Happy Holidays from your GATE Parent Association!
President’s Message
2018 has been an exciting and busy year for the GATE Parent Association (GPA) and our families. We have made many new friends and continued to build strong relationships with those we know. We would like to thank each of you for your help and attendance at our events and fundraisers, and for making this year a great success. We would also like to wish each of you the happiest of holidays and all the best in the coming year.
Sandy Dewald,
GPA President
Upcoming GATE Information Night for Parents
Dec. 4, 2018 at 6:30 p.m
Lord Shaughnessy High School
2336 53 Ave. S.W.
Learn about GATE Specialized Classes
Parents are invited to learn about the Gifted and Talented Education specialized classes offered by the Calgary Board of Education.
This evening is for families whose child has an Individualized Program Plan (IPP) for giftedness developed prior to October 22, 2018, and will cover the next steps in the referral process for placement in September, 2019.
What if my child does not have an IPP for giftedness as of Oct. 22, 2018? Should I attend this event?
The information you require will not be available at this event.
Next steps would be:
- CBE families: contact your school principal
- External families: contact clwiederick@cbe.ab.ca, CBE System Specialist, Gifted
Questions can be directed to Cathy Wiederick at clwiederick@cbe.ab.ca.
Upcoming GPA Parent Education Event
Tentative date: February 5, 2019
Location: TBA
Developing a Growth Mindset in Gifted Learners
with Kimberly Eckert, Registered Psychologist and Executive Director of Eckert Psychology & Education Centre
Research has demonstrated that the way children think about grades, mistakes, risks, and difficult learning tasks greatly impacts their ultimate success as a learner. More precisely, students who believe their intelligence can be developed (a growth mindset) outperform those who believe their intelligence can’t change (a fixed mindset). Yet, with gifted learners, misconceptions abound about the perils of telling them they are “gifted”, concerned that this alone will create a fixed mind!
In this session, we will explore the benefits of a mindset that recognizes the student’s gifts, as well as their struggles, and the importance of learning skills to expand their intellectual capacity. Join Kimberly Eckert to learn how to foster a growth mindset and end the “perfectionism” and “slaves to praise” problems often found among bright learners.
Parents will walk away from this session with advanced tools to support their children in learning crucial life skills, like how to get past worst-case scenario thinking, managing strong feelings. and regaining a sense of calm and stability so they are ready to take on the next challenge.
Stay tuned for more information and ticket purchase details.
If you’re new to GATE and looking to connect with other GATE families, be sure to attend our events! They provide a great opportunity to meet other parents and to ask questions.
2018 GATE Casino
On behalf of the GPA and our families, we would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out at the Elbow River Casino which was held on Thursday, November 15 and Friday, November 16. This two-day event required over 50 volunteers and many hours of effort from our executive team.
Thank-you for your continued support and for volunteering your time to raise funds to support students in the GATE classroom.
2018 Purdys Fundraiser
The GPA and Louis Riel School Council Purdys fundraiser was once again a great success. Thanks to your support, we sold over $12,000 worth of chocolates, earning the GPA and Louis Riel school just over $1800 each. These are unrestricted funds that can be used for things like teacher professional development, classroom materials, and anything else that is needed to support classroom learning.
Have a suggestion for a future information session or want to get involved?
Send us an email!
Indigo Gift Cards
Support GATE by buying books! This ongoing fundraiser allows members to support the GPA, the GATE program, their students, and our GATE teachers. Shop for things you buy anyway, and earn funds to help enhance the GATE program.
Click below to buy a gift card, and 15% of the purchase price will go to support the work that we do, including funding for teacher professional development and public information seminars and events. Gift cards may be used at all Chapters, Indigo, and Coles stores, and online.
