Parent Education Session – Thursday May 22 at 7:00pm

Supporting the Social & Emotional Health of Gifted Students

Gifted students often face unique emotional and social challenges, such as heightened sensitivity, perfectionism, and isolation. In this presentation, Ley-Anne Folks and Heather Lai from Westmount Charter School will discuss ways to support their well-being, which involves creating a safe, understanding environment, promoting peer connections, and providing access to mental health resources. 
 
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: Thursday May 22, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Virtual meeting (Zoom)
 
REGISTER by May 20, 2025.
Non-GATE parents are welcome to attend this session.

VOLUNTEER WITH THE GPA

Do you take an active role in your gifted child’s learning? Are you interested in supporting the GATE program and advocating for gifted learning? 

The GPA offers a chance to connect with other GATE parents and make an impact in the lives of GATE students. Consider taking on a role in the fall!

You can learn more about the different roles on the GATE Parent Association website or email us at info@gatecalgary.ca for more information.

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.

May 5, 2025: How does Puberty Affect the Brain
This presentation will address: 
• Changes in thoughts and feelings that occur at puberty.
• How these changes are triggered in the brain.
• Implications of these changes on children’s public and private behavior.

May 6, 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.

May 14, 2025: Stress Management for Children and Youth
This presentation will address: 
– Signs of stress and how to recognize them
– Support for kids and teens in stress management
– Stress sources and levels
– How stress affects our body and mental health