Exciting news from our North Suburban Coordinator, Jen Merrill.  Her book, "If This is a Gift, Can I Send it Back?  Surviving in the Land of the Gifted and Twice Exceptional," has just been released by GHF Press.  When is life like a prize fight, a garden, and a quiz show, all hurtling down the road on an office chair, wrapped in a song?  When you're living in the land of the gifted and twice exceptional.  Join Jen on her journey through discovery, understaning, and acceptance, as she copes with the challenges that only the gifted and twice exceptional can create. 

Conducted nationwide, the VFW sponsored Patriot's Pen essay competition gives sutdents an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy with the prospect of winning money for college.  The program is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.  The deadline for the 2012-2013 program is November 1, 2012.  The theme for this year is "What I Would Tell America's Founding Fathers." The first place award is $5,000 plus an all expense padi trip to Washington, DC for the winner and a parent/guardian.

 

To encourage the joy of reading, the Mensa Foundation has developed the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Award Program.  Acknowledging the value of the National Endowment for the Humanities' appreciation of classic literature for young people, the Mensa Foundation is providing a year-round challenge to kids of all ages based on the National Endowment for the Humanities Summertime Reading  list.  Kids who complete the reading list receive an award certificate and a t-shirt.

When my son was younger, he really loved taking part in projects that made him feel he was part of the world of science.  I still have fond memories of our time spent collecting rock samples, sending our names into space, and classifying galaxies.  There are even more citizen science programs around these days, so if you think your kids might also enjoy this, you can take a closer look.

The first annual CGCC picnic will be held at Schiller Woods, Site 12 on July 22, 2012 from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm.  It is an opportunity to meet members of the CGCC Board and other gifted families from all over Chicagoland.  We would love to get to know you and to share our story with you.  You do not need to be a member of CGCC or to register for the event.  It is open to all families of gifted in Chicagoland.

 

Please bring a picnic for your family.  You also can bring a dessert to share if you would like.  There will be some activities to enjoy such as paper airplanes, Legos, bubbles and a treasure hunt.

 

Schiller Woods is located at 8400 West Irving Park Road (west of Cumberland Ave.), near to O'hare Airport.  It can be accessed off of East River Road or Cumberland.  Click here for a map of Schiller Woods.