Upcoming CGCC Events

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• CGCC SEL Strategies for the Gifted

  • When
    October 19, 2021
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Registered
    4 registrants

  Register

  CGCC and Midwest Academy for Gifted Education (MAGE), are happy to partner again for Parent Education Workshops. Additional workshops to be offered in the coming months.

  Topic: Social-Emotional Learning Strategies for the Gifted

  Presented by: Sarah Ahim and Emily Clarke. This presentation will discuss the challenges students experience during times of transition, and provide useful strategies/tools for preventing anticipatory anxiety and managing anxiety and stress in the classroom, as well as at home.

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• Illinois Climate Action Workshop

  • When
    October 21, 2021
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    47
  • Registered
    3 registrants

  Register

  Illinois Climate Action
  Workshop 

  Become empowered to operate locally

  Guided by the 2021 Climate Action Plan released July  13, 2021 for the Chicago Region, this workshop will engage participants in exploring both what is being done and how they can get involved with local efforts underway to mitigate the effects of climate change and work towards building resilience within the Chicago area. 

  Over 136 communities in the Chicago area have committed to making a difference by adopting the Greenest Region Compact by formal resolution. Following this adoption process, an individual municipality then takes the next step to develop a custom plan to address goals to work towards developing climate mitigation and adaptation strategies that fit with their community needs.  For example, Wilmette created the VILLAGE OF WILMETTE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES STRATEGIC PLAN 2021. Aurora has a sustainability plan as does Highland Park and Geneva.  Within Chicago, there are a few initiatives under way.

  The consensus goals of the Compact address ten areas, including

  • climate, 
  • economic development, 
  • energy, 
  • land, 
  • leadership, 
  • mobility, 
  • municipal operations, 
  • sustainable communities, 
  • water, and 
  • waste & recycling.  

  We will review each of these ten areas and then discuss sample plans. The goal is to uncover and/or help create local opportunities to "Make Some Noise" in support of  community efforts to build climate resilience.

  This workshop is designed for adults. Interested students in middle grades and up are also invited to participate. Families are encouraged to participate. One registration per zoom login please.

  
  

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• Family Writing Time

  • When
    October 24, 2021
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    16

  Register

  Families Write about Climate Change 

  Everyone writes

  Gather your family together and join Rhonda Stern in some writing time!  Our one hour class is designed to give writers the opportunity to creatively present their experiences and perspectives. Topics will cut across all genres and include:

  • how to craft a lead sentence that will engage readers and drive your piece;
  • why it is important to "write small" and narrow your topic; and
  • ways to enhance your writing by using symbolism and literary devices.

  Those interested may submit their piece for possible publication in the CGCC 2022 Kids Climate Summit Making Noise magazine.

  All ages are welcome.

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• Climate Change NOISE - Writing Challenge

  • When
    November 01, 2021
  •  
    11:59 PM
  • Location
    Online Submissions

  Register

  Climate Change Writing Challenge

  No one is too small [or too young] to make a difference (Greta Thunberg)

  In anticipation of our third annual Kids Climate Summit we are inviting students  of all ages - including parents - to submit pieces for inclusion in the 2022 Kids Climate Summit Making Noise magazine.  Please address: What does climate change mean to you.

  All forms of writing will be considered - poetry, narrative, fiction, non-fiction.

  If you want a coach to review your work, please send it to Writing Coach before October 25, 2021.   

  Submission instructions will be provided upon registration.  

  Email your questions or concerns to  Kids Summit.

  Those of you who are more visual or more auditory we are sponsoring an Art Challenge in November and an Alternate Media Challenge in December!

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• CGCC Westmont Daytime Parenting Book Discussion:

  • When
    November 03, 2021
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom or Hinsdale

  Register

  This month the Westmont Daytime Book Group is reading:     

  

  
  

  When Gifted Kids Don't Have All the Answers
  

  by Judy Galbraith, M.A. and Jim Delisle, Ph.D.

  
  

  Gifted kids are so much more than test scores and grades. Still, it’s sometimes difficult to see past the potential to the child who may be anxious, lonely, confused, or unsure of what the future might bring. This book, now fully revised with updated information and new survey quotes, offers practical suggestions for addressing the social and emotional needs of gifted students. 

  
  

  Bring your favorite morning brew and join us for a discussion of this month's book and how it relates to your parenting challenges. Read the book in depth, skim it, or take a look at the book cover on Amazon before your run out the door. The objective is to use the book to frame the discussion with other parents who face the same kinds of parenting challenges you do!

  Weather permitting, will meet both in person outside at a member's home in Hinsdale and via Zoom - you choose. Address and connection instructions available upon registration.

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• Photographing with a Point of View

  • When
    November 04, 2021
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    40

  Register

  Photographing with a Point of View 

  Learn how to use your camera to tell a story

  Sarah Matheson uses her camera not just to take pretty pictures, but also to tell a story. She will tell us how she goes about composing a picture and presenting it in the most effective way.   

  Perhaps this will inspire your kids to submit a photograph to the Kids Climate Summit MAKE SOME NOISE! Art Challenge!  Link  

  Learn more about Sarah and see some of her work here. 

  All ages are welcome.

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• Kids Climate Summit: SkyKus

  • When
    November 05, 2021
  •  
    11:59 PM
  • Location
    Online Submissions

  Kids Climate Summit
  Write a SkyKu

  Because we only have one sky!

  This SkyDay Project is a SkyKu. Learn more about them here:  skyku-guide 

  Learn more about Sky Day:  link

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• Thoughtful Art

  • When
    November 08, 2021
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    40

  Register

  Thoughtful Art  

  When art makes you think it can be very powerful!

  This session is designed to motivate kids to submit art to the Kids Climate Summit MAKE SOME NOISE! Art Challenge Link. We will discuss why art makes us think and feel. We will look at some climate change art and discuss why it is effective. And we will talk about getting started on a work of art. 

  This session will be led by Darcy Zoells, a children's book illustrator and lifelong artist.   Link  

  All ages are welcome.
  

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• Climate Change NOISE - Art Challenge

  • When
    November 22, 2021
  •  
    11:59 PM
  • Location
    Online Submissions

  Register

  Climate Change Art Challenge

  No one is too small [or too young] to make a difference (Greta Thunberg)

  In anticipation of our third annual Kids Climate Challenge we are inviting students  to submit pieces for inclusion in the 2022 Kids Climate Summit Making Noise magazine to be published in May 2022.

  Students of all ages are welcome to participate, no need to participate in the Summit!  

  All printable art forms will be considered:  drawings, paintings, graphic arts, photography... We recommend your piece be square.  

  Submission instruction will be provided upon registration.  

  All pieces will be reviewed with comments provided. Original or revised pieces will be considered for inclusion on the Kids Climate Summit webpage and the Making Noise magazine. 

  Email your questions or concerns to  Kids Summit.

  Those of you who are more into writing, we have a Writing Challenge in October. Those more interested in music, soundscapes, video and animation may enjoy the Alternate Media Challenge in December.  

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• CGCC Westmont Daytime Parenting Book Discussion:

  • When
    December 01, 2021
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom or Westmont Commons, 117 N. Cass, Westmont, depending...

  Register

  This month the Westmont Daytime Book Group is reading:     

  Something fabulous - check back soon! 

  Bring your favorite morning brew and join us on Zoom for a discussion of this month's book and how it relates to your parenting challenges. Read the book in depth, skim it, or take a look at the book cover on Amazon before your run out the door.  The objective is to use the book to frame the discussion with other parents who face the same kinds of parenting challenges you do!

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• Climate Change NOISE - Alternate Media Challenge

  • When
    December 20, 2021
  •  
    11:59 PM
  • Location
    Online Submissions

  Register

  Climate Change
  Alternate Media Challenge

  No one is too small [or too young] to make a difference (Greta Thunberg)

  In anticipation of our third annual Kids Climate Challenge we are inviting students of all ages to submit video, audio and other online media pieces. These could take many forms from audio-only music, spoken word or otherwise sound designed pieces, to full scale video documentaries, animations, or fictional representations. The sky is the limit. We recommend that you keep your pieces to under 5 minutes, though that is not a hard and fast rule. 

  For those interested in producing a video, the One Earth Film Festival has developed an online self-paced course on movie creation. The course contains 3 hours of instruction broken into many short videos assuming students have only smart phones of tablets available to them. It covers Scriptwriting & Storyboards through Props, Costumes, Lighting & Shadows to Publishing, Privacy, & Digital Citizenship. Learn more about it here. Those considering a video submission may also want to familiarize themselves with the One Earth Film Festival guidelines, as they could potentially submit their piece there in January after receiving feedback and comment from our judges. 

  All submissions meeting the challenge will be considered for posting on the Kids Climate Change webpage, or for inclusion in a Climate Change viewing/listening party in Winter 2022.

  All students  are invited to participate. 

  Submission instructions will be provide to all who register once they have been finalized.  

  Email your questions or concerns to  Kids Summit.

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• CGCC Westmont Daytime Parenting Book Discussion: Gifted Lives by Joan Freeman

  • When
    February 02, 2022
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Zoom or Westmont Commons, 117 N. Cass, Westmont, depending...

  Register

  This month the Westmont Daytime Book Group is reading:     

  

  
  

  Gifted Lives:  What Happens when Gifted Children Grow Up

  By Joan Freeman

  
  

  This book is not in my local library system. You can find it available used in a variety of places, if you would like to read it. It is interesting as it  gives us a glimpse of what gifted children grow up to be! 

  If you are interested, there is a paper on a similar subject published by Joan Freeman available here:  link

  And an interview of her here: link

  Bring your favorite morning brew and join us on Zoom for a discussion of this month's book and how it relates to your parenting challenges. Read the book in depth, skim it, or take a look at the book cover on Amazon before your run out the door.  The objective is to use the book to frame the discussion with other parents who face the same kinds of parenting challenges you do!

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