DCSD Advanced Academics & Gifted Ed

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: gifted.education@dcsdk12.org
Website: dcsdk12.org/gifted-education
Location: 620 Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: 303-387-0191

YOUR RAINFOREST MIND

Some Good News:

• You can relate to your child’s challenges because many of them are similar to yours.
• You, too, are highly sensitive and have plenty of empathy so your child will feel seen and deeply understood.
• It will make sense to you when your child takes deep dives into their interests and then moves on to the next passion and the next deep dive.

Some Not-So-Good News:

• You can relate to your child’s challenges because they are similar to yours...
• You, too, are highly sensitive and have plenty of empathy...
  

Curious? Read the full article HERE.

For kids to reach the top of their ability, they need to be challenged often, fail often, then try again.

by Christian Dashiell Fatherly.com Aug. 28, 2023

When parents and teachers place lofty expectations on kids, the pressure to be perfect can result in a lot of anxiety. That sort of anxiety can mean a drive to avoid failure at all costs can, and, paradoxically, stop children from becoming high-achievers. But there are ways to greatly increase the odds that a child will turn their goals into results.

Read the entire article HERE.

We explore the unique world of tweens, who are at a critical juncture in their lives, grappling with identity, independence, and transition. Our guest is Phyllis Fagell, an advocate for strengths-based support. She and Emily talk about tween superpowers, the challenges and discoveries of navigating middle school, and how to help neurodivergent tweens recognize and use their unique abilities for personal growth. It’s all on episode 196.

Listen to full episode HERE.

The DCSD Elementary Discovery Program is a center based gifted program designed to meet the needs of highly advanced gifted elementary school students (grades 2 - 6) who require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from gifted programming and services provided through their school. Student’s placed in this program receive their typical school day instruction in a self-contained classroom with other highly gifted students.

Want to know more about the program and/or explore if it might be right for your student(s)? You can find further information, resources and the Discovery application on the DCSD Gifted Education Website. Explore these resources: Facebook Link or YouTube Link, Discovery Program Presentation

Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented (DCAGT) is an affiliate of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT), which is an affiliate of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).

DCAGT’s objectives are to:

• Support the efforts and activities of CAGT, the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), and neighboring CAGT affiliates.

• Present gifted resources and educational opportunities to families, caregivers, educators, and the community.Encourage advocacy and best-practices for gifted children.

• Reach and connect the gifted community with opportunities to share experiences and exchange information.

They are currently looking for passionate parents that would like to serve on the board or volunteer to support events. Contact them via email at info@dcagt.org.

Visit their website HERE.

The Douglas County Gifted Education Advisory Council (DCGEAC) is seeking members with a variety of backgrounds and expertise! If you are a parent/guardian of a student identified for gifted services OR a high school student who has been identified as gifted, please consider joining us by completing the DCGEAC Self Nomination Form.

DCGEAC meets quarterly throughout the year.

Congratulations to the CAGT Contest Winners from DCSD!

CAGT's Youth Impact Award Winner: Shriya Madhaven, STEM, Senior Division (one of two awards)

CAGT's Art Contest Winners: Jordan Henry and Gavin Shaklee, Castle Rock Middle School, 1st and 3rd place (respectively) Middle School Division AND Sofia Lyon, ThunderRidge High School, 2nd place High School Division

CONVERSATIONS WITH CAGT

This season, we have new sessions with more amazing, gifted experts from Colorado, the nation, and around the world. We hope you can tune in live each first and third Tuesday on our Facebook page to view our Conversations with CAGT in real time at 5:00. You will be able to ask the CWC guest speaker any questions you might have about their session. Please come join us!

*Click here to go to CAGT News for information on our next CWC!

SUNDAY, NOV 5 3:00 - 7:00 PM | PACE CENTER. FREE but Registration is required HERE.

Join us as Parker Arts and the Council of Arts Science and Culture (CASC) present Parker Science Night - where your curiosity takes flight and the wonders of science, technology, and engineering come to life through interactive exhibits and hands-on adventures.

Immerse yourself in experiential learning with the participation of renowned institutions like the Butterfly Pavilion, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Buckley Space Force, Advent Health Parker, and many more (see full list below). In addition, each classroom and booth will offer captivating hands-on science-related activities.

Parker Science Night is a free, family-friendly celebration that's open to the entire community!

Happily Family Presents:

MINDFUL PARENTING AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

How to Raise Motivated, Resilient Kids in an Anxious World

This conference is for you if...

• You are interested in the science of parenting. You’re curious about what attachment, emotional intelligence, psychology, and brain science can tell us about how to raise kids.
• You have kids that are more sensitive, strong-willed, bright, or spirited than others (and sometimes the advice in “traditional” parenting sources just doesn’t work for you, or your child).
• You want to raise kids who are resilient and empowered in today’s more complicated world. You’d like to be able to prepare and reassure your kids.
• You strive to use effective alternatives to threats and bribes and want to address challenging behaviors with connection and communication (without passing on your own baggage).

Find more information and register HERE.

SENGChat: Building Gifted Children’s Positive Toolbox

Nov 14, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM EST NOTE: There is a $40 fee

Online Discussion with Dr Patricia Gatto-Walden

Gifted youth are continuously overwhelmed with the intensity of their inner world and the unrest of our global conditions. In this session we will explore ways for children to effectively contend with isolation and loneliness, academic stress, and existential anxiety. Focus will be on building positive tools to cope with everyday tensions and construct self-acceptance, confidence, and health.

Patricia Gatto-Walden, PhD, a nationally recognized psychologist, has worked therapeutically with moderate, highly, and profoundly gifted children, adolescents and adults for over three decades. Her adjunct consulting practice helps parents and educators recognize innate gifted characteristics, promoting self-confidence, academic and professional success, and holistic health and well-being.

More information and Registration found HERE.

SENGinar: Same, Similar, or Different? Openness to Experience, Overexcitability

Nov 28, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM EST NOTE: There is a $40 fee

Online Webinar

Are gifted students different from their peers in ways that go beyond intelligence? This session will present a look at research on Openness to Experience and Overexcitabilities, their similarities and differences, and trends that help describe some of the sometimes hard-to-capture differences between gifted students and their peers. Research suggests that being highly Open is associated with creativity, and that high levels of Openness coincide with the presence of multiple overexcitabilities; we will consider the implications of that for students’ fit in traditional school environments. We’ll take a look at Conscientiousness, too!

Dr. Shelagh A. Gallagher the current President of the National Association for Gifted Children. She is also director of Engaged Education, where she works with teachers and schools around the world to promote appropriate education for gifted children.

More information and Registration found HERE.

“We Have Always Lived on Mars,” by Cecil Castellucci

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

6:00–7:00 p.m. CST

Register Now

In this piece of speculative fiction, the young narrator Nina begins to question what knowing means when you only know one place and a single way of being. Even if that place happens to be Mars!

Join fellow literature lovers for a free online discussion of this fascinating work. The discussion will be led by an expert Great Books facilitator who will ask participants probing questions to get to the heart of the story. This discussion is open to adult book group participants and educators of students of all ages.

“We Have Always Lived on Mars” is available free online here. Please read the story at least twice before the day of the discussion. We look forward to an eye-opening discussion with you!