SPARK

Igniting potential
2015-2016 school year

SPARK
Is a parent organization designed to provide
support for parent(s)/guardian(s) of gifted and
advanced students, and the students
themselves, through appropriate programming

Addressing the needs of parents, students, & the District

Parent Needs
Communication from the District
Safe place to discuss parenting gifted kids (developing an understanding of the
academic, social and emotional needs of gifted students)
Student Needs
Academic Needs & Programming
Needs of gifted students (as defined by ODE) who are not eligible for services at Chagrin
Socio-Emotional Needs & Programming
Needs of Twice Exceptional Students
District Needs
State Report Card singles out scores of Gifted Learners
Compared to national average, Chagrin has a disproportionately high percentage of
gifted learners

Board Members
Lori Mills - Middle School Representative
Nancy Burnham- Communications Secretary
Kimberly Kilby - Intermediate School Rep
Kate Tallman - Gurney Rep
? (Insert your name here!) - High School Rep
? (Second rep for each school)
Advisors: Jean Kanzinger & Sharon Broz

SPARK History
SPARK was started during the 2013-2014
school year.
It became a board-endorsed parent support
group for the 2014-2015 school year.
Jean Kanzinger and Sharon Broz were the
founding members.

If you were invited here tonight

It means that your child took an assessment
that identified him or her as gifted and/or
advanced (which the District defines as currently
enrolled in Accelerated or Advanced Math and/or ELA
courses in grades 4-8 as a result of STAR scores at or
above the 95% in Reading and/or Math and current
students in grades 1-3 who have STAR Reading and/or
Math scores at or above the 95%)

Becky Quinn - Director of Curriculum & Instruction

Ms. Quinn is also the coordinator of gifted
services.

Chagrin Falls 2013-2014 ODE Report Cards Gifted Data

Students Identified as Gifted:

Students Receiving Gifted
Services:

Intermediate

Middle

High School

36.7%

40.5%

35.5%

11.6%

0%

0%

25.1%

40.5%

35.5%

Identified as Gifted, Not

Receiving Services:

http://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/Pages/School-Report.aspx?SchoolIRN=033548
http://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/Pages/School-Report.aspx?SchoolIRN=005769
http://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/Pages/School-Report.aspx?SchoolIRN=005751

Ongoing Goals
Work positively with district to enhance
academic offerings to gifted and high
performing students
Offer inclusive student activities

Extracurricular Programs Enhance

Socio-Emotional Needs:
Current Activities

Gr
4
5

Power of
the Pencil

Rocket Club
(2 weeks)

Poetry Contest

Pi Day
Competition
(1 day)

Power of
the Pen
(Academic
Year)

GCCTM Math
Contest
(1 day;
CF did not
participate in
12-13)

Scripps
Spelling Bee
(1 day; 1 week
preparation)

Lego League
Game Room at I.S.

National
Playwriting
Competition

6
7

Proposed
Activities

Destination
Imagination
(Academic
Year)

D.I. showcase
Chess Club
Creative Writing Club

The Writing
Conference Inc.
Writing Contest

Debate (MS)
Math Olympiad
OCLRE MS Mock Trial

Scholastic Kids
are Authors
Writing Contest

Science Fair
Science Olympiad
AMC8,10,12

Potential SPARK Activities:

Assist in researching, investigating enrichment to be offered at CFIS for

cognitively identified gifted students (in 2016-17 or earlier), reflective of
interests and abilities of students

Creation of social events of interest to gifted / advanced students: game

nights, group attendance at an on-campus event or off-campus event
(Playhouse Square Broadway Series, etc.)

Compilation of a Parents Guide to Local and Statewide Summer Camps,

Classes, Events of Interest to K-12 Gifted and Advanced Students

Other ideas?????

Twice Exceptional Students

Bright kids with learning differences

Advanced/gifted in at least one area

AND
Learning disability, ADHD, autism spectrum, physical disabilities

Gifts and differences may mask each other

Unique educational paths difficult to connect with other families

Web resource: http://www.uniquelygifted.org/

Spark Website
http://sparkchagrin.weebly.com

OAGC Fall Conference - Parent Day

October 11, 2015
Easton Hilton in Columbus, Ohio
Ohio Association for Gifted Children (OAGC) Conference Home Page
http://oagc.com/fallConference.asp
Sunday Agenda (2 - 6 pm)
http://www.oagc.com/files/SundayActivitiesDraft.8.12.15.pdf
Registration Form for Sunday (...only $5)
http://www.oagc.com/files/2015_parent_dayflierand%20registrationform.pdf.

Topics of interest for this year

This is our organization, so please provide your input regarding topics you
would be interested in:

Book studies
Speakers:
Maybe a panel of area-specific speakers with careers connected to content
(math specific careers / English specific careers, etc.),
Perfectionism
Meeting the Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Students
Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Students
Others?

Next Meeting
Oct 20, 2015
7 - 8:30 pm
Sands Room
Tammie Stewart, Manager for Outreach for the Center for
Talent Development (CTD) will speak about NUMATS
and programming available through CTD
Becky Quinn will speak about Acceleration

Resources
District website - http://www.chagrinschools.
org/GiftedandTalented.aspx

Ohio Association of Gifted Children - http://www.oagc.

com/

National Association for Gifted Children - http://www.

nagc.org/

Ohio Department of Education - http://education.ohio.

gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Gifted-Education
Many, many more!