This session was held on November 29th and was attended by many GATE families. Principals and staff at both GATE high schools – Henry Wise Wood and Queen Elizabeth – provided a detailed session on:

• Transition from GATE junior high to high school
• GATE high school programming
• International Baccalaureate (IB) program details 
• Advanced Placement (AP) program details 
• Resources available to GATE high school students

Many thanks to the presenters for providing thoughtful and detailed information! The session was followed by a lively Q&A session. One question arose about South Calgary GATE students wishing to take partial AP/partial GATE classes, or North Calgary GATE students wishing to take partial IB/partial GATE classes. We now have the answer from Aileen Smyth: GATE students wishing to take dual IB/GATE may attend Henry Wise Wood regardless of address, and GATE students wishing to take dual AP/GATE may attend Queen Elizabeth regardless of address. Students attending any other high school would be relinquishing their spot in the GATE program. 

CLICK HERE to access presentation materials. 

SWEET SUCCESS!

The 2022 Purdys Fundraiser was a success! 
We raised $744.65 for GATE students. 
THANK YOU to all families who participated.

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**

January 10: Mindfulness: Supporting Your Child’s Social and Emotional Learning
Feeling a little blue and not particularly cheery this time of year? You’re not alone. In this session you will learn about mindfulness and take away practical tools that will help brighten these cold days. This session will explore the topic of mindfulness and how mindfulness strategies can support your child’s social and emotional well-being. Explore how the brain’s stress responses may impact social and emotional well-being and how to use mindfulness to calm the brain. Using mindfulness can lead to better focus in school, better cooperation with others, improved self-awareness, self-regulation, decrease stress/anxiety, and improve overall well-being.

January 24: Talking to Children and Youth about Consent

When we give consent, we give permission; we do it every day when we borrow a pen, consent to release of information and consent to personal touch. Children learn about consent in their homes with everyday interactions such as sharing toys and learning how to set boundaries. As youth grow, they learn about giving and getting consent in relationships. Talking about consent with children and youth can help them have healthy family, friend and dating relationships.
In this session, participants will:
• Define consent
• Learn ways to talk about consent to children and youth
• Learn how consent is the foundation for healthy sexual relationships

January 26: Your Child’s Suicidal Thoughts: What to think and say when your child needs immediate mental health care 
Anyone can experience suicidal thoughts at any age and for many reasons. Parents have a tough job being a consistent supporter for children through every developmental shift, change at school, extra-curricular success, or social failure. When you are extra worried about your child’s safety due to thoughts of suicide, you might not know what to think or what to say. In this presentation, hear the facts about suicidal ideation and actions, what you can say directly to your child and other family members, and learn what supports are available to you as caregiver as well as for your child.

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

ALSO CHECK OUT resources available through Mental Health Literacy 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

Notice of General Meeting

Date: Tuesday, June 9th
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Place: Online via Zoom

Advance registration is required. Register online at gatecalgary.ca or Click HERE.

NOTE: You can now view previous meeting minutes online. 

An agenda for this meeting will be sent to all registrants along with a link to attend the Zoom meeting. 

Do you have questions or concerns about what the 2020-2021 school year will look like for GATE students? Forward them to us and we will do our best to address them at this meeting. 

Purdys Spring Fundraiser

The world changed dramatically just as our Purdys spring fundraiser was getting under way, but thanks to you we we were still able to raise a few hundred dollars for GATE students and bring some chocolate smiles to our families. Thank-you for your support!

Thank-you to our fundraising chair, Stefanie, and volunteers Traci and Nancy, for making sure everyone got their chocolate safely. 
 

Casino Update

The GATE Parent Association (GPA) was scheduled to have its next Casino in Q4 of this year. We have received notice from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) that Q4 casino scheduling has been postponed until further notice. How long we will have to wait for a new casino fundraiser date will depend on when Casinos reopen. The administration staff of our four schools have been notified of the postponement of future casinos.

There are still funds remaining from our previous casino fundraiser. Schools may not be able to spend these funds by the deadline (Q1 2021, 2 years from the date of the casino fundraiser), or may wish to extend the deadline not knowing when they may receive additional casino funds. We have confirmed with the AGLC that extension requests will be honoured during the COVID-19 crisis.

For additional information and updates, be sure to attend our upcoming general meeting.
 

General Fundraising Notes

As you can see, fundraising is going to be a challenge during the COVID-19 crisis, yet our schools need our help now more than ever. If you have an idea for a fundraiser that may work under these extraordinary circumstances, please contact us. We are looking at new ways to raise funds in lieu of a casino, such as online fundraisers. 

In the meantime, you can always support GATE students through our ongoing Indigo fundraiser. 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.

Use your gift card to purchase items through our link, and earn an additional 3%. 

Through these ‘unrestricted’ (non-Casino) funds, we were recently able to provide professional development opportunities for teaching and administration staff from all four of our schools. Thank-you for your continued support!
 

Prefer to make a direct donation?

We couldn’t do the work we do for our GATE students, parents, and teachers without your generous donations. If you prefer to donate directly, cheques can be mailed to:

GATE Parent Association
c/o Louis Riel School
9632 Oakfield Dr SW
Calgary, AB
T2V 0L1

Charitable Registration # 875716417 RR 0001

We also accept donations via PayPal.Visit our website for more ways to give.

Summer Break Ideas?

Summer break is just around the corner. Have an idea for an educational or entertaining activity our families might like? Share it with us and we’ll include your idea in our upcoming newsletter!

Email * Facebook * Instagram

Alberta Health Community Education Services Classes

Alberta Health Services is offering online sessions which may be of interest to our members, such as:

• May 27 or May 28 – Kids Have Stress Too
• June 4 – Emotional Regulation Using Mindfulness
• June 9 – Mental health for highly sensitive teens; unique struggles for these emotional feelers
• June 11 – Taming Anxiety Gremlins: Avoiding anxiety traps while promoting resilience
• June 15 – Supporting a Smooth Transition into the 2020-2021 School Year
• June 22 – Fostering Hope and Resilience in Times of Uncertainty – Hold on to Your Teen

Register online at http://community.hmhc.ca/sessions/?p=online

For additional details and full calendar, visit http://community.hmhc.ca/

Werklund School of Education 

The Integrated Services in Education (ISE) Clinic at Werklund School of Education is now accepting applications for Psychoeducational Assessment Services to be completed in the Spring Term (May & June) of 2020. Apply today at: 
https://werklund.ucalgary.ca/integrated-services

Volunteer opportunities for children:
https://live-werklund.ucalgary.ca/integrated-services/about-us/child-and-youth-volunteers

Links to Helpful Articles

Are your kids struggling right now? While anxiety and acting out are normal responses to the crisis we are all facing, there are some ways you can help your child cope. Check out this great article on supporting your child during COVID-19. 

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more articles on parenting gifted children and current gifted education news.

Parent Education Sessions

As a result of COVID-19 and restrictions on gatherings, we have no parent education sessions scheduled at this time. We will be looking into the possibility of online information sessions for 2020-2021 school year. 

If you are interested in volunteering your time, or have questions or suggestions for future information sessions, please contact us. Information about our executive and board member roles can be found here: Our Roles

What we do

Fundraising – With your help, we raise funds through our Casinos, Purdys, and Indigo fundraisers. Some ways that schools have used these funds are: 

• artists in residence • writers in residence • drama workshops • Wordfest 
• field trips • computing competitions • math competitions • math resources
• microphones • robotics equipment • cameras • smart boards
• scientists in residence • science kits • Beakerhead • Professional Development 

Education – We support GATE families through education sessions on topics like:

• growth mindset • executive functioning • anxiety, perfectionism, and depression 
• study skills • resilience • underachievement • social dynamics • mindful parenting 
• the high school experience
 
Communication – Through our newsletters and social media accounts, we provide information about upcoming events at schools and other organizations of interest to our members, links to resources of interest to gifted students and their families, and other gifted education news. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram!

Advocacy – The GATE Parent Association executive meets with the CBE, school administrations, and other stakeholders to stay informed about current research and updates and to advocate for gifted education. 

Click on the image below to purchase.