FCAPAGE Meetings for 2019-20

Gifted Foxes (aka FCAPAGE) will meet five times this year, always at 7 p.m. in the High School Library. Topics are in development and will be announced here and on our Gifted Foxes Facebook page. We hope you can join us on the following dates:

• Monday, September 16, 2019
• Wednesday, November 6, 2019
• Tuesday, January 7, 2020
• Thursday, March 19, 2020
• Monday, May 18, 2020

All Good Things...

...must come to an end.

Our president has decided it's (past) time for her to step down. Join us April 16 in the HS LGI at 7 pm for an organizational meeting.

Agenda:
- decide on meeting dates and times for next year
- discuss topics for said meetings
- Q&A (if needed) concerning what the executive board does
- choose a new slate of leaders (please volunteer!)

Come for the cookies, stay for the kids!

December 4 Meeting Summary

Thanks to all who attended last night's meeting! It was a great discussion of many topics, and an excellent way for parents to share their experiences, advice, concerns, and suggestions.

Here were some of the topics and questions that arose:

• How does accelerated and enriched/differentiated math work in elementary (grades 3-5)?
• What to do about kids who are gifted but not into working hard or interested in activities?
• Do 5th graders who participate in the virtual/DMS math class lose "homeroom time"?
• How can we encourage more transparent and proactive communication? For example: When does Quest start during the year? When are tests and GIEPs are conducted? What are expectations for Quest at elementary level? Welcome packet for new (and even returning) parents would be nice. 
• Who conducts GIEP exams -- a District psychologist or someone contracted? How are the tests administered? 
• How do Quest and acceleration/honors classes work at DMS? Will the new schedule change things?
• How will the district handle Quest/EELA/Math for kids enrolled in Spanish immersion?
• How can we advocate for our kids?
• How can we spread the word to more parents in our district?

If you have questions you'd like answered, here are some options:

• We've started a new Gifted Foxes Facebook group — it's private, but we welcome all parents who would like to share questions and suggestions for academic and extracurricular support. 
• If you're not on Facebook, you can always email us. 
• And of course join us at future meetings!

Hope to see you on February 5!

2018-19 Meetings and More

FCAPAGE has three meetings on the schedule in 2018-19; all of them will be on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the High School LGI:

• December 4
• February 5
• April 16

Our December meeting will focus on building a coalition of parents who are interested in learning how to advocate for their child(ren) at school and beyond. We will share information about extracurricular and summer activities, too.

Recognizing the requirements of being a member in good standing of PAGE, we will also be looking for parents interested in joining our board and/or representing FCAPAGE at elementary and DMS PTO meetings.

We will also plan topics for February and April. Hope to see you there!

April Meeting Moved to Wednesday, 4/11

As you may have seen from the email that went out this morning, we have moved the April meeting to Wednesday the 11th, in the FCAHS Library. We hope you can join us!

Timothy Mahoney, the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, will be our guest. (Lisa Gibson spoke about HS opps at our last meeting). Topics will include types of acceleration (including whole-grade) and Tim's vision for gifted education for the district.

Also, here's a plea for greater involvement! We need to renew our PAGE membership and thus need to update our Board. It's really not a lot of work (unless you want it to be!). If you want to be a school rep or a member of our executive committee, please email info@giftedfoxes.net and let me know! With all the terrific parent activism I've seen in the last few months, I hope some of that will spill over to FCAPAGE too!

Thanks!
—Monica

FCAPAGE Meetings Planned for 2017-18

This year we'll have four meetings — we hope you can join us for all of them!

• September 26: Focus on EELA and Elementary QUEST/Math, featuring Ashley Nestor, FCASD Executive Director of Elementary Education and Instruction, and Sari Brecosky, FCASD Director of Literacy
• November 28: Language Arts/Reading and QUEST at DMS, featuring Matt Harris, Executive Director of Secondary Education and Instruction
• February 6: Pros and Cons of Whole-Grade Acceleration, featuring Timothy Mahoney (TBC)
• April 10: Gifted Opportunities at the High School, featuring Lisa Gibson, QUEST teacher

Monday Night: Megan Cicconi on STEM and Technology in Education

At our first meeting of 2016-17, we're excited to welcome Megan Cicconi, Director of Instructional and Innovative Leadership, who will talk with us about the state of STE(A)M in Fox Chapel, and the future of technology in our kids' education.

Join us in the High School LGI room at 7 pm on September 26.

FCAPAGE meetings are open to anyone in the community who is interested in ensuring that "no child goes unchallenged." We hope to see you there!