Parent Gathering Event Survey

The GPA is exploring the idea of organizing a parent gathering event to help parents connect, socialize, and build community.

We invite you to complete a short 2-minute survey to share your thoughts. Your feedback will help us plan an event that works best for everyone.

CLICK HERE to complete the survey.

UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Community Education Service (CES) offers free, evidence-informed resources for parents and caregivers. Their expert speakers provide reliable information and practical strategies to support the development and mental health of children and youth.

• A variety of free parent education sessions are available from March to June, covering topics such as youth mental health, teen sleep, ADHD in girls, technology use, and building resilience.
• These sessions are led by experts and provide practical strategies to support children and teens’ well-being and development.
• Please register using the posters for each session.

09 Apr 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Can We Talk: Sex Ed for Parents

23 Apr 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – The Effects of Screen Time and Social Media on Children’s Development & Mental Health

CES Current Sessions

Volunteer Opportunities

We’re looking for a Henry Wise Wood Site Representative!

If you enjoy staying involved and supporting the GATE community, this is a great way to contribute.
Interested? Email:info@gatecalgary.ca

GATE Parent Education Session & General Meeting

Date: Monday, March 2, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Virtual

“Giftedness Beyond Grade Levels: Understanding Growth and Challenge in Schools”
Presented by Dr. Karen Rambo-Hernandez.
Professor and Fulbright Research Chair, University of Calgary.

UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Community Education Service (CES) is offering the following sessions for parents and families. Sessions are offered at no cost but registration is required. *Click on the Poster/PDF icon below the correct session to register*

11 Feb 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Youth Crime

17 Feb 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Talking to Youth with Complex Needs About Sexuality

24 Feb 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Mental Health & Youth

26 Feb 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Navigating Technology with our Youth

09 Mar 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Mental Health & Youth

10 Mar 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Sleep Matters: Understanding and Supporting Teen Sleep

11 Mar 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Mental Health for Highly Sensitive Teens; Unique Struggles for Emotional Feelers

12 Mar 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Growing Resilient Teens

18 Mar 2026 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM – Unmasking ADHD in Girls: Insights, Strategies, and Next Steps

25 Mar 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Community Drug Awareness

09 Apr 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Can We Talk: Sex Ed for Parents

23 Apr 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – The Effects of Screen Time and Social Media on Children’s Development & Mental Health

Volunteer Opportunities

We’re looking for a Henry Wise Wood Site Representative!

If you enjoy staying involved and supporting the GATE community, this is a great way to contribute.
Interested? Email:info@gatecalgary.ca

Meet Your New GPA 2025-2027 Executive

The GPA held its Annual General Meeting on September 23, 2025. Elections are held every 2 years and this year was a voting year. Here are the election results:

Executive Positions:
President – Zahra Ansarizadeh
Vice-President – Faezeh Eshragh
Treasurer – Darrin Gallant
Secretary – Gangani Perera

Non Elected Positions:
Past-President – Stephanie Labowka
Parent Education Chair – Chris Peng
Social Media Administrator – Chetna Jaraim
Casino Coordinator – OPEN
Fundraising Coordinator- OPEN

Site Reps:
Louis Riel – Aisha Hammouda
Queen Elizabeth – Chris Peng
Hillhurst – Kristin Lalji
Henry Wise Wood – OPEN

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Stephanie Labowka. She has done a tremendous job as President over the last two years, transforming and modernizing the GPA. We are so grateful for her continued involvement as Past President. 

Thank you also to Sunita Chowdhury for her work over the last 4 years and for Jodi Staples for her work over the last year. 

Queen Elizabeth High School – Casino Volunteers 

Queen Elizabeth High School’s biggest fundraising opportunity – the volunteer casino – is coming up over Thanksgiving weekend. 

Sunday October 12 and Monday October 13, 2025 at Pure Casino Calgary – 1420 Meridian Road NE, Calgary  

If you are able to support, sign up here. 

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Training will be provided when you arrive. Volunteers will receive a free meal and snacks during their shift. 

UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Community Education Service (CES) is offering the following sessions for parents and families. Sessions are offered at no cost but registration is required. *Click on the Poster/PDF icon below the correct session to register*

Oct 6: Digital Dilemma: Screens, Social Media, and Gaming

Oct 7: Is Your Child Struggling at School? It May be Time for a Psychoeducational Assessment

Oct 8: Level Up: Exploring the Impact of Gaming and Tech on Adolescent Learning and Cognition

Oct 15: Mental Health & Youth

Oct 20: Cyber Safety

Oct 21: ADHD is Awesome!

Oct 22: Executive Functioning: Essentials for Parents

Oct 22: Vaping: What’s Really Going On?

Oct 29: Stressed but Strong, Anxious but Awesome: Understanding your child’s worries through a strength-based lens

Oct 30: Navigating the Pressure to Perform: Benefits of Well-being Centered Identity Development for Children and Teens

DID YOU KNOW you can access pre-recorded sessions for free HERE.
ALSO CHECK OUT resources available through Mental Health Literacy HERE.

Call For Volunteers to Audit GPA Financial Statements

We need two volunteers to assist with our annual internal audit process. This involves reviewing our two financial statements and the spreadsheet behind them, asking questions if necessary, then signing the statements and an audit letter.

The time commitment is 2-4 hours and the review will be done between July 21 and August 8. You do not need to be an accountant! If you are able to help, please email at info@gatecalgary.ca.

Thank You Casino Volunteers! 

The March 2025 Casino raised $82,995 for GATE students! These funds will go towards field trips, classroom supports, science and math supplies, artist residences, and technology for our GATE students.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who volunteered your time at the Casino fundraiser.

MENSA Canada Annual Gathering

The MENSA Canada Annual Gathering is happening August 8–10, 2025, in Calgary at the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel.

You can learn more about the Youth program at the event website.

Parent Education Session – Monday March 3 at 7:00pm

Goals of Gifted Education
There can be many goals of gifted education. In this talk, Dr. Matthew Makel will provide example goals that have been established by the gifted education field, while also providing context for how parents can assess whether their own goals are being met by the services that their children receive. Dr. Makel is Professor and Chair in High Ability Studies at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, and a Child Health & Wellness Researcher at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute.  
 
General Meeting
Immediately following the presentation, we will hold a short GATE Parent Association General Meeting. If you have a student registered in GATE for this current school year, you are a member of the GPA.
 
Date: Monday March 3, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Virtual meeting (Zoom)
 
REGISTER HERE by February 28, 2025.
Non-GATE parents are welcome to attend this session.

UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Community Education Service (CES) is offering the following sessions for parents and families. Sessions are offered at no cost but registration is required. *Click on the Poster/PDF icon below the correct session to register* You can access pre-recorded sessions for free HERE.

February 24, 2025: Managing Challenging Behaviours
Everyone has intense emotions, the trick is being able to navigate them.
Through this presentation you will learn about the crisis cycle and how to intervene at a different moment to reduce the risk of an intense emotional outburst. You can use these strategies with anyone in your life, despite their age.

March 4, 2025: Navigating Technology with our Youth
The message of this presentation is not only based on technology, but also about a child’s healthy brain development and the necessary parenting/caregiver role in creating healthy, emotional, regulated, and integrated brains. This presentation will address the underpinning of a child’s emotional brain development and how to grow it, as well as how technology can dangerously hijack this. The presentation is facilitated by a therapist from Juno House who has years of both clinical and facilitating experience. 

This workshop is designed to give attendees the skills to become their child’s emotional coach. The workshop will provide participants with:
• An understanding of the basic neuroscience behind healthy brain development,
• The dangers of technology for healthy brain development,
• Technology use rules that will help your child
• When building healthy brains, how to identify emotions in your child/student, and
• How to become your child’s/student’s emotional coach in only five steps and in that, build a resilient child.

The Arnica Foundation is offering the following sessions for parents and families:

April 8 and 9, 2025: The Power of Showing Up: Clinical Application of Interpersonal Neurobiology, and
Supporting Parents of Teens with the Brain in Mind

In this two day workshop, Tina Payne Bryson and Daniel Siegel will look at what the science says about the best predictors for how kids and teens develop, and how clinicians can work with parents in to cultivate secure attachment, and responding to challenges.

The GPA Casino Fundraising Event is coming up on March 6 and 7, 2025 at Pure Casino (1420 Meridian Rd NE). We are in particular need of volunteers on the evening of Thursday March 6, as well as in the count room on both nights.

This casino event is expected to raise approximately $70,000 for GATE students! These funds are vital to be able to provide our students with curriculum enhancement opportunities such as: science equipment, technology, field trips, drama and music workshops, classroom literacy materials and math resources. Without these funds, each experience would be an additional cost to parents, or not take place at all.

Training for each position is provided on-the spot and no special skills are required. It is also a nice way to meet other GATE parents and hear about student experiences in other grades/schools.

Stars For Scholarly Youth are offering their mentorship program to GATE students. This is SSY’s fifth year running this program with GATE students. We have received great feedback from our previous mentees and many have had the chance to make informed decisions about their post-secondary careers. 

This program aims to prepare students for better integration into post-secondary life in the future. Mentees are paired up with a postsecondary student Mentor. The students meet a minimum of once a month online or in-person to discuss University, career aspirations, useful resources, and purpose. The mentor is responsible for engaging the mentee in these conversations (mentees are likely to be shy), but conversation topics and some resources will be provided. 

UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS
The Community Education Service (CES) is offering the following sessions for parents and families. Sessions are offered at no cost but registration is required.

February 4, 2025: Healthy Relationships
This is an interactive workshop to learn how to navigate those sometimes awkward but essential conversations that foster well-being, healthy relationships and informed decision-making. We empower parents with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in open, honest and supportive conversations about sexuality and sexual health with their children.

In this workshop, we will describe and explore healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationship patterns. We will learn about effective communication and practice discussing topics related to romantic/intimate relationships in ways that are grounded in your values. February 6, 2025: ADHD and Executive Functioning
The session will provide an overview of ADHD and how issues with impulsivity and/or inattention impact children’s ability to manage their environments. The session will also explore the impact ADHD has on Executive Functioning and how it relates to managing everyday tasks, and meeting daily expectations at home and at school, including social, emotional, behavioural, and academic demands.

February 24, 2025: Managing Challenging Behaviours
Everyone has intense emotions, the trick is being able to navigate them.
Through this presentation you will learn about the crisis cycle and how to intervene at a different moment to reduce the risk of an intense emotional outburst. You can use these strategies with anyone in your life, despite their age.

March 4, 2025: Navigating Technology with our Youth
The message of this presentation is not only based on technology, but also about a child’s healthy brain development and the necessary parenting/caregiver role in creating healthy, emotional, regulated, and integrated brains. This presentation will address the underpinning of a child’s emotional brain development and how to grow it, as well as how technology can dangerously hijack this. The presentation is facilitated by a therapist from Juno House who has years of both clinical and facilitating experience. 

This workshop is designed to give attendees the skills to become their child’s emotional coach. The workshop will provide participants with:

• An understanding of the basic neuroscience behind healthy brain development,
• The dangers of technology for healthy brain development,
• Technology use rules that will help your child
• When building healthy brains, how to identify emotions in your child/student, and
• How to become your child’s/student’s emotional coach in only five steps and in that, build a resilient child.

DID YOU KNOW you can access pre-recorded sessions for free HERE.

ALSO CHECK OUT resources available through Mental Health Literacy HERE.

In Case You Missed It

The GPA’s Parent Education Session on Executive Functioning was held on December 2. Jodi Staples defined what “Executive Functioning” is and how it develops as children age. Her session focused on the specific ways gifted children develop executive functioning skills, and how families can support their development in key areas. 

She discussed the strengths that gifted children often have in some areas of executive functioning, such as advanced problem-solving skills, enhanced working memory, goal-oriented persistence, flexibility of thinking and other strengths. Common struggles for gifted children include emotional regulation, fear of failure, impulse control, procrastination and time management, emotional and social asynchrony, and overthinking. 

Jodi emphasized the importance of practicing the skills so they turn into routines and habit, and the role parents can have in supporting this type of growth. She discussed a number of specific strategies to support learners. 

If you would like to listen to the session, please see the GATE Parent Association website Presentation page here.

We are planning an education session for GATE parents.

Please help us by telling us what you are interested in!
Fill out this 1 minute survey on possible topics

GATE CASINO FUNDRAISING

One night of volunteering can make a difference! In 2018-2021, GATE Parents raised over $120,000 through Casino Fundraising. Most parents volunteered only one day or evening of their time. 

Our next casino will be scheduled for Q2 of 2023. 

A Casino Coordinator is needed to make this casino happen! Support will be provided.

Activities include:
– Obtaining all appropriate licensing requirements from the AGLC and submitting the Request for Casino License, and other materials, as appropriate
– Helping to recruit and schedule volunteers for the next Casino event
– Completing final paperwork/reports after a Casino event, and submitting to the AGLC within the set time-frame
– Other duties, as appropriate
– Time Commitment – Approx 20 hours in the 3 months prior to the casino date and an additional 4 hours/month Sept through June.

If you are interested in taking on this role, please email us at
info@gateyyccalgary.ca

GPA PRESIDENT ROLE

We are searching for someone to take over as GPA President next year in September. Ideally, we’d love someone to start shadowing the current President now to learn about the position. Elections are in September 2023. The rest of the current executive will be running for re-election and the current President, Traci Akierman, will provide support in the Past President role.

Activities include:
– Chairing the Annual General Meeting and Business Meetings of the GPA, 2-3 per year
– Representing the GPA at meetings with stakeholders responsible for gifted education, or delegating other representatives when appropriate (e.g. CBE gifted specialist)
– Helping to ensure that important information (e.g. news, events, business, concerns, etc) related to the GATE Program is relayed and shared between schools and the GATE Parent Association Executive and Board
– Helping to establish and maintain communication between the GATE Parent Association and school administration/staff (e.g. principals, assistant principals, GATE learning leaders)
– Helping to ensure the administration and GATE staff at all schools are aware of funds made available by the GATE Parent Association, and keeping them informed of how and by when it must be spent
– Participating in and/or overseeing all Committees of the GPA
– Ensuring all Bylaws of the GPA are followed
– Ensuring all legal requirements of the GPA, such as Financial Audits, have been completed and filed by the appropriate member responsible
– Other duties, as needed
– Average time commitment – 6-8 hours per month Sept to June

If you are interested in taking on this role, please email us at
info@gatecalgary.ca

UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Community Education Service (CES) is offering the following sessions for parents and families. Sessions are offered at no cost but registration is required.  **CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: Click on the Poster/PDF icon below the correct session to register**

October 26: Mental Health for Highly Sensitive Teens
Highly sensitive teens are often misunderstood by parents and teachers as they often have stronger emotional reactions. In this presentation, learn why this happens, and the necessary tools required to help these teens manage their emotions so they don’t become derailed..

November 2: How is Resilience Portrayed Through Teen Girls’ Experiences of Health and Mental Illness?
Join Leah Shalanski, RN, MN to discuss her graduate research on resilience with girls experiencing a mental illness.

1. To review the concept of resilience and understand it from the perspective of teenage girls
2. To give teenage girls voice in how they perceive mental health, illness and resilience
3. To provide recommendations to design effective programs and interventions aimed at reducing sources of trauma and adversity and increase resilience.

November 8: Kids Have Stress Too

An introduction to key aspects of early childhood and brain development, and the crucial role parents and professionals play in buffering the impact of stress on kids. Learn strategies to help young children become aware of and manage stress in fun and engaging ways.

November 10: Navigating Technology With Youth

The message of this presentation is not only based on technology, but also about a child’s healthy brain development and the necessary parenting/caregiver role in creating healthy, emotional, regulated, and integrated brains. This presentation will address the underpinning of a child’s emotional brain development and how to grow it, as well as how technology can dangerously hijack this.

We believe that talking does not grow neurons; experience grows neurons. This workshop is designed to give attendees the skills to become their child’s emotional coach. The workshop will provide participants with:

• An understanding of the basic neuroscience behind healthy brain development,
• The dangers of technology for healthy brain development,
• Technology use rules that will help your child
• When building healthy brains, how to identify emotions in your child/student, and
• How to become your child’s/student’s emotional coach in only five steps and in that, build a resilient child.

The presentation is facilitated by a therapist from Juno House who has years of both clinical and facilitating experience. Juno House was founded in 2008 as a Centre of Excellence for adolescent girls and young women who are experiencing anxiety-based mental health issues of self harm, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression and eating disorders.

November 15: Nutrition and ADHD

Parents of children and teens with ADHD are often concerned about their eating habits – are they eating enough, too much or the right type of foods? In this presentation, parents can expect to learn the fundamentals of nutrition, nutrition related to ADHD and practical strategies to make mealtimes more enjoyable!

DID YOU KNOW you can access pre-recorded sessions for free HERE.

ALSO CHECK OUT resources available through Mental Health Literacy HERE.

THANK YOU to all our casino volunteers!

We were able to raise over $60,000 in funds to help our GATE schools with exciting learning enrichment opportunities. These funds are allocated amongst Queen Elizabeth, Hillhurst, Henry Wise Wood and Louis Riel schools. If your child’s school/administration have funding requests, please tell them to contact us at info@gatecalgary.ca. 

UPCOMING PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS

The Community Education Service (CES) is offering the following sessions for parents and families. Sessions are offered at no cost but registration is required.

**CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: click on the PDF icon below the correct session to register**

March 29: LGBTQ2S+ – What Grandparents need to know 

Grandparents and Elders play an important role in the health and well-being of the young people in their lives. You will build on your ability to help all of the youth in your life feel loved, safe and like they belong by learning about:

• SOGIE related terms
• Personal, family and cultural values
• Health, education and social impacts of stigma
• Inclusive language
• Safer family strategies

April 5: Building Resiliency in the Family Unit

How to talk to my child about substances & the impact of addiction on the family & self-care & accessing school and community resources.

April 6: Helping your Child Foster a Positive Relationship with Food

This presentation will look at the following:
1. What does having a healthy relationship with food look like?
2. What are warning signs for disordered eating?
3. What can families do to promote a healthy relationship with food?
4. Resource sharing & supports

April 7: The 5 Essentials of Math Intervention for Students Struggling in Math 

**This session offered by Foothills Academy – click here to register**

In this webinar, we’ll focus on five essential components of math intervention. We’ll review and provide examples of ways to boost your delivery of math instruction by using explicit instruction, clear and concise language, and multiple representations. Then, we’ll describe the importance of providing daily fluency practice and word-problem instruction.

April 11: ADHD & Executive Functioning for Children and Youth  

The session will be an overview of ADHD and how issues with impulsivity and/or inattention impact children’s ability to manage their environments. The session will also explore the impact ADHD has on Executive Functioning and how it relates to managing everyday tasks, and meeting daily expectations at home and at school, including social, emotional, behavioural and academic demands.

April 12: Circle of Security Parenting – Building Secure Attachment

The Circle of Security Parenting Program answers parenting questions such as: 

• What does my child need from me?
• How can I support my child’s independence?
• Why do some of my child’s behaviours affect me so much?
• Can parenting be less stressful?

It is an attachment based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. This presentation is designed to give parents an understanding of the goals of the program, help parents to make sense of their child’s behaviours, learn strategies to support secure attachment with their children and make parenting less stressful.

April 13: Brain Science: Sciences of Hope and Resilience

This session exists to support caregivers with the fundamental elements of brain science with a focus on the strengths of knowing how this can positively impact children and youth development. The interactive session will provide insight into brain structure and the stress response. In addition, we will explore adverse childhood experiences and Covid-19 as they relate to brain development, while providing information and strategies to build resilience.

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 goes 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.

Click on the image below to purchase.

Volunteers Needed! October 28/29, 2021 (Thur/Fri) at Elbow River Casino

Want to help raise A LOT of money in a short time? Did you know that the casino fundraiser generally provides $65,000-$85,000 in funds for our GATE schools over a two-year period?

JOIN US at Elbow River Casino October 28/29!! Please sign up below for one of the roles listed. Please ensure your email and phone number are valid. Every role needs to be filled for the casino to proceed – even the backup positions.

The Elbow River Casino requires guests to show proof of vaccination and be masked in order to enter.

Important Positions that MUST be Filled:

Thursday evening shift – 

• Banker
• Cashier x2
• Chip Runner

Friday evening shift – 

• Cashier

In addition to these positions, the AGLC requires us to have backups for each of the positions for all shifts in case the original volunteer is unable to attend.

To sign up to volunteer, please click the link below: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b044da5aa2fabff2-gate

THANK-YOU! We couldn’t do this without the help of our amazing volunteers! 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Elbow+River+Casino/@51.0377139,-114.0635614,16.75z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x53717004c2e822a3:0xacd116fd46498f29!8m2!3d51.0371333!4d-114.0600031?hl=en