who are suffering from breast cancer.
Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month
Children who speak two or more languages offer fabulous insights! This month we celebrate the cognitive, social, and cultural advantages of multilingualism in children.
GCA Community Day - October 21st
Locations:
- Athens- Sandy Creek Park
- Newnan - C. Jay Smith Park
- Macon- Tubman Museum
- Rome- Rome EcoCenter
- Augusta/Evans- Nature & Adventure Center
- Atlanta- Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Ellenwood- Village Park
- Buford- Buford Community Center
- Carrollton- City Station
- Savannah- Coastal Heritage Society Museum
- Covington- Denny Dobbs Park
- Helen- Hardman Farm Historic Site
- Columbus- National Infantry Museum
- Valdosta- Meta Show Coleman Children's Imagination Station
- St. Simon's- Neptune Park
Admission is free, although some locations may have parking or other fees, including Savannah, Macon, St. Simons, and Fernbank.
No pets are allowed.
Explore Georgia in October!
Fall Fun at Washington Farms | Bogart, GA
October 1-November 8th
Over 35 activities and attractions, including a pumpkin patch!
More details here!
Dinoverse: An Epic Journey to the Jurassic | Doraville, GA
October 1-31
Visit Dinoverse to travel back into the Age of Dinosaurs, walking with VR Technology! The Dino Hall has more than 20 real fossil specimens. This is perfect for your science loving student!
More details here!
Downtown Dublin Farmers Market | Dublin, GA
Saturday, October 10 (Last Day to Explore!)
Shop fresh seasonal produce, farm-raised meats and eggs, raw honey, artisan treats, and unique handmade crafts from over 30 local vendorsโplus fun activities for the kids!
More details here!
Georgia National Fair | Perry, GA
October 8-18
Get ready for giant carnival rides, legendary fried treats, live concerts, and endless fall fun at the Georgia National Fair!
Georgia Apple Festival | Ellijay, GA
Weekends of October 10-11, and October 17-18
Get ready for crisp mountain air, sweet treats, and autumn funโthe Georgia Apple Festival is serving up handcrafted goods, live music, and all the fresh picked fall flavor you can handle!
Check out our website
Be sure to visit our website for the answers to our most frequently asked questions, as well as our Advanced & Gifted Handbook. The handbook will help explain our program protocols and expectations for our Advanced & Gifted students.
As always, if your questions are not answered here, please feel free to reach out!
Upcoming Opportunities for Gifted Students!
The 2026/2027 Science and Social Studies Fair
Donโt forget these important dates! Please reach out to your science/social studies teacher with any questions!
Important Dates to Remember
- Week of Aug 17- Begin work on SS Project
- September 1- Submit SS Projects
- October 1- Projects judged by district
- November 13- Grade Level Finalists Announced
- December 14- Virtual SS Fair
SY27 Science Fair Dates
- Week of September 28th - Begin work on Science Fair Project
- October 26th - Submit Science Fair Projects in Canvas
- November 10th - Projects judged by District Team
- November 13th - Grade-Level Finalists Announced
- December 14- Virtual Science Fair
Ahead of the Curve - A Game-Changing Program to Extend Learning in Algebra & Biology
ALGEBRA:
Ahead of the Curve (AOTC) is still going strong! Missed it during September? Check out the information below for Algebra!
Attention all AP Students!
We offer many AP Courses here at GCA. Below you can find a list of the AP Courses offered here and the college course credit equivalency.
College Course Credit Equivalency - Advanced Placement courses provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement by demonstrating mastery on AP Exams. AP credit policies vary by institution, so students should review the requirements for each college they are considering. Colleges and universities determine the minimum score required for credit, the number of credit hours awarded, and course placement of equivalencies. For higher scores, some colleges offer more course credit. Information can be found for all colleges nationwide on the College Board website.
Parent Resources
We will provide a variety of resources for our parents and guardians each month. We know that parenting advanced or gifted students can raise a lot of questions, and we want to provide a holistic experience for your student. These resources will include articles, videos, and books that address common concerns for parents and students.
๐ Books
Wonderfully Wired Brains by Louise Gooding
An engaging and inclusive guide to neurodiversity for kids, combining science, history, and real experiences to celebrate how different brains think, learn, and experience the world.
Gifted Kids: Survival Guide by Judy Galbraith
An empowering, interactive handbook that helps gifted children navigate unique social-emotional challenges, understand their gifted brains, and build healthy self-acceptance.
๐ป Articles | Online Resources
Nurturing Resilience in Gifted Children
Managing Perfectionism & Big Emotions
Gifted children may experience heightened intensity, self-criticism, and perfectionism. Small shifts in language and practical coping tools can help them build resilience.
1. Aim for growth, not perfection
Replace "Practice makes perfect" with "Practice helps us grow."
Praise specific effort, strategies, and choices and not fixed talent.
2. Reframe mistakes
Mistakes are information.
Ask: "What did this teach us?"
3. Reset with slow breathing
Inhale for 3 โข Exhale for 6
A longer exhale can help the body settle.
4. Use a worry container
Write down the worry, set it aside, and return to grounded, realistic self-talk.
5. Make starting easier
Choose a focus time
Take one small action
Let momentum build
Resilience grows through practice, support, and self-compassion
If you speak another language, please click '"Translate" to choose your preferred language.
**If you speak another language, language assistance services are available free of charge. Please email GCA Translations at translations@georgiacyber.org.
