Happy Mother’s Day to all who support, educate, and volunteer within our community.

Parenting in today’s world is no small task, and when you add the gifted dimension to our children’s lives, it becomes a truly remarkable journey—one filled with both soaring peaks and challenging valleys. Our children are extraordinary. Their accomplishments, whether large or small, are deeply meaningful, and witnessing their growth is one of life’s greatest rewards.

As parents and professionals in this community, we rarely have the luxury of slowing down. We are constantly in motion, advocating for and nurturing our children. We wear many hats—educators, supporters, and champions of their academic, social, and emotional development. We read endlessly, attend lectures, seek guidance from one another, and serve as thoughtful detectives, striving to understand the why behind our children’s behaviors and achievements. We collaborate with families, friends, and educators, helping others see that our children were never meant to fit a mold—they were meant to break one.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to our CGCC Board Members. Their dedication and work behind the scenes are truly remarkable. From managing social media and communicating programs to planning events and building connections, these talented mothers find time—often late nights and early mornings—to strengthen and enrich our community for all.

Finally, to all mothers: I honor your strength, your resolve, and your unwavering commitment. This journey is not easy, but the rewards are immeasurable. You are an extraordinary group—passionate, resilient, and deeply dedicated to making a difference. On this Mother’s Day, I hope you take a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate all that you have accomplished this past year.

When I find myself in the valleys, I am encouraged by the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: “The ultimate measure of a person is not where he or she stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he or she stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Thank you for standing strong—for your children, for one another, and for our community.

Warmly,

Carole Jones

President

Chicago Gifted Community Center

https://chicagogiftedcommunity.org/

Ellis is an AI chat resource built for educators. When a student situation is messy or hard to untangle, Ellis helps teachers and school teams make sense of what they are seeing and review guidance shaped by Children’s Health Council and trusted partners, without starting from scratch in Google search or a generic AI tool. Learn more here!

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) invites high school students and educators to explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI) through asynchronous courses in June. Artificial Intelligence Credential for High School Students will trace the evolution of AI from its early beginnings to today’s rapidly advancing technologies and look ahead to future applications shaping society. Through engaging modules, students will examine how AI powers everyday tools, such as speech recognition and computer vision, while also studying the underlying concepts of machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and intelligent agents. Alongside technical foundations, students will critically analyze the ethical, social, and safety considerations that accompany AI’s growing influence. Artificial Intelligence Credential for High School Educators will focus on curricular adoption of AI principles in educators’ own schools. Space is limited. Enroll by April 30 on the IMSA website.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has partnered with NIU STEAM to offer several partial scholarships for young women attending Middle School NIU STEAM Summer Camps. More information here. Application deadline May 1.

Redwood Literacy's Parent Support Program for supporting your child with dyslexia is offering parent scholarships for their next cohort, beginning March 30.

Scholarships available:

✓ 1 Full Scholarship (100% off)

✓ 3 Partial Scholarships (50% off)

Applications close March 22. Apply here.

There is a new direct admission program, introduced Summer 2025, to allow students to apply to Illinois public community colleges and participating public universities without submitting essays, letters of recommendation, or application fees. Students may sign up during their junior year of high school. See the Illinois State Board of Education's Weekly Message for details!

Lake County students from kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to explore what America 250 means to them through art and writing. The contest opens on February 10, 2026, with submissions due by April 15, 2026.

See the Student Art and Essay Contest (K-12): We the People: America Through My Eyes webpage to learn more and submit your student's entry!

Applications are now open for Summer Research and Experiential Learning Opportunities (SRELO) through the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. SRELO pairs 40 students, based on competitive application, with IMSA faculty mentors for a two-week on-campus research experience in June 2026 (with an additional online component). Designed to nurture students' interest in advanced topics, the program is open to all rising 11th and 12th grade students living in Illinois, especially students in groups where there is a historical disparity in participation in STEM fields and limited representation at IMSA. Applications are due Feb. 20.

Calling Illinois youth poets!

2026 Submissions now open: January 1 - May 1

The 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards are accepting submissions now until Friday, May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Illinois students in grades K to 12 can submit a poem via the online portal. Winners will be announced in August. Save the date for our 10th anniversary awards ceremony on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.

Our friends at National Math Stars have let us know that applications for their free programs opened last week and will be open through June 15th for parents & guardians to apply. School districts nominations will be open through May 15th to allow for shipment of award medals.

National Math Stars focuses on supporting the top 2nd and 3rd grade math students across the country with free acceleration programs. The four main pillars of National Math Stars are continued academic development, community, financial assistance, and advising. These four pillars allow for NMS to push students to the frontiers of math & science, all while developing an amazing & friendship based community of young mathematicians.

If accepted into the National Math Stars programs, over the course of 10 full years, students will receive free advanced coursework, summer camp opportunities, mentoring in the STEM field, and many other tools at no cost to their school, district or family.

NMS recommends that school districts nominate the top 2-3% of both 2nd and 3rd graders at each elementary campus. Once nominations are submitted, you’ll receive a box of award medals & nomination letters to pass out to each student. Districts can reach out to Troy Scott at troy.scott@nationalmathstars.org to get this process started– or fill out this Google Form.

For parents/guardians of 2nd and 3rd graders, you can apply directly here.

National Math Stars is also hosting parent information sessions which can be accessed on this page.

Please take advantage of this free opportunity to have your students be celebrated for their math ability while giving them the chance to be a part of an amazing 10 year math program!