Chicago Gifted Community Center upcoming events

July Parent Support Group: Transition to Adulthood (July 09, 2026)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMT

REEL partners with Parents Helping Parents to offer a bi-monthly support group for parents of twice-exceptional children. Join us to ask questions and share answers.

More information and registration here.

Science & Arts Academy: Matilda the Musical (July 11, 2026)

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday, July 11, 7 PM
Sunday, July 12, 12 PM
Saturday, July 18, 7 PM
Sunday, July 19, 12 PM

You're invited to SAA's first-ever student and alumni community performance, bringing together current students and alumni to celebrate the creativity, talent, and connections that make our school community so special.

Filled with unforgettable songs, heartwarming moments, and plenty of laughs, this beloved musical celebrates courage, imagination, and the power of standing up for what's right.

Bring your family and friends and join us for this special theatrical experience. Admission is free, no tickets are required, and concessions will be available for purchase. We hope to see you there!

Science & Arts Academy: Matilda the Musical (July 12, 2026)

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Saturday, July 11, 7 PM
Sunday, July 12, 12 PM
Saturday, July 18, 7 PM
Sunday, July 19, 12 PM

Filled with unforgettable songs, heartwarming moments, and plenty of laughs, this beloved musical celebrates courage, imagination, and the power of standing up for what's right.

Bring your family and friends and join us for this special theatrical experience. Admission is free, no tickets are required, and concessions will be available for purchase. We hope to see you there!

Mapping a Smoother Back-to- School Transition (July 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Few kids embrace the end of summer, but back-to-school season brings an especially high level of anxiety and stress to students with ADHD, especially those who struggle with learning demands, rigid schedules, and increasing expectations.

In this webinar, ADHD expert Cheryl Chase, Ph.D., will show parents how to ease into the first few weeks of school with a brain-based action guide designed to reduce friction. She reframes the back‑to‑school transition as a full cognitive reboot — not a behavior issue — and gives families practical tools to help kids settle into the school year with confidence.

In this webinar, you will learn:

Why do the first weeks feel so hard due to sudden spikes in sensory load, executive function demands, emotional regulation, social expectations, and cognitive pace.
About the “5‑System Spike,” and how these systems intensify all at once.
How after‑school crashes, fatigue, and irritability are normal signs of bandwidth overload.
About the “Three‑Week Adjustment Curve,” which sets expectations for week 1 (shock), week 2 (friction), and week 3 (stabilization) — with examples of how to support kids through each phase.
About the Fix the Fit™ Strategies (MyBEST™), practical tools to reduce cognitive load and increase predictability.

Navigating the College Transition for 2e and 3e Learners (July 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

This NAGC webinar will explore critical college planning concerns for twice-exceptional (2e) and thrice-exceptional (3e) students. We will discuss key postsecondary barriers, including the admissions masking effect, the shift to student self-advocacy, asynchronous executive functioning, documentation requirements, and the need for dual-support environments. Gain insights to promote your child’s unique, strengths-based college transition.

More information and registration here.

Disney's The Little Mermaid - Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park (July 18, 2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages - about identity, community, and finding the strength of your inner voice. Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter dreams of exploring the human world and falling in love. After bargaining with Ursula the evil sea witch to trade her tail for legs, Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. With its irresistible songs, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl," and “Part of Your World”, Disney's The Little Mermaid will capture your heart!

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission. Appropriate for all ages.

More information and tickets here.

Science & Arts Academy: Matilda the Musical (July 18, 2026)

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday, July 11, 7 PM
Sunday, July 12, 12 PM
Saturday, July 18, 7 PM
Sunday, July 19, 12 PM

Filled with unforgettable songs, heartwarming moments, and plenty of laughs, this beloved musical celebrates courage, imagination, and the power of standing up for what's right.

Bring your family and friends and join us for this special theatrical experience. Admission is free, no tickets are required, and concessions will be available for purchase. We hope to see you there!

MAGE Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (July 19, 2026)

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Please join us for an information session about our unique full-time gifted junior kindergarten through 12th grade school admissions process and curriculum, our enrichment program, and to meet and network with other gifted families in the area as well as to understand school options and advocacy. RSVP by emailing admissions@mage.education.

In Person Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Sundays at 10AM. There is a virtual info session at 2PM on the same Sundays:

July 19
August 2
September 6
October 4
November 8
December 6

Science & Arts Academy: Matilda the Musical (July 19, 2026)

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Saturday, July 11, 7 PM
Sunday, July 12, 12 PM
Saturday, July 18, 7 PM
Sunday, July 19, 12 PM

Filled with unforgettable songs, heartwarming moments, and plenty of laughs, this beloved musical celebrates courage, imagination, and the power of standing up for what's right.

Bring your family and friends and join us for this special theatrical experience. Admission is free, no tickets are required, and concessions will be available for purchase. We hope to see you there!

Starting Strong: A Back-to-School Workshop for Parents of Twice-Exceptional (2e) Learners (July 20, 2026)

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Kicks Off on Monday, July 20, 7:00–8:00 PM PT

Meets: July 20, 27, August 3 & 10, 2026

An expert-led small group that fosters supportive conversations and provides personalized practical strategies that truly matter to you and your family.

More information and registration here.

Disney's The Little Mermaid - Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park (July 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission. Appropriate for all ages.

More information and tickets here.

Disney's The Little Mermaid - Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park (July 31, 2026)

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission. Appropriate for all ages.

More information and tickets here.

Family Movie Night in the Park (July 31, 2026)

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Come join us at Peterson Park to watch a movie under the stars! At this event you can celebrate the end of summer while watching Disney’s Frozen with friends and family!

The pool will be open for swimming at a discounted rate from 5pm until close and the concession stand will be open late if you need movie snacks such as popcorn, candy, slushies, or ice cream.

The movie itself will start at approximately 8:30 pm and has a runtime of approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.

We will also be holding a raffle to benefit Vernon Township Food Pantry. (Information about raffle ticket prices and prizes coming soon!) Or if you bring (non-expired and unopened) donations of non-perishable food for the Vernon Township Food Pantry, you’ll get a thank you sticker!

We look forward to our community coming together for a little end of summer fun.

MAGE Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (August 02, 2026)

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

In Person Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Sundays at 10AM. There is a virtual info session at 2PM on the same Sundays:

August 2
September 6
October 4
November 8
December 6

Time Blindness and Prioritization Help for Middle and High Schoolers (August 05, 2026)

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

If your child has time blindness, these scenarios may sound familiar: It’s time to leave, so your teen jumps in the shower or starts making a meal. It’s 9 p.m. and your tween just sent you a frantic text because they need snacks for tomorrow’s class party. It’s dinnertime, and your teen is freaking out because they swear their teacher “just posted” a project that is due tomorrow.

ADHD expert Russell Barkley, Ph.D., describes time blindness as the impaired ability to sense time passing and to use that sense to guide behavior and actions. For many kids with ADHD, this impairment becomes most visible during the tween and teen years—just when everything else gets more complicated: Disparate teachers across multiple subjects. Assignments tracked through hard-to-navigate online portals. A developmentally appropriate push for privacy and independence.

All of this makes it harder for parents and teachers to provide consistent, hands-on support. And yet the demands keep growing. As tweens and teens move toward high school, college, and beyond, the ability to manage time becomes essential and the stakes get higher.

In this webinar, clinical psychologist Suzanne Allen, Psy.D., will help parents, teachers, coaches, and other caring adults better understand the behaviors in their tweens and teens that are rooted in time blindness. By building understanding and compassion, adults will be better equipped to support young people in gaining self-awareness, collaborating on solutions, and developing the practical skills they need to thrive now and in the years ahead.

In this webinar you will learn:

About the four time-blindness modes and what they look like in daily life
How time blindness can affect academic performance, relationships, and sense of self in middle and high school
How adults can respond in supportive, rather than reactive, ways
About strategies to “redesign the environment” and support stronger time awareness and time management
About simple scripts to start the conversation with your tween or teen and keep them engaged
How to talk with siblings, teachers, and others who may feel frustrated with your child
What to do if your tween or teen refuses help

Exceptional by Design: Navigating Twice- and Thrice-Exceptionality (August 06, 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Exceptional by Design: Navigating Twice- and Thrice-Exceptionality is a four-part, 6-hour course from the National Association for Gifted Children that helps educators, families, and advocates recognize and support twice- and thrice-exceptional (2e/3e) learners through an equity-centered, strengths-based lens. Sessions translate research into actionable identification practices, classroom and SEL supports, and authentic family–school partnership tools, with a focus on disrupting barriers that disproportionately impact Black and multilingual learners. Sessions are presented both synchronously and asynchronously August 6-13, with opportunities for application and to gauge participants' understanding.

Session Descriptions:

Session 1, August 6, 5 p.m. ET: Foundations of 2e/3e (and Why Race Matters): Define twice- and thrice-exceptionality, unpack common misconceptions, and explore how systemic inequities shape identification and services—especially for Black students and other historically marginalized learners. (Live webinar)

Session 2, On-Demand: Equitable Identification in Practice: Learn strength-based, culturally responsive identification approaches using multiple measures, family/community input as core data, and learner profiles that reveal how giftedness and disability can mask one another. (Recorded/on-demand session to watch between Session 1 and Session 3)

Session 3, August 11, 5 p.m. ET: Instruction, SEL, and Executive Function Supports: Apply practical classroom and schoolwide strategies (including differentiation, scaffolds, acceleration/compacting, executive function supports, and self-advocacy routines) while addressing stressors like perfectionism, masking, and overwhelm. (Live webinar)

Session 4, August 13, 5 p.m. ET: Family Partnership and Thriving as 3e: Strengthen family–school collaboration through culturally responsive communication and co-constructed plans, then shift from deficit framing to asset-based supports that promote identity affirmation, resilience, and long-term success for 2e/3e learners.

Printmaking Lab (August 06, 2026)

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Turn your ideas into bold, eye‑catching prints in this hands‑on class. Explore the world of printmaking through carving, stamping, rolling paint, and experimenting with textures and patterns. This event is for registrants grade 6th Grade to 12th Grade.

More information here.

Free Annual MAGE/CGCC Gifted Community Beach Meetup (August 09, 2026)

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

You are invited to our Free Annual MAGE Gifted Community Beach Meetup on Sunday, August 8, 2025 • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Humboldt Park Beach, 1400 N Humboldt Dr, Chicago, IL 60651

Free Parking (see map).

Bathrooms: Available at the field house.

Bring your own: Chairs, blankets, tents, toys, food, and sun protection.

Notes:

Beach is public—we won’t be exclusively alone there.
This is not a drop-off event; parents are responsible for supervising their own children.
Weather updates: facebook.com/MageEducation

Open to the entire MAGE community, including CGCC, Davidson, MENSA, and PGR families. No formal activities provided, this is a social gathering/picnic.

Building Brain Capital and 21st Century Skills For Our Gifted Learners (August 18, 2026)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT

NAGC Webinar: $20 members, $30 nonmembers

Building the leaders of tomorrow begins by knowing how the brain, art, and social connection are intertwined in a unique symphony of creative development. Join us for an interactive 90-minute, jovial session that will teach you the latest methodologies, backed by neuroscience, to develop creativity, brain health, and other essential life skills for our leaders navigating ambiguous times.

More information and registration here.

MAGE Professional Educators and Providers Open House & Coffee (August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Calling all educators and providers! Join us for an Open House Coffee at MAGE, a non-profit community supporting the gifted. We've been serving the Chicago area since 2018 and running a full-day school for 4 years. Our school caters to students from Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade and is recognized by the IL State Board of Ed.

We're excited to extend a warm welcome to Professional Educators and Providers for the first time at our Open House Coffee event. Come and learn more about our mission and the services we offer. Here are the details:

Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2026
Time: 10AM-11:30 AM
Location: 900 North Franklin Street, Ste 200., Chicago IL 60642. (Just a few blocks from the 90/94 at Orleans and the Chicago Brown Line Stop.)

Coffee and sandwiches will be provided to keep you energized as you explore our school and connect with fellow professionals.

Register now at the following link: https://forms.gle/fpvTehNxtcPjgusn6

Don't miss out on this opportunity to network, learn, and be a part of our growing community. We look forward to meeting you!

#MAGECommunity #OpenHouseCoffee #EducatorsAndProviders

MAGE Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (September 06, 2026)

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

In Person Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Sundays at 10AM. There is a virtual info session at 2PM on the same Sundays:

September 6
October 4
November 8
December 6

MAGE In-Person Midweek Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (September 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:45:00 GMT

In-Person Midweek Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Tuesdays at 8:45AM:

September 8
October 20
November 17

Identifying and Serving Musically Gifted Students in Rural and High-Poverty Areas (September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

NAGC webinar - free for NAGC members

How do you serve musically gifted students who live in rural and high-poverty areas? Join this webinar to discover practical strategies for using equitable identification tools that may reduce bias, examine real-world examples of identification evidence, and learn cost-effective ways to utilize community and school resources to enhance arts education for students in these locations. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your approach and advocate for talented students.

Building Brains That Build Things: Engineering Habits of Mind for Gifted Innovators (September 17, 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT

NAGC webinar - free for NAGC members

What makes someone an inventor, designer, or problem solver? It is not just knowledge. It is how they think. In this engaging and practical session, explore six Engineering Habits of Mind that power real innovation. Persistence, creativity, systems thinking, collaboration, conscientiousness, and optimism help ideas grow into solutions. Through classroom-ready strategies and intriguing examples, discover how to help gifted learners move from curious thinkers to capable builders who design, test, and improve the world around them.

Hidden Brilliance: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Gifted Adoptees and Foster Youth (September 22, 2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

NAGC webinar - free for NAGC members

Children who are adopted or in foster care face unique psychosocial challenges which may be amplified by the shared challenges and intensities of their giftedness. These same Issues and challenges may mask their giftedness which can further fuel the misunderstandings and preconceived ideas of how an adoptee or foster child should look or behave.

This webinar will explore these challenges and ways they may impact these children’s education. Stories collected during a qualitative study of this population will be shared to highlight lived experiences. Topics discussed will include trauma, loss, grief, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, relationships, transitions, and school assignments. These topics are not often discussed in the education community, therefore attendees will learn about how to spot and address the above challenges, while also encouraging students’ strengths, developing their talents and interests, and advocating for the gifted adoptees and gifted foster children in an educational environment.

MAGE Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (October 04, 2026)

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

In Person Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Sundays at 10AM. There is a virtual info session at 2PM on the same Sundays:

October 4
November 8
December 6

MAGE In-Person Midweek Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:45:00 GMT

In-Person Midweek Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Tuesdays at 8:45AM:

October 20
November 17

NAGC Annual Convention (November 05, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMT

National Association for Gifted Children's Annual Convention

Join us November 5–8, 2026, at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, WI, for four days of research-driven learning, strategic collaboration, and practical application. As the premier event dedicated to advancing gifted education, you can select from over 200+ sessions and 60+ posters designed to strengthen your practice, elevate your leadership, and expand opportunities for your advanced learners.

MAGE Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (November 08, 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

In Person Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Sundays at 10AM. There is a virtual info session at 2PM on the same Sundays:

November 8
December 6

MAGE In-Person Midweek Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 14:45:00 GMT

In-Person Midweek Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Tuesdays at 8:45AM:

November 17

MAGE Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions (December 06, 2026)

Sun, 06 Dec 2026 16:00:00 GMT

In Person Sunday Admissions Tour and Info Sessions are on select Sundays at 10AM. There is a virtual info session at 2PM on the same Sundays:

December 6