Conway GT Parents

Join our Facebook group

2010-08-04T10:35:00.002-05:00

Conway AGATE now has a page on Facebook. Even if you do not have a Facebook login you can view the page, although our "friends" have access to additional information. Please visit us at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Conway-Advocates-for-Gifted-and-Talented-Education-AGATE/134757173231170

Conway to participate in Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Sciences

2010-03-15T11:10:00.000-05:00

Gov. Mike Beebe today announced eight additional Arkansas high schools which will participate in the UALR-based Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Sciences, a $13.2 million effort aimed at increasing participation and scores in Advance Placement classes.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/mar/15/beebe-name-more-ap-schools/

Department of Higher Ed adds GT website

2010-01-26T14:24:00.001-06:00

The Office of Gifted and Talented is pleased to announce that GT now has a presence on the ADE website. You may access the page using the following steps:

1. Go to the ADE main page: http://arkansased.org.

2. Immediately below the main title, “ArkansasEd.org” , is a link bar in red/pink.

3. Select (click) “School Support and Programs” in the link bar. The School Support and Special Programs page appears.

4. On the left side of the page is a listing of special programs. Click “Education of Gifted and Talented Children” and you will be at the new ADE GT site.

OR click on the following web address:

http://arkansased.org/programs/gt.html

The GT section of the ADE website contains information about:

· GT Standards – 2009 Standards

· AR Laws regarding GT

· Latest Commissioner’s Memos

· Advanced Placement/Pre-AP

· Annual Program Approval Application

· Arkansas Governor's School

· Licensure

· Monitoring

· Important Upcoming Dates

· Helpful Web Sites and Resources

Report: Tougher Classes Trump Grades in College Admissions

2010-01-22T14:59:00.000-06:00

Report: Tougher Classes Trump Grades in College Admissions

Researchers at the Center for Public Education, which is a resource center housed at the National School Boards Association, drew on national data to figure out what kinds of credentials students need to get into a college that is considered to be "competitive" by the Barron's Profile of American Colleges. What they found was that taking higher-level courses is more important than getting perfect grades.

$250 million initiative for science, math teachers planned

2010-01-06T13:14:00.002-06:00

President Obama will announce a $250 million public-private effort Wednesday to improve science and mathematics instruction, aiming to help the nation compete in key fields with global economic rivals.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503981.html

Planning for College While There's Still Time

2009-12-18T12:59:00.000-06:00

Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010
7:00 P.M., James Clark Auditorium

AN EVENT FOR YOU AND YOUR PARENTS

Learn more about admissions, scholarships, college visits, making the most of your senior year, a.c.t., etc. NOW so you won’t be so stressed during your senior year. Hear experiences from C.H.S. Grads

AGATE Parent Conference

2009-10-23T15:42:00.002-05:00

The state AGATE conference will be held Feb. 24-26, Wed. through Fri., in Little Rock. The Parent Institute is on Thursday. The Keynote Address will be Dr. Karen Rogers-“In School, Out of School, In the Home Strategies for Gifted Children.”

On Friday they are having AP Day. The purpose is to help teachers prepare their students for AP exams in World History, Statistics, English, and Environmental Science.

You can go to the state website, www.agate-arkansas.org, for more information on the conference and on how to join the state association. An individual membership is $15. Members receive a copy of the state newsletter, which comes out a couple of times a year.

Casting Call for gifted kids

2009-10-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

This information was in a recent email and might be of interest to our GT families...

Below is the casting info for our new show for a MAJOR network. We have a limited time to narrow down our candidates for the project so the sooner you respond, the better your chances are of being selected.

Are you the parent of a little genius? Is your child a walking encyclopedia of knowledge? Now casting children (ages 4-12) who are extremely bright for a new major network series from Mark Burnett Productions (cast Survivor, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, etc). We are looking for children who are exceptionally advanced for their age in one or more subjects. Does your child know all there is to know about Baseball, the Presidents of the United States, English Literature, etc.? If so, then we want to meet you! Parents, this is your chance to let your child’s genius shine.

Please email us NOW at casting.jennifer@gmail.com (the sooner the better!),make sure you include your name, phone number, your child’s name & age, the city you live in, a brief description of their genius and several photos of all of you (please note your photoswill not be returned).

Prepare for college early!

2009-09-22T10:06:00.002-05:00

Thanks again to Arkansas Speaker of the House Robbie Wills for speaking about the recent legislation related to education at the Fall meeting of Conway AGATE!

In our discussion of the upcoming College Day sponsored by Conway AGATE one of our members mentioned the College Fairs conducted here in Arkansas by Ivy League schools. For more information about an upcoming program from Brown, Univ of Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, and Rice visit http://www.exploringeducationalexcellence.org. The other program - Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, and Stanford - was in Arkansas a couple of weeks ago, so plan for their next visit in 2010 using this site http://www.exploringcollegeoptions.org/.

National Free Museum Day September 26, 2009!

2009-09-18T09:27:00.002-05:00

Hundreds of museums and cultural venues will open their doors to you and a guest on Saturday September 26, 2009! General admission is free at the participating museum of your choice but you will need to visit their website to print out an admission pass. The "Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day" provides information on Museum Day and lists the participating museums and centers online at their website: www.Smithsonian.com/museumday.

8 Arkansas museums are included!

National Merit finalists

2009-09-16T17:51:00.001-05:00

Arkansas Times: "Names were released today of the 147 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists in Arkansas. This link gives you the full explanation and list of all 147."

Congratulations to the 1 homeschool and 5 public school students from Conway!

Upcoming fall meeting

2009-09-09T21:21:00.000-05:00

We have another exciting year planned for Conway AGATE. First on the agenda is our Fall Meeting which will be held Sunday, September 20th at 2:00 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Within the next few days your child should bring home a copy of a flyer from school with more information.

We will start the meeting with a reception for Marilyn Larson who was recently sworn into the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Gifted and Talented Education. She joins Marilynn Nabholz, another Conway resident who serves on this prestigious board.

The speaker for the meeting will be Robbie Wills, Arkansas Speaker of the House. We appreciate his willingness to meet with us and look forward to his discussion about recent legislation that could affect our schools.

Please invite a friend to join us for this great opportunity to learn more about GT and AP in Conway. I look forward to seeing you on the 20th!

Financial Aid 101 | Women's Inc.

2009-08-31T19:16:00.000-05:00

Financial Aid 101 Women's Inc.: "Many parents pay for college with a combination of savings and financial aid. Indeed, with the high cost of college today, financial aid might be the only way your child can afford to attend college. By learning the basics, you’ll be able to understand how the financial aid process works, properly fill out aid applications, and compare the aid awards your child receives."

Webinar for parents

2009-08-11T19:14:00.002-05:00

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is planning to offer a monthly webinar to bring educational content directly to parents.The first webinar is planned for September 16th at 6pm - Back to School. Back to Gifted with Robin Schader, NAGC parent resource advisor.

You can register for the webinar starting Sept 3 at www.nagc.org/WOW.aspx

Third Annual Arkansas Puzzle Day

2009-08-04T13:17:00.001-05:00

The Clinton School will welcome crossword and Sudoku puzzle enthusiasts for the third annual Arkansas Puzzle Day on Saturday, August 29. Officiated by Vic Fleming of Little Rock and Bonnie Gentry of Scottsdale, Ariz., co-editors of "Random House Casual Crosswords," the event will feature crossword and Sudoku contests, a "multi-puzzle fun-and-games hour" and an educational session on puzzle history, strategy and tips for solving challenging crosswords. The puzzle contests will emphasize accuracy rather than speed.

The Peabody Hotel will offer a special weekend rate for the event, which will include an autograph party and reception at the hotel on Friday afternoon, Aug. 28, at 5:30 p.m. and a Saturday morning tour of the Clinton Presidential Library.
When: Friday & Saturday, August 28-29, 2009
- Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m. – "Casual Crosswords" autograph party at the Peabody
- Aug. 29 at 1:00 p.m. – Puzzle Day activities
Where: Clinton School of Public Service
Sturgis Hall

*All puzzle day events are FREE and open to all puzzle enthusiasts. To RSVP, email publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or call 501-683-5239.
*Contact the Peabody Hotel for special Puzzle Day rates at 501-905-4000.

Revisions and Updates for GT Standards

2009-06-29T14:24:00.001-05:00

The Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner’s Memo (LS-09-047) regarding the proposed revisions and updates for the GT Standards is now on line. The memo has information on the public hearing and the proposed revised/updated document is attached to the memo.

http://arkedu.state.ar.us/commemos/custview.cgi?filename=4302&sortby=date_createdx

A public hearing will be held on July 7, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Four Capitol Mall, Auditorium, Little Rock, AR 72201. The public comment period will run June 15-July 20, 2009. Written comments should be mailed to the Office of Gifted and Talented, at Four Capitol Mall, Room 203-B, Little Rock, AR 72201.

Unprecedented History Day win

2009-06-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

TheCabin.net ·· Not just another assignment Conway students celebrate unprecedented History Day win 06/24/09: "When a group of girls at Conway High School East began brainstorming their History Day projects, they knew they wanted more than classroom credit.
This was proven at the national level of the History Day competition, when two separate teams reached an unprecedented height they were both ranked second in the nation."

National History Day

2009-06-19T12:49:00.002-05:00

Here is a quick report from a correspondent who is "in the know" on National History Day.

National History Day went very well for Conway! We had four entries in the National Finals and we came away with two 2nd place, one 4th place and one 12th place in the nation!

America's Top Public High Schools

2009-06-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

America's Top Public High Schools Newsweek Best High Schools Newsweek.com: "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, Intl. Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2008 divided by the number of graduating seniors. All of the schools on the list have an index of at least 1.000; they are in the top 6 percent of public schools measured this way."

Congratulations Conway at #979.

Ruth Doyle student recognized by Duke TIP

2009-06-04T10:14:00.000-05:00

TheCabin.net ·· Ruth Doyle student excels on upper-level exam 06/04/09: "It's never too early to start preparing for college, and Ruth Doyle Intermediate student Matthew Sweere is a prime example of it.
Sweere just completed his fifth-grade year; however, his score on the ACT Explore test proves he could likely ace the eighth-grade at this point."

Arkansas students showcase knowledge at History Day competition

2009-05-02T12:57:00.000-05:00

http://www.thecabin.net/stories/050209/loc_0502090009.shtml

Students from all four corners of Arkansas recently came together at the University of Central Arkansas to test their skills and knowledge in the annual state History Day competition.

Twenty-five students from the two high schools and middle schools in the Conway School District were named winners and will advance to the national round. Nine students were named national alternates.

Destination Imagination fundraiser

2009-04-16T16:26:00.002-05:00

Four Greenbrier teams won at the recent Arkansas DI competition and are going to represent Greenbrier, as well as Arkansas, at the DI Global Competition in May!

Pizza Inn, located on Oak Street in Conway, will give a percentage of ALL buffet sales from 5-8 PM on Tuesday, April 21st. The members of the DI teams will be your servers and they will also receive 100% of ALL tips!

Mark your Calendar: Bring your families out and enjoy the buffet at Pizza Inn next Tuesday.

Pizza Inn Special for April 21st: $13.99 Adult Buffet & Drinks for 2 !!!

If you would like to know more about DI, go to www.idodi.org

Spring Meeting

2009-03-30T12:02:00.001-05:00

Conway AGATE
Spring Meeting
Monday, April 6th
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall
(Corner of Prince & Mitchell Sts., across the street from C.H.S. East)
Reception at 6:30 pm • Meeting begins at 7:00 pm

The Conway chapter of Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE) offers parents and educators a chance to discuss and support educational issues that are important to gifted students.

This will be our spring business meeting to elect officers and to plan for the 2009-10 school year. This is a great chance for you to get more information about Conway AGATE. You will have a chance to learn more about programs like Quiz Bowl, Faulkner County Spelling Bee, Destination ImagiNation, History Day and the Chess Tournament.

We will also have a presentation on the Conway Public Schools Foundation, a non-profit that is being established to provide an endowment for the school district.

Summer opportunities

2009-03-17T17:02:00.002-05:00

There are a number of summer learning opportunities for our students. Please leave a comment if you can suggest other programs which readers might like to know about.

SLUFY (Summer Laureate University for Youth) is a program run by UALR. Information and applications for it can be found at this website: http://ualr.edu/slufy/index.php/home/slufy-2008/ (or Google SLUFY). This is a non-residential program.

Halberg Ecology Camp is a residential camp (stay at the camp for a week) sponsored by the Arkansas Audubon Society. Information about this camp can be found at this website: http://www.arbirds.org/halberg_ecology_camp.html (or Google Halberg Ecology Camp).

Busy March Weekend

2009-03-16T16:50:00.003-05:00

This was a busy weekend for students in our area. Among the opportunities were

Regional Destination ImagiNation

Chess Tournament

Regional History Day competition

It sounds like everything went well on each competition!

Awards from AGATE Conference

2009-03-03T07:43:00.006-06:00

A teacher and two students from Conway were recognized with awards at last week's annual AGATE conference in Little Rock.

Melissa Ennis won the 2009 Educator Award for her involvement with Odyssey of the Mind, Quiz Bowl, Chess Club, mentoring future educators from Hendrix College and Holland, and organizing an elementary Kid to Kid conference. Mrs. Ennis is the GT specialist at Marguerite Vann.

Robbie Powell, an 8th grade student at Bob Courtway received the Youth Challenger Award for his work on the "Live 4 Ben" campaign raising money and awareness of NBIA, a degenerative brain disorder that affected his close friend.

Emily Bullington is a 5th grade student at Simon Intermediate who raised over $18,000 for emergency food supplies and to build an orphanage in Africa. She has received money from all over the world by giving away cups of lemonade and accepting donations for her cause.

Congratulations to all three of our award winners!

Junior High State Quiz Bowl finals

2009-03-02T12:04:00.003-06:00

The Conway High School East 9th grade Quiz Bowl team, coached by C.H.S. East Pre-AP English teacher Paula McKee, was undefeated at the 7A Junior High State Quiz Bowl finals on Feb. 28, and claimed the first place trophy.

Their captain, Parker West, was the MVP for the tournament. The team has had a great season, placing second in the 7A regional tournament, and 1st in the Fort Smith invitational. The team members work very well together, and Mrs.
McKee is very encouraging and is great at going to bat for them when they need to challenge a decision during play.

Most of these students have played Quiz Bowl together since the 6th grade, and some even as far back as elementary, and they have a great career record:

6th grade - 2nd place in the finals
7th grade - 1st place in the finals
8th grade - 2nd place in the finals
9th grade - 1st place in the finals

Team members are:

Jolyon Larson, Devon Conrad, Eileen Ablondi, Vincent SenCair, Parker West, and coach Paula McKee.

10th grade GT seminar

2009-02-24T07:56:00.002-06:00

Conway Public Schools will offer evening classes to selected 10th grade students starting in the spring semester of 2009 with the express purpose of offering test preparation for the PSAT which is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. www.nationalmerit.org

The schedule for evening classes will be built around the existing schedules of the students selected to take part in this program. Classes will start in the spring semester of 2009 and continue on with a few strategic class meetings during the summer of 2009, culminating with a practice PSAT and follow-up to take place just prior to the October 2009 administration of the PSAT. The PSAT taken in the fall of a student’s junior year is the one time opportunity that will determine National Merit Semifinalist status.

The deadline to apply is this Friday, February 27th. For more information contact the couselin center at Conway East High School Campus.

AP Report to the Nation

2009-02-23T08:30:00.003-06:00

Parents and educators may be interested in the College Board's 5th annual AP report to the nation www.collegeboard.com/apreport. From this website you can see current and five-year trends, including AP participation and performance data for all ethnicities and low-income students, for each state and the District of Columbia. To access Arkansas' supplement, click "state reports" in the green band at the top of the page and then choose Arkansas.

Summer science camp

2009-02-20T21:06:00.001-06:00

St. Joseph School will host a Camp Invention program, a one-week, science-based summer enrichment program for children entering grades one through six, the week of June 15-19 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The program is open to students outside St. Joseph School also.

EAST initiative student honored

2009-02-11T17:03:00.000-06:00

Daniel Johnson, a senior EAST student from Sylvan Hills High School has been awarded the Prudential Spirit of Community Award honoring outstanding community service by young Americans as a result of his involvement in the Arkansas Cemetery Mapping Project (an EAST project) and his work with the Director of Veterans Affairs for the State of Arkansas.

The EAST Initiative is an educational model that is engaging students in sophisticated service-learning projects that involve relevant teamwork and cutting-edge technology. The EAST Initiative (www.EASTinitiative.org) is an educational non-profit that works with schools and institutions across the country to implement local EAST programs. The EAST Initiative has a thirteen-year track record of helping schools, facilitators, and students better engage technology education, service learning, and individualized educational goals in a program that has been named a model program by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Labor.
EAST Initiative

KARK coverage of Johnson's award: Sherwood Boy Wins Service Award

Faulkner County Spelling Bee

2009-02-08T11:35:00.003-06:00

There are two articles in today's Log Cabin Democrat about Saturday's Faulkner County Spelling Bee:

St. Joseph student spells her way to v-i-c-t-o-r-y in county bee

Students who participated in the Faulkner County Spelling Bee

Congratulations to all students who participated and particularly those who stayed to watch the competition after their own performance was finished. What great sportsmanship!

Computer Science Unplugged

2009-02-03T15:30:00.000-06:00

Computer Science Unplugged is a series of learning activities that reveals a little-known secret: computer science isn't really about computers at all!
Unplugged teaches principles of computer science such as binary numbers, algorithms and data compression through games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around.
Unplugged is suitable for people of all ages, from elementary school to university, and from many countries and backgrounds. Unplugged has been used around the world for over fifteen years, in classrooms, science centers, homes, and even for holiday events in a park!

Computer Science Unplugged

Free resource for classic literature

2009-02-03T11:26:00.000-06:00

At Bartleby.com you will find an extensive collection of classic works of literature including fiction, non-fiction and verse. You'll also find other great resources. For example, you can find quotations, look up definitions and synonyms, or read up on usage. Best of all, Bartleby is free.

Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Thesaurus and hundreds more

Volunteer Opportunities

2009-01-21T07:52:00.003-06:00

Conway AGATE has the following volunteer opportunities:

We have been asked to assist with the Elementary Quiz bowl at Fellowship church on Feb 6th. The school district will pay for breakfast and lunch for the officials, but we need someone to pick up the food and set up /clean up the hospitality room.

The Faulkner County Spelling Bee will be Feb 7th at the High School auditorium. They have asked Conway AGATE to help coordinate the trophies.

There is another volunteer opportunity to help in the hospitality room and snack bar at Destination Imagination March 14th. We had great participation from our membership last year and raised over $300 which was used for scholarships to send Conway students to the National History Day competition.

Please use the "email the blog editor" link if you can volunteer for an hour to two to help with any of these tasks.

IT Careers Camp

2009-01-09T16:35:00.000-06:00

Sponsored by: ACXIOM Corporation
Dates: June 17-20, 2009
Application deadline: March 1, 2009
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
APPLY ONLINE: WWW.UCA.EDU/ITCAMP

The IT Careers Camp is designed to heighten students' interest in a career in Information Technology and to encourage them to continue their education beyond high school. The camp provides students with a safe learning environment to explore their interest in computers. Students will be part of a group comprised of some of Arkansas' brightest students as they learn about interesting and rewarding careers in IT.

There is absolutely NO COST for motivated students to attend the camp. This is an overnight camp and students are required to stay on campus in dorm style housing. All camp expenses (room, board, etc.) are covered by the grant from Acxiom Corporation. Parents are required to furnish transportation to and from the camp.

Teachers should encourage students to complete their application online by March 1st. For more information call (501) 450-5276, e-mail academicoutreach@uca.edu, or visit: www.uca.edu/itcamp

Summer opportunity in China

2009-01-07T15:54:00.001-06:00

Global Interactions Inc. is hosting its fourth year of our youth leadership program, Challenge: TOMORROW which pairs American students with their Chinese counterparts. The program includes studying science, culture and language. Attached is a link to the program flier where you can find more information. http://www.globalinteractions.org/Common/Files/B&W%20Flier.pdf

Parent Seminar reminder

2008-12-17T15:42:00.002-06:00

Don't forget to reserve your space at the AGATE Parent Institute which is Thursday, February 26th at the Peabody hotel in Little Rock. There are Conway students and teachers who are being considered for awards and it would be great to have a big cheering section at the awards luncheon.

Barbara Kerr is the featured speaker for the afternoon Parent Seminar. Her books Smart Girls, Gifted Women and Smart Boys, Talent, Manhood, & The Search for Meaning have gotten great reviews.

You can go to the AGATE website, http://www.agate-arkansas.org, to register for the Parent Institute.

Name the next mars rover

2008-11-24T08:41:00.000-06:00

NASA is looking for a name for the next Mars rover, officially called the Mars Science Laboratory. They’ve decided to have a contest, and it’s open to school children up to 18 years of age.

AP test success in Conway

2008-11-12T10:44:00.000-06:00

TheCabin.net ·· Success is measured in numbers at board meeting 11/12/08

There were 29,000 high school students in the state of Arkansas who spent more than five hours working though Advanced Placement exams in the spring.

A total of 918 of those exams were taken at Conway High School.

During a regular meeting of the Conway School District's Board of Education on Tuesday, those students were recognized for their dedication to education.

According to Donna Whiting, director of Gifted and Talented programs for the district, there were 553 students who took one of the many AP exams offered last year and she pointed out many students were enrolled in multiple AP courses.

TheCabin.net ·· 'Click it good' 11/11/08

2008-11-11T12:23:00.001-06:00

TheCabin.net ·· 'Click it good' 11/11/08

Dustin Smith's class at Woodrow Cummins has entered and successfully made it to the top five in an online music video competition hosted by eInstruction. He said the grand prize of a $25,000 technology makeover for the classroom becomes more of a reality every day.

TheCabin.net ·· 'Click it good' 11/11/08

2008-11-11T12:23:00.000-06:00

Adventure Tales of the Constitution

2008-10-29T10:03:00.002-05:00

With the upcoming Presidential election, interest in the political process is strong. Many of us have been confused about how it all works. The Point 94.1 is offering a FREE illustrated book on their website at www.kkpt.com to help you and your family make sense of it all.

Adventure Tales of the Constitution of the United States is unlike any history book you’ve ever read. The entire 56 page book is illustrated in full color and uses humor and drama to make history come to life. It’s a great book for any age, and a great opportunity to help your children better understand what our country stands for. Read it online or download and print it. It’s free from The Point 94.1

Greenbrier High School chosen for AP initiative

2008-10-23T18:43:00.001-05:00

From the Log Cabin Democrat

Out of the 10 Advanced Placement courses offered at Greenbrier High School, senior Brenden Hawk has taken nine.

He said Wednesday morning that he likes a good challenge in the classroom and now, thanks to the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science, more kids will have the same opportunity.

Greenbrier is one of the first 10 high schools in Arkansas chosen for this program, which will provide additional support and resources so more students can take, and ace, A.P. exams.

AGATE Parent Institute

2008-10-23T12:50:00.002-05:00

AGATE has updated their website with informaion about the spring Parent Institute. It will be held February 26th at the Peabody hotel. The main speaker will be Dr. Barbara Kerr and the presentation is called "The Creative Family".

Arkansas Policy Foundation gives Conway an "A"

2008-10-07T07:49:00.001-05:00

Quoted from this news item on the Conway Public School website: "18 state school districts get A's
Group bases grades on Iowa test results

BY CYNTHIA HOWELL ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Eighteen Arkansas school districts earned A's or A-minuses, and 14 other systems received failing marks in the latest in a series of Arkansas Policy Foundation studies.

The nonprofit policy foundation, which advocates for improvements in state tax laws and public education, based the letter grades on the results earned by ninth-graders in each of the districts on the spring 2007 Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The Iowa test is a nationally standardized test that compares the achievement levels of Arkansas students with a national sample of students who took the same test."

September 14th meeting minutes

2008-09-19T16:28:00.002-05:00

We had a very informative meeting of Conway AGATE on the 14th. Dr Murry gave us some great information about the district and mentioned that he sees an opportunity for the district to increase the level of communication with the GT parents. The minutes of the meeting are available here.

We would like to welcome the 11 new members who joined at the meeting! If you have not yet sent in your dues, please send a $10 check to Conway AGATE, PO Box 10323, 72034. The money we collect from dues allows us to promote our meetings, register with the state AGATE, and last school year we were even able to offer a travel grant to two of the National History Day contestants who otherwise would not have been able to afford to attend.

Our next steps are to schedule the workshops that will answer a parent’s biggest GT related questions.
*Information targeted at K-2 parents will be included in the workshop “Should I nominate my child for GT and how can we prepare?”
*For 7-9 parents the workshop would cover topics like “How to prepare for college financial aid right now” and “The differences between co-curricular credit and AP credit”
*For 10-12 parents a college fair is planned that will help answer questions about ACT/SAT testing, selecting from the different types of schools, etc.

Separate committees will be formed for each workshop. Please respond to to the blog editor if you are willing to help. We will need subject matter experts, event organizers, as well as help with publicity.

UCA Community Language School

2008-09-19T14:30:00.001-05:00

UCA Community Language School

I almost waited too late to post this! UCA is offering their language school for children (PreK - teen and beyond) starting the week on Sept 22. This is a great chance to learn French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Japanese or Arabic.

Education Expo in Little Rock

2008-09-18T12:53:00.000-05:00

Little Rock Family - Central Arkansas Parents Magazine for Childrens Events, Activities and Schools

Little Rock Family magazine is hosting the Little Rock Family Education Expo next Saturday 10-2 at the Metroplex in Little Rock. While most of the vendors will be Little Rock schools, tutoring centers etc, there are also free parenting workshops and enrichment activities for kids.

Here is a list from the website of the parenting workshops being offered

10:10 – 10:40 am - James Marshall, "Soft-Spoken Parenting"
10:50 – 11:20 am - Dr. Nick Long (or other), Center for Effective Parenting, "Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences"
11:30 - noon - Kyran Pittman, author/blogger, "The Hows and Whys of Mommy Blogs"
12:10 – 12:40 pm - Neal Best, Learning Rx, "Impact of Cognitive Skills on Student Achievement"
12:50 – 1:20 pm - Roxanne Dority, Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas, "Learning Outside the Lines"
1:30 – 2 pm - Janice Edmonson, Technology Coordinator, ACCESS Schools,"Tools to Help Struggling Students"

Operation Bottleneck

2008-09-16T09:40:00.003-05:00

{Not specifically GT related but of interest to all Conway drivers}

Operation Bottleneck by the Log Cabin Democrat
Metroplan is holding a town hall style meeting tonight to hear from Faulkner County residents about traffic concerns and suggestions. Operation Bottleneck is an effort by Metroplan to identify traffic areas that concern or frustrate residents. Whether it is the frustration of hitting every red light in town, or just areas where traffic congestion has become a problem because of rapid growth, Metroplan officials are holding the meeting to identify problems and hear possible solutions.
The meeting will be tonight from 5-7 p.m. at the McGee Center, 3800 College Ave.
Rapid growth in Conway and parts of Faulkner County constantly changes our infrastructure. Simply put, some roads and streets that weren't problem areas five years ago are now. That's Metroplan's goal, to identify existing and future problems.
Those who cannot attend the meeting are asked to submit a questionnaire that can be obtained from the organization's Web site, www.metroplan.org. If you can't go to the meeting tonight, take a few minutes to fill out the online survey and submit it back to Metroplan. The greater participation the organization has, the greater our chances at improving our area's infrastructure.

Conway AGATE fall meeting

2008-09-02T11:14:00.002-05:00

Conway AGATE has scheduled the fall meeting for Sunday, September 14th at 2:00 pm at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall. (Corner of Prince & Mitchell Sts., across the street from C.H.S. East)

Superintendant Murry will be the speaker for this meeting.

Here is a link to the flyer which you should also recieve from your school.

There are a lot of new things planned for the upcoming year so we hope you can attend this meeting!

Sugata Mitra shows how kids teach themselves | Video on TED.com

2008-08-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

Sugata Mitra shows how kids teach themselves Video on TED.com: "Speaking at LIFT 2007, Sugata Mitra talks about his Hole in the Wall project. Young kids in this project figured out how to use a PC on their own -- and then taught other kids. He asks, what else can children teach themselves?"

Record Numbers of Students Sign up for Advanced Math and Science Courses - Forbes.com

2008-08-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

Record Numbers of Students Sign up for Advanced Math and Science Courses - Forbes.com: "Nearly 60 percent more students will be taking more challenging math and science courses at high schools in six states this fall, thanks to the National Math and Science Initiative, a nationwide effort to improve American achievement and competitiveness."

Welcome new GT parents!

2008-08-25T16:33:00.003-05:00

With the beginning of the school year we have a number of new parents of Gifted and Talented students to our district. If you have found this blog then you are well on your way to being “in the know” about the gifted and talented programs in our area.

The Conway chapter of AGATE (Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education) is planning a fall meeting, so be on the lookout for information about that very soon. You can subscribe to this blog using the link on the right and you can comment on any topic by clicking on the work “comments” at the bottom of any post. You can post anonymously but we prefer that you select a nickname so the comments become a sort of conversation. Just click the button by “Name/URL” on the comments form and give yourself a creative pseudonym.

If you have questions or suggested topics for the blog then please use the “Email the blog editor” link. Conway is very much a “word of mouth” town so all the blog readers can benefit from hearing about your experiences in GT.

Basic definition of Gifted

2008-08-22T11:34:00.000-05:00

Is Your Child Gifted? - Parenting.com: "Is Your Child Gifted?
5 ways to get past labels and bring out the best in your child, from babies on up"

CPS website features

2008-08-21T09:16:00.003-05:00

I just noticed a new feature on the Conway Public Schools website. If you register at the bottom of the home page then you can subscribe to the calendar for your child's school. I've got mine set to email me weekly in case my kids forget to bring the flyers home.

There is also an RSS feed available so that you can easily find out about updates to the home page. Check out http://www.whatisrss.com/ if you want to learn more about using RSS. Then come back and subscribe to Conway GT Parents.

The New Year Approaches

2008-07-31T12:55:00.003-05:00

Preparations for the new school year are in full swing.

Middle School
Pre-AP assignment letters are going out through the mail for 7th and 8th grade students. You should recieve this letter before schedule pick-up day, which is August 6-7 for Bob Courtway and August 7-8 for Carl Stuart.

Intermediate School
There are new facets to the 5th and 6th grade GT program, so parents of those students should expect letters as well. You should also recieve the letter in advance of schedule pick-up day which will be August 7th for Simon 5th graders, the week of August 11-15 for Simon 6th graders, August 8th for Ruth Doyle 5th graders, and August 7th for Ruth Doyle 6th graders.

The dates above are correct to the best of my knowledge, but it might be a good idea to contact your school to confirm.

GT is NOT...

2008-07-23T10:54:00.000-05:00

Tamara Fisher, a GT specialist in Montana has written a great article on the misconceptions of what Gifted and Talented education is or is not.

In a nutshell she proposes that "GT is NOT a surplus offering for kids who have surplus knowledge. Rather, it IS an academic intervention for kids who don’t learn like other kids do. ACADEMIC INTERVENTION. Let’s start calling it what it IS so that we can help those who misperceive begin to understand what GT is really all about."

Unwrapping the Gifted: GT is NOT...

Local student qualifies for Duke TIP

2008-07-14T07:34:00.000-05:00

TheCabin.net ·· Bumpers qualifies for Duke TIP 07/13/08: "Ryan Bumpers, a home-schooled student from Conway, recently qualified to participate in the Arkansas Recognition Ceremony of the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). Bumpers was one of the seventh-graders in our state who received a medal for earning a high score on the ACT college entrance exam."

National Parenting Gifted Children Week

2008-07-09T12:39:00.002-05:00

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) has registered the third week in July as "National Parenting Gifted Children Week."

The Texas Association for Gifted and Talented (TAGT) will be participating by posting a new summer enrichment activity at txgifted.org each day from July 14-20.

SENG is devoting each day during the week to different important topics that highlight some the challenges in teaching and raising gifted children (Go to http://www.sengifted.org/ for more information).

Additional fact sheets, articles, and background information on the needs of gifted children are also available in the parent section of the NAGC website.

National History Day honors

2008-07-01T10:19:00.001-05:00

TheCabin.net ·· Going the extra mile 07/01/08: "When the bell rings at the end of the school day, most students rush home to take a break from seven straight hours of learning, but there are some who go home to learn even more.

Students who compete in History Day competitions, whether it's on the local, state or national level, spend months and months dreaming up their project, bringing it to life and then perfecting it.
Three students in the Conway School District once again got pretty close to perfection this year.

For the second time, a team from Conway High School-East placed fourth in the nation in the National History Day competition, which is the current record for the district, according to William Richardson, history teacher at Conway High School-East."

There is also an article that lists all of the students' names and some of the topics they presented. http://www.thecabin.net/stories/070108/loc_0701080005.shtml

New Study on Status of High-Achieving Students

2008-06-24T08:26:00.000-05:00

The release of two national studies concluding that the nation’s top pupils have “languished” academically have generated lots of “buzz” in the national media around gifted education. The Fordham Institute’s latest report contains two separate studies examining the status of high-achieving students in the No Child Left Behind era. In the first, Tom Loveless of the Brookings Institution analyzes results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The second study, by survey researchers Steve Farkas and Ann Duffett, finds that most teachers feel pressure to focus primarily on their lowest achieving students and neglect the high achievers, even though this offends their sense of fairness.

See below for links to the NAGC Website and coverage of NAGC response to the report.

To view the brief on the report, click here. To view the full report, click here.

Donna Whiting has retired

2008-06-11T12:22:00.002-05:00

Breaking News:
At last night's school board meeting Donna Whiting resigned as Director of GT at Conway Public Schools. She is retiring due to health concerns.

I haven't heard any word yet from the distict on their plans to recruit a new director. Hopefully we will hear more on that soon.

Raise your kids for success

2008-06-04T21:36:00.001-05:00

Raise Your Kids For Success Every parent has a deep desire to see their kids become successful, but it's difficult to know whether you're truly giving them tools to reach their highest potential. We've brought in the experts to determine how to best steer your child towards success!

What can you do to give your kid a giant boost of confidence? The key is simple--embrace their strengths.

Chess teaches students logic, sportsmanship

2008-05-22T12:44:00.001-05:00

TheCabin.net ·· Chess teaches students logic, sportsmanship 05/22/08: "Students in Conway have many choices in extracurricular activities, from to band to athletics to cheerleading, but they also have an option that strengthens both sportsmanship and academic performance.

In schools across Faulkner County, chess clubs have been rapidly forming and students have been honing their logic, math and problem-solving skills just by learning the game."

Once Upon A School » Challenge

2008-05-20T16:00:00.000-05:00

Once Upon A School » Challenge: "Dave Eggers, 2008 TED Prize winner, wished to collect 1,000 stories of private citizens engaged in their area public schools. He called upon every adult to bring their time, skill, and energy to bear on the lives of students. In collaboration with teachers and schools around the world, people are making his wish a reality.
Now it’s your turn..."

Summer Theatre Workshop

2008-05-16T09:58:00.000-05:00

Children's Theatre to Go is offering a 3 week summer workshop for ages 8 and up focusing on many aspects of theatre including acting, playwrighting, music, movement, and much more!

Dates: June 9-27, Monday - Friday 9am to 1pm
Cost: $200 per student, all-included
Location: Irby Dance Studio 1032 Front Street, Conway (by the Log Cabin Democrat)
Registration Date: Saturday, June 7, from 1-3pm
Preregistration is available with a $50.00 deposit
Contact: Karen Owings childrenstheatretogo@yahoo.com 442-1964
www.childrenstheatretogo.com

Community Language School Summer Casses

2008-05-15T15:21:00.000-05:00

BEAR CAMP IS HERE!!!! Games, songs, crafts, culture & language learning!

This summer, the UCA Community Language School will offer the first ever BEAR CAMP---a fun Spanish and/or French language camp designed for first to fourth grade children (oldest age 10 years old). The Spanish camp will be July 21-25 and the French camp, July 28-August 1st (children can take both camps, if desired) with the schedule each day starting at 8:30am and ending at 3pm.
BEAR CAMP will feature hands-on language lessons, fun international games & songs, crafts from around the world & other educational culture & language activities.
The fee for one week of camp is $100 plus $25 registration-materials/family. For both weeks, the amount will be double.
For registration forms, fees, & other information, go to the Department of World Languages website (www.uca.edu/wlan) and click on Community Language School or call 450-3168.
No previous language study necessary for children to enjoy BEAR CAMP.

Are gifted students getting left out? - Los Angeles Times

2008-05-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

Are gifted students getting left out? - Los Angeles Times: "If you reviewed Dalton Sargent's report cards, you'd know only half his story. The 15-year-old Altadena junior has lousy grades in many subjects. He has blown off assignments and been dissatisfied with many of his teachers. It would be accurate to call him a problematic student. But he is also gifted."

Arkansas Archeological Society summer program

2008-05-08T07:59:00.003-05:00

The Arkansas Archeological Society is conducting a field excavation at the Jones Mill Site near Hot Springs, Arkansas. This year there will also be a Kids' Archaeology Program designed for ages 8-12 who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. In addition to exposure to archeological techniques, the Kids' Program will also offer handcrafts, demonstrations, and other activities for archeology-minded youngsters. The Kids' Program will run from June 15-20.

For additional information see the Arkansas Archeological Society web site http://www.arkarch.org or contact Barbara Scott at 479-575-3556.

Slow time for GT blogging

2008-04-28T17:06:00.003-05:00

At this time of year the number of new topics for the GT blog gets fewer and fewer. Even if you do not see new posts for awhile, the list on the right - "Interesting Items From Other Blogs" will include new topics regularly.

State History Day Results

2008-04-20T22:16:00.001-05:00

From the Log Cabin Democrat

The University of Central Arkansas hosted the History Day in Arkansas State Competition Saturday and, like last year, Conway students won in several categories.

College Investment 529 plans

2008-04-18T11:06:00.002-05:00

I have recently become more interested in 529 plans as an investment option to save money for college. Investors can select any plan they want, but the Arkansas GIFT plan offers matching grants for Arkansas residents which could add up to $500 per year for families with an adjusted gross income of less than $60,000.

Morningstar has recently set up a comparison of all 529 plans and the Arkansas plan gets a pretty favorable rating because of the matching grant. The deadline for this year's grant is April 30th.

College textbooks can easily cost $500 per semester these days, so even students who get scholarships will benefit from their parent's participation in a plan like this.

2008 ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S QUIZ BOWL COMPETITION LIVE ON AETN

2008-04-14T16:03:00.001-05:00

Saturday, April 19, 5-8 p.m.
Sunday, April 20, 1-4 p.m.

The 2008 Arkansas Governor's Quiz Bowl broadcast is shaping up to be an exciting event. This year brings changes with a new logo and new set. Watch as 14 teams from around the state compete in seven classifications during this two-day live broadcast.

AGATE Meeting Minutes Added

2008-04-14T10:06:00.003-05:00

The minutes from the Conway AGATE Spring Meeting have been added as a link in the right-hand column. I have also added a link to the membership form since there were a few folks who mentioned they want to join but were unable to attend the meeting on the 3rd.

There are openings available on the committes for Membership (recruitment), Publicity, Auditing, and Education. For more information about these opportunities, please use the "Email the Blog Editor" link on the right.

Conway AGATE update

2008-04-05T12:23:00.004-05:00

Thursday's Conway AGATE meeting went well. The minutes will be coming along soon, but I thought you might enjoy the reports about how our students did (and are doing) in the enrichment competitions this year.

Quiz Bowl

At the Regional tournament here in Conway that AGATE helped with, C.H.S. East Blue came in second and BCMS team came in fourth. According to the Log Cabin, 4 of the 5 members of the All Tournament team were from Conway. Taylor West was the MVP of the tournament.

At the 7A State Finals in Ft. Smith, BCMS team came in second place in their bracket, and C.H.S. East Blue won their bracket. Parker West was the MVP for the bracket that B.C.M.S. was in, and Taylor West was the MVP for the bracket that C.H.S. East was in.

At the Arch Ford QuizBowl tournament in Mayflower, the Simon Intermediate QuizBowl Team placed Second.

At the Arch Ford State Finals on March 20, the Simon Intermediate quiz Bowl Team placed Third.

We want to thank our dedicated QuizBowl teachers -- Mrs Patty Thompson, Ms Abby Drangland, Mrs. Paula Mckee, and Mrs, Adolf for helping our kids practice and keep them going. We also extend our gratefulness to our supportive district administrators, Mrs. Donna Whiting and Dr. Murray.

National History Day

For National History Day in 2007 Conway sent 30 students to the National competition in College Park, MD. Of those, 18 students representing 9 entries in 7 different categories advanced to the final round of competition. Conway had more entries and students in the National Finals than any other single district in the country. We finished with two 4th place, two fifth place, a 7th place and four 12th place finishes in the nation.

Faulkner County Spelling Bee

Conway AGATE assisted with this year's Spelling Bee on February 9th. The winner of the Faulkner County competition went ahead to finish second in the state.

National Geographic Bee

2008-04-05T11:12:00.002-05:00

From the Log Cabin Democrat

The state-level National Geographic Bee took place at UCA [Friday] and Julie Hill, state coordinator and Bob Courtway Middle School teacher, said the event went well, despite severe storms that damaged several areas of the state Thursday night.

http://www.thecabin.net/stories/040508/loc_0405080006.shtml

Conway AGATE annual meeting

2008-03-25T12:14:00.003-05:00

Hopefully you have already recieved a flyer about this, but if not we would love to see you there!

Conway AGATE
Spring Meeting
Thursday, April 3rd
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall
(Corner of Prince & Mitchell Sts., across the street from C.H.S. East)
Reception at 6:30 pm • Meeting begins at 7:00 pm

The Conway chapter of Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE) offers parents and educators a chance to discuss and support educational issues that are important to gifted students.

This will be our spring business meeting to elect officers and to plan for the 2008-09 school year. This is a great chance for you to get more information about Conway AGATE.

Our guest speakers will include
• Mrs. Tommie Sue Anthony, President of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science
• Mrs. Donna Whiting, Director of Gifted and Talented Education for Conway Public Schools

You will have a chance to learn more about programs like Quiz Bowl, Faulkner County Spelling Bee, Destination ImagiNation, History Day and the Chess Tournament.

Those interested in gifted and talented education are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions about the meeting please use the "Email the blog editor" link on the right.

Come help us become a booster club for the gifted and talented programs in Conway!

Local students compete in History Day

2008-03-21T09:56:00.000-05:00

TheCabin.net ·· Local students compete in History Day 03/21/08

Students from Conway High School and Carl Stuart Middle School participated in the regional History Day competition recently.

Gifted toddler who can read!

2008-03-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

Whiting receives AGATE award

2008-03-08T13:10:00.001-06:00

From today's Log Cabin

Stephen B. Whiting, resident of Conway and an attorney with the H. Chris Christy Law Firm in Little Rock, received the prestigious Presidential Award from Dr. Ann Robinson, President of AGATE (Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education) at the recent AGATE State Conference in Little Rock.

Whiting was presented the award for volunteering his time to provide advice and analysis on the impact of proposed and current legislation upon students, teachers and administrators involved in Gifted and Talented education in Arkansas.

During the recent special session of the Legislature, Whiting discovered that the funding language for gifted education in Arkansas had been omitted from statutory language. Due to this discovery, sections of the Arkansas code were re-written and with the help of Rep. Jodie Mahoney and Sen. Shane Broadway, the language was restored to mandate funding for gifted and talented education.

Barbara Prichard, director of Gifted Programs for the Fayetteville Public Schools said, "Were it not for the skill and support of Steve Whiting there probably no longer would be any gifted services in Arkansas."

Whiting recently accompanied his wife, Donna, to Washington, D.C. to lobby for gifted education on the national level. As a result of his work there, key signatures were obtained for the Javits bill for national funding of gifted programs. Donna Whiting is director of Gifted Programs for the Conway Public Schools.

Summer enrichment programs

2008-03-05T11:24:00.003-06:00

It is about time to begin looking for summer enrichment programs for our kids. So far this year I have gotten flyers from UALR's SLUFY and from Advance which is run by Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Do you have a favorite summer program?

Local GT educators win awards at state conference

2008-03-01T16:03:00.001-06:00

From the Log Cabin

Arkansans For Gifted and Talented Education's 29th annual Conference on Gifted Education was held Feb. 19-22, 2008 at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. This year's theme was "Building Bridges to the Future." Bill Waskom, program director for Gifted Education for the Benton School District was the conference chairperson. The annual AGATE Awards were presented throughout the conference to students, educators, parents and professionals who have worked for gifted education in Arkansas. Local G.T. Teachers and administrators were recognized. Greenbrier's Gifted and Talented Program received an ACT 56 Award for Outstanding G.T. Program. Robin Clark, Greenbrier, G.T. coordinator was elected Agate President Elect, Tommie Sue Anthony, Conway, received the Martha Ann Jones Norton Service Award. Local G.T. educators who spoke included: Polly Bakker, Arch Ford Education Cooperative; Sally Stuart, Mayflower G.T. coordinator, Starla Gresham, G.T. specialist, Conway; Betsy Hays, G.T. coordinator at Atkins; Abby Dragland, G.T. specialist, Conway; and a group of administrators from Greenbrier schools presented, "Catch The Energy and Release The Potential."

CHSE Quiz Bowl Team Takes State Finals

2008-02-29T07:57:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to the ninth grade Quiz Bowl championship team from Conway High East. The team came in first place and was undefeated in their bracket at the highest level of play during the 7A State Quiz Bowl Finals on Saturday, February 22 at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Duke TIP program

2008-02-17T12:59:00.003-06:00

Letters went out this week to 5th grade students who were invited to the Duke University Talent Identification Program. This appears to be a great program for students who score at least 95 on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Please add a comment if your child has participated in the past. I would like to know the pros and cons of this program.

Arkansas Blog: Advanced Placement advancements

2008-02-13T12:52:00.001-06:00

Arkansas Blog: Advanced Placement advancements: "The Education Department issued a report today on Arkansas students' performance on Advanced Placement tests. More students are taking the tests of knowledge on college-level courses. More students are making passing scores. Hispanic students have overcome any achievement gap. Black students still aren't scoring high enough in relation to their numbers, but performances are improving.
A summary here."

Faulkner County Spelling Bee

2008-02-05T16:57:00.000-06:00

The wind and rain storms from last week caused substantial damage to the Clark Auditorium at CHS West so the site of the Bee has been changed to Simon Intermediate.

Please come out and cheer for our champion spellers.

Enola GT students take educational field trip

2008-01-29T16:30:00.000-06:00

Exerpt from Sunday's Log Cabin Democrat:

The Gifted and Talented Students at Enola Elementary received a rare weekend treat. They took a weekend long field trip to Hot Springs.
Their first stop was the Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts. While at the school they performed three experiments.

How does Conway communicate?

2008-01-23T12:52:00.001-06:00

The board members of Conway AGATE met recently to begin planning the April annual meeting. One of the big concerns was how to make parents aware of the meeting. Sending a postal mailing would be expensive and would require the school district to provide a mailing list of the GT families. To advertise the fall meeting we sent home flyers through the GT teachers, but there were a lot of delays and logstics problems with that route as well.

So how do people in Conway find out what it going on? Word of mouth? Smoke signals?

Advantage Grapevine

2008-01-22T07:59:00.000-06:00

(from the 1/10/08 issue of US News)

This Bus Is Plugged In
Wi-Fi lets Arkansas kids study on their commute

For the children of Grapevine, Ark., a rural town 60 miles outside Little Rock, the long, bumpy commute to school on bus No. 46 is anything but ordinary. That's because they are solving math and science problems with teachers and university professors live via the Internet. It's what Vanderbilt University medicine, biochemistry, and pathology Prof. Billy Hudson describes as a virtual schoolhouse on wheels. more

Conway AGATE announcements

2008-01-18T08:02:00.000-06:00

Here are a few announcements from Conway AGATE

Please remember the upcoming Parent Seminar February 21st which is part of the state-wide AGATE conference in Little Rock. You can find more information and the registration form at http://www.agate-arkansas.org/conference.html . Let me know if you are planning to attend and we’ll try to get the group to sit together.

There are two great opportunities for parents to help with our enrichment programs. If you are interested in helping with either event, please use the "email the blog editor" link on the right and I will forward your contact information to the organizers for each event.

4 volunteers are needed to help February 9th at 8:00 am with registration for the Faulkner County Spelling Bee. This should be a quick, 30-45 minute task.

Volunteers are also needed for the registration and the hospitality room (coffee and lunch for tournament officials) for the Quiz Bowl. Mrs. Whiting will be holding a short planning meeting for this group soon.

We are in the planning stages of the Conway AGATE annual meeting, which will be held in April (exact date TBA). Please keep an eye out for the announcements about that meeting and make plans to attend. That will be our kickoff to prepare for the 08-09 school year.

Remember to visit the blog http://conwaygt.blogspot.com/ regularly for updates and announcements which you may find interesting. You are also welcome to submit links or topics for inclusion. Remember, when you post on the blog you are anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please please use the "email the blog editor" link on the right. Thank you for your support!

World Language Classes at UCA

2008-01-08T16:08:00.000-06:00

UCA is currently accepting registrations for the Community Language School which allows children to study Spanish, Chinese, French, Japanese, German, Italian, or American Sign Language after school. For more information visit www.uca.edu/wlan and click on "Community Language School".

Arkansas Student Filmmaking Competition

2007-12-17T15:42:00.000-06:00

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The 1st Annual
ARKANSAS STUDENT FILMMAKING COMPETITION 2008
to be held on February 29-March 1, 2008

The Department of Arkansas and the Northeast Arkansas Education Cooperative invites Arkansas elementary, middle, and high school students to submit a film or video for the 1st Annual Arkansas Student Filmmaking Competition.

This contest is open to all students enrolled in Arkansas educational institutions grades K – 12. Arkansas resident homeschooled students are also eligible. Entries may be in any style or genre – documentary, drama, comedy, animation, or experimental.

Finalists’ films will be presented at a special screening at the 1st Annual Arkansas Student Film Festival. A panel of guest filmmakers will cast their votes to determine the winning films.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Arkansas student filmmakers and homeschooled students, Grades K-12
LENGTH: 5 minutes maximum, including titles & credits. No exceptions!
ENTRY DEADLINE: Monday, February 4, 2008
HOW TO ENTER: Mail a completed entry form with
3 DVD or 3 DVC pro videotape copies of your film to the following address:
Brenda Turner, Art Specialist
Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas Student Filmmaking Competition
#4 State Capitol Mall, Room 107A
Little Rock, AR 72201

QUESTIONS: Call Brenda Turner at 501-682-4397

Public Schools Board Meeting rescheduled

2007-12-10T12:52:00.001-06:00

I notice on the website that the Conway Public Schools board meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday night, has been postponed to Thursday December 13th at 6:00 PM.

One of my friends who has middle school children mentioned that she got a letter indicating that they are already starting to plan for the number of kids who will be in the GT and AP classes next year. If you are concerned about the changes that they are planning for the 2008-09 school year and the impact of the ongoing budget cuts NOW is the time to make your concerns known to the district and the school board.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League 2007 Challenge

2007-12-03T15:44:00.000-06:00

Taking Legos a league beyond U-32 students program robots for national competition

"What do energy efficiency, computer programming and Legos have in common?The answer: An annual, worldwide competition of students 9-14, who must program robots and compete in timed missions related to global energy issues.Recently, U-32 students competed as a team for the first time against students from across the country in The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League 2007 Challenge, a competition involving team-built and programmed, autonomous robots. The U-32 team didn't make it to the next level, but came away from the one-day event with recognition as an evolving rookie team.'

"The combination of the public speaking presentation, computer programming and engineering adds up to a brilliant piece," Brown said. "It just screams it should be district-wide. If you're going to have a soccer team, you should have a FIRST team."

Monday morning humor

2007-12-03T12:56:00.000-06:00

The Onion is one of my favorite satirical websites. Here is an excellent example titled Underfunded Schools Forced To Cut Past Tense From Language Programs

"Despite concerns that cutting the past-tense will prevent graduates from communicating effectively in the workplace, the home, the grocery store, church, and various other public spaces, a number of lawmakers, such as Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, have welcomed the cuts as proof that the American school system is taking a more forward-thinking approach to education."

What are other districts doing?

2007-11-28T17:01:00.000-06:00

I stumbled upon the Gifted and Talented links for two other Arkansas school districts recently:
Springdale and North Little Rock.

Can anyone suggest other strong districts who we can look to for best practices?

AGATE Conference includes Parent Seminars

2007-11-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

The Arkansas Gifted and Talented Educators (AGATE) conference is held in February each year. The 2008 conference will be held February 19-22 at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. The conference includes a parent seminar on the 21st featuring Sgt. Rick Woody, Greenbrier School Resource Officer discussing “Internet Predator Awareness for Parents” and Dr. James Delisle, a professor from Kent State University, presenting “Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy, Successful Children”.

For more information see their website: http://www.agate-arkansas.org/Parent%20Institute%20Flyer%202008.doc

Youth Entrepreneur Showcase

2007-11-12T09:42:00.000-06:00

"The third annual Youth Entrepreneur Showcase (Y.E.S.) student business plan competition's recent first-round deadline rendered a record-setting 229 plans for Arkansas children in grades 5-8, including plans from Greenbrier High School. In 2006, 141 business plans were submitted and in the first Y.E.S. competition 84 teams participated. "

http://www.thecabin.net/stories/111207/loc_1112070006.shtml

I am a bit jealous that Greenbrier had a team and presumably Conway did not.

Event Schedule

2007-11-03T21:00:00.000-05:00

One of the topics at the recent AGATE meeting was the enrichment programs that are historically offered in the area. Here is a list of the key dates that we know right now.

The Faulkner Co. Spelling Bee is February 9

Quiz Bowl

Junior Regional Tournament (Grades 7-9) is February 2

Senior Regional Tournament (Grades 10-12) is February 23

Junior Finals Tournament is March 8

Senior Finals Tournament is April 5

Destination Imagination Northern Regional competition is March 1

National History Day

School Competitions throughout February

District competition March 8 at CHS East

State competition April 19th at UCA