The Old Stone Wall

Two former Governor’s Schools continue to offer their four week residential summer programs, which remain highly prestigious. Students are accepted into the program through a competitive application process. These two schools are for current sophomores and juniors. Each school offers some scholarship funding based on financial need (and page 11 of the application must be completed and submitted with application). Application deadline date for both schools is February 15th.

The Health Careers Scholars Academy is offered at the University of Pittsburgh and runs from June 24 through July 21st and the cost is $2,400 which covers tuition, room and board and other program fees.

The Pennsylvania School for Global Entrepreneurship is offered at Lehigh University and runs from July 8th through August 4th and the cost is $2,950.

Additional information and links to their programs are below. If you would like to apply please let me know so I can assist you with the application.

Applications are currently being accepted for two of the former Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools, the PA School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University and the University of Pittsburgh Health Career Scholars Academy. Applications for both programs are due by February 15, 2012. Please find applications attached.Benefits for the student include the opportunity to work as a consultant on a real company business project; live and work as a team with international students; network with international and local faculty and professionals; an amazing pre-college experience; an edge in the college application process, and more. Applications and further information on the Global Entrepreneurship program can be found at http://www.iacocca-lehigh.org/govschool/overview1.html. For specific questions, please contact Trisha Alexy, Director, at tsa2@lehigh.edu. For applications and further information on the Health Career Scholars Academy, visit the http://www.hcsa.pitt.edu website or contact Karen Narkevic, Director, at narkevickd@upmc.edu.

The National Coalition Against Censorship is hosting a film contest entitled “Censorship Bytes! Speech in Cyberspace”. The videos can be of any kind such as animation, documentary, fictional narrative, music video, etc.

The description of the contest and the prizes for winners are below and the deadline for submitting online is Oct. 31st:

“The Internet and Social Media have given young people a voice like never before, but governments, schools and corporations are imposing more and more restrictions on what youth do online. They say it’s for the kids’ safety, but what about those same kids’ First Amendment rights? Do young people really have free speech online and, if so, how do they use or abuse it? Does free speech include access to Free Software and the right to remix videos, music, and images? Should cyberbullying be punished? Express what you see as supporting or threatening your right to free speech in cyberspace. Be creative, compelling, and provocative.”

Top three winners receive:

1. Cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250.
2. A trip with a guest to New York City to attend the Youth Voices Uncensored event in the spring.
3. A one-year complimentary student membership to the Rubin Museum of Art.
4. The first place winner will received a $5,000 scholarship to the New York Film Academy.

Thank you to our Librarian, Mrs. Wall, for sending this to us! Please see link below.

http://www.ncac.org/film-contest

Film contest on Free Speech (as part of Banned Books Week)

Parents and teachers will not want to miss this opportunity to hear a prolific author and noted expert on gifted education. On November 16, Dr. Jim Delisle will be speaking at the Souderton Area High School in Souderton, Bucks County. His presentation, Parenting Precocious Kids: Understanding the Ups and Downs of Growing Up Gifted, is sure to be thought provoking and enlightening. The event is sponsored by the Souderton Area Education Foundation. According to their flyer for the presentation:

Parents of gifted children and teens have many questions about how best to meet their intellectual and emotional needs.  They want to know what giftedness is and the label’s impact on other family members.  They want to know how to advocate for their gifted child in a school setting mired in ‘bringing up the bottom’ rather than ‘raising the bar’ at the top.  They want to know how to set expectations that are appropriate and balanced.  And they want to know how to juggle the wide range of emotional intensities that often accompanies growing up gifted.  This session addresses these and other issues that ‘come with the territory’ in parenting gifted kids.

The event is free and open to all.

November 16th
 7:00pm
 Souderton Area High School Auditorium
625 Lower Road
Souderton, PA 18964

Mrs. Deanne Snelling, gifted teacher in the Spring-Ford Area School District, has posted a terrific list of summer opportunities of interest to gifted and high ability students. Check it out: http://www.spring-ford.net/staff/dsnel/summer_opportunities.htm.

Mrs. Schell attended the PA Association for Gifted Education conference in Harrisburg on Friday, April 15th. The keynote speaker, Dr. Donna Y. Ford of Vanderbilt University, shared research findings and insights on the problem of under-representation of African-American students in gifted programs. During her break-out session, she further elaborated on the challenge of recruiting and retaining these students – something our district has taken the lead in tackling. Other presenters included Dr. Jack Naglieri, and local favorite Linda Block-Love. For more information on the conference, please check the PAGE website at www.giftedPAGE.org.

Fourth grade students from Glenside Elementary participated in the “Stock Market Game” sponsored by Temple University’s Center for Economic Education. Teams of students took part in a stock market simulation from February 14th – April 21st. One group, the team of Leister, MacKenzie, & White, placed second in the region out of 84 participants. These students will attend a banquet to celebrate their performance in Blue Bell, PA later this month. For more information on the game, please go to www.smgww.org.

The Fox School of Business at Temple University is now accepting applications for their 2011 Corporate Sustainability Summer Program.  The program targets academically talented rising sophomores to seniors who are interested in business. Temple University’s Fox School of Business offers a six week commuter summer program that is free to accepted students. The application deadline is June 1, 2011.

The program runs from Monday through Thursday from July 11 – August 5, 2011, 9:00am-12:00pm/12:30-3:00, Alter Hall.

Corporate Sustainability Summer Program. http://www.fox.temple.edu/honors/summer.html

There are many websites developed for gifted and talented students (and their parents) that provide information and links to programs in all areas of learning and endeavor. This particular website offers much more in that is also serves as a tool and resource for enrichment in science and math. According to the original information communicated in 2007 from PAGE (Pennsylvania Association of Gifted Education), ”Middle and high school students with a passion for math and science can connect with peers around the world to learn about and discuss everything from global warming to cold fusion through a new Web site called Cogito.org.”

“Cogito.org, which was spearheaded by the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth with feedback from bright students, is a totally free resource for students.  Key features, all developed by the site’s editors with an eye toward nurturing talent in exceptional thinkers, include:

• interviews with experts,
• experts as online topic leaders
• profiles of young scientists,
• science news, and
• directories of math and science web resources, programs, competitions, and other academic opportunities

CTY and its partners expect the site to be a math and science home for bright kids online and help produce a generation of young people whose math and science skills will enable them to become leaders in their fields.

CTY’s partners in developing Cogito.org include other leading centers serving gifted students, based at Carnegie Mellon, Duke and Northwestern universities; the universities of Denver and Iowa; the Center for Excellence in Education; the Davidson Institute for Talent Development; and Science Service. The development of this site was funded by the John Templeton Foundation.”

The site continues today and it is stronger than ever in providing interactive information for science and math minded students. This website might even appeal to students not particularly interested in science and math. Many interesting topics in science and math are highlighted, and the website makes connections with fascinating people in diverse fields. There is much to explore here including summer programs and internships!

http://www.cogito.org/default.aspx

You might also consider reviewing these two sites as well – they provide extensive resource information and articles for and about gifted students and their parents.

http://resources.prufrock.com/GiftedChildInformationBlog/tabid/57/Default.aspx

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/

Many students look for summer opportunities to extend their learning experiences and develop their skills. In addition to internships, which aren’t easy to locate for high school students but they are out there, a student should consider volunteering.

1. The following article from College Board explains the benefits of summer programs and volunteering and provides resources to find the right fit.

   http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/8382.html

2. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania provides opportunities for high school students (ages 14-18) to volunteer over the summer and learn more about heath care careers. The program begins July 6 and ends August 20th. There is an application to complete with a deadline of May 31st. The requirements of the program include a commitment to volunteer the entire summer (at least one, four-hour shift per week) and allows for a two week absence from the program.To learn more about the program, you can visit the hospital volunteer website at http://www.pennmedicine.org/hup/vi_files/volunteer/ or you can contact the Volunteer Services Department at HUP at 215-662-2576.
3. The Ocean Leadership Institute site offers extensive list of scholarship and internship opportunities available to students interested in the marine and ocean sciences.Online application for Ocean For Life summer program (ages 14-18) is March 7th. Program is free to accepted students including travel costs. http://www.nosb.org/2011/ocean-for-life-student-applications-online/

   Other internships that might interest you (also for college students!)http://www.oceanleadership.org/category/opportunities/internships-and-fellowships-in-the-science-community/

There are many opportunities this summer to design your own experiences and extend learning.

Action for Nature International Young Eco-Hero Awards

Students ages 8-16 complete individual projects concerning environmental advocacy, research or protection. Cash Prizes are awarded. Application deadline postmarked 2/28/2011.

http://www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero-awards/2011-application-guidelines

Brower Youth Awards

Activists ages 13-22 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership on a project with a positive environmental or social impact may apply. Six winners receive a $3,000 cash prize and a trip to California and opportunities to work at Earth Island Institute. Application deadline May 16, 2011

http://www.broweryouthawards.org/

Earthwatch Student Challenge Awards

High Schools nominate gifted students ages 16-18 for this fellowship, which allows recipients to spend two or three weeks assisting scientists with natural science field research, ranging from botany and ecology to astronomy and microbiology. Please let me know if you are interested. http://www.earthwatch.org/aboutus/education/studentopp/scap/

Our World Underwater Competition

Photography and Video

Entrants of any age are invited to submit still photographs or video in this highly competitive international contest. Prizes are awarded in multiple categories. Submit in January for next year’s awards.

http://underwatercompetition.com/Competitions/our-world-underwater-2011

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Ten winners ages 8-18 who have worked on projects focused on helping their communities or protecting the health and sustainability of the environment receive $2,500 to apply to their higher education or their service project. Entrants must be nominated by an adult who has solid knowledge of their nominee’s project. Nomination deadline – April 30th

The service activity performed within the last 12 months cannot have been done solely to complete an assignment for school or work.

http://barronprize.org/

Stockhold Junior Water Prize

Students in grades 9-12 conduct water-related projects and compete at the state, national and international level for cash prizes. Deadline – April 15th (team of up to 3 students).

Davidson Fellows Award

Students ages 17 and under submit a significant piece of work in science, technology, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy of “outside the box”. Application deadline is March 2.

http://www.davidsongifted.org/fellows/

EngineerGirl Surival Design Challenge

Boys and girls in grades 3-12 are given a scenario wherein they are lost and in possession of certain supplies. For the high school level essay, they write a 1500 word essay describing how they would deal with the challenge presented to them. Deadline is March 1.

http://engineergirl.org/?id=13161

Young Naturalist Awards

Students in grades 7-12 undertake explorations in biology, astronomy, or earth science and then write up their findings in an essay. Grades 9-10: 750-2,500 words
Grades 11-12: 1,000-3,000 words. Deadline March 8.

http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/

(Source: Imagine Magazine, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, Jan/Feb 2011 issue).