From StoryStudio Chicago 5/23/2019 email blast . . .

Want 50% off? If you register for more than one Summer Camp, we're offering half-off the second camp!

OR

If you refer a young writer, the referred purchaser can also get 50% off their camp purchase. Camp is more fun when you're writing with friends.

Register now:

Grades 9-12: June 24-28
Grades 5-8: July 8-12
Grades 6-10 (Sci-Fi/Fantasy Focused): July 15-19 

Thanks to our professional member, Susan Goodkin, for introducing us to  a  
new international literary journal run by teens, Epifany Magazine. They are taking submissions now for their second issue. 

Susan encourages all teen writers to submit their work. Susan runs the California Learning Strategies Center which provides college counseling, particularly for gifted students aiming for selective colleges. She offers webinars throughout the year discussing the college admissions process. On May 19 and 25 she is offering her First Steps: What Parents of 8th, 9th and 10th Graders Need To Know Now About Getting Into Selective Colleges seminar. See details on the Calendar.

This multi-week program is designed to engage teens ages 15-18 in place-based research. Participants will dive into the rich history of Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, practice public speaking and interview techniques, and serve as onsite interpreters during Chicago Architecture Center's annual Open House Chicago in October.

The 2019 summer program will include visits to historic buildings and culturally-important sites throughout Bronzeville. Ambassadors will interview community members about changes in the neighborhood over time, and will write, produce and edit their own audio stories focused on these interviews.

An application, brief interview and attendance at one of our information sessions (see dates below) are required. Space is limited and your application does not guarantee acceptance. Applications are due by Monday, June 10 at 9am.

PRICE FREE (student who complete the program are eligible for a $500 stipend and qualify for service learning credit)

HOURS 9am—3pm (unless otherwise noted)

LOCATION Robert Morris University: 401 S. State St. Chicago, IL 60605

REQUIRED DATES

Sunday, June 2 at 9am OR Thursday, June 6 at 6pm (information session) at CAC, 111 E. Wacker Dr.

Wednesday, July 10—Friday, July 19 (summer sessions; class does not meet on the weekend)

Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 2:30pm (Teen summer celebration)

Saturday, Oct. 12 (Open House Chicago training)

Saturday—Sunday, Oct. 19-20 (Open House Chicago weekend)

Saturday, Oct. 26 (digital check-in, as needed)

Saturday, December (teen programs showcase) date and time TBD

Click here for complete details on the CAC web site.

From the First Nations Film and Video Festival web site . . .

The mission of First Nations Film and Video Festival is to advocate for and celebrate the works of Native Americans filmmakers and new works and films that break racial stereotypes and promotes awareness of Native American issues. All films screened are written and/or produced and directed by Native American artists from the United States, Canada, Central and South America, and Mexico.

Spring 2019 FNFVF Schedule!

Bezazian Branch, Chicago Public Library, 1226 W Ainslie St, Chicago, IL 60640
Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Demon (6:02)
The Party’s Downstairs (27:32)
BULLDAWGS: The Emmanuel Boone Story (30:45)
Sidewalk Entrepreneurs (48:10)
Mahiganiec (5:29)
Total Program Time: 1:57:58

American Indian Center, 3401 W Ainslie
Thursday, May 2, 2019, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Visions Of A Kill Shot (17:40)
Warbonnet: An Odyssey of Honor (12:52)
Respect your elders, Chum. (6:55)
the team (1:00)
Two Brothers of Trouble (10:00)
Bad Medicine (7:55)
Hard Out (3:37)
In the Arms of Madness (20:30)
Gik:skwod: How I Lost My Indian Name (2:50)
Sapara Clothing: A Tradition in Danger (10:09)
Total Program Time: 1:33:28

University of Illinois Chicago-Latino Cultural Center 803 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL
Friday, May 3, 2019, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Visions Of A Kill Shot (17:40)
Self Portrait (3:15)
Postcards (3:20)
Haunted Cape Breton 2018 (18:02)
Onicka (1:42)
Buffalo Girl (Paskwâw Mostos Iskwêsis) (4:08)
Mockingbird (19:53)
Fire Ecology (24:40)
Gik:skwod: How I Lost My Indian Name (2:50)
Total Program Time: 1:35:30

University of Missouri Columbia, at Ragtag Cinema, 10 Hitt Street, Columbia, MO
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Protect Our Future Daughters (5:45)
Les vaillants (4:31)
Fire Ecology (24:40)
Gik:skwod: How I Lost My Indian Name (2:50)
Innu Nikamu (1:32:00)
MORE TO COME!
Total Program Time: 1:59:30

SISKEL CENTER – SCHOOL of the ART INSTITUTE CHICAGO
164 N State St, Chicago, IL
Sunday, May 5, 2019 – 8:00pm – 10:00pm
First Medicine; The long Man (14:26)
Gik:skwod: How I Lost My Indian Name (2:50)
Innu Nikamu (1:32:00)
Total Program Time: 1:49:16

Northwestern University, Graduate Lounge, 2122 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL
Monday, May 5, 2019, 7:00pm – Food, 7:30pm – Films!
Mishkeegogamang (30:00)
The hunter (5:26)
Idle No More (5:02)
Les vaillants (4:31)
Mahiganiec (5:29)
Mommy goes race (5:50)
Protect Our Future Daughters (5:45)
Protecting our Homeland (3:55)
So Alone (6:57)
Stage Name: Victoria (3:28)
The Choice (7:57)
Buffalo Girl (Paskwâw Mostos Iskwêsis) (4:08)
Total Program Time: 1:28:28

HARPIN ARTS CENTER, 2810 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 – 7:00pm – 9:00pm
THE ATTENDANT (5:28)
Thunderbird (2:59)
VOYEUR (12:00)
Sapara Clothing: A Tradition in Danger (10:09)
BLUFF (1:36:08)
Total Program Time: 2:06:04

CLAUDIA CASSIDY THEATER, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 – 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Innu Nikamu (1:32:00)
Total Program Time: 1:32:00

Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St. Evanston, IL
Thursday, May 9, 2019 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Silla (20:40)
Living Culture Speaking Truth (38:17)
Inuk Hunter (4:05)
Kuujjuaq (4:54)
Ka Ussi-Tshishkutamashuht (4:31)
Shiny Object (5:00)
Total Program Time: 1:17:27

CineYouth Festival 2019

See the next generation of filmmakers now!

Featuring 64 films from 18 different countries, this year’s CineYouth selection showcases the astounding talent of filmmakers 22 years old and younger by exhibiting new works in a variety of genres and thematic programs.

Come celebrate CineYouth’s 15th anniversary April 26-28, 2019 at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave, Chicago, IL). All screenings are FREE and open to the public. Select award-winning films from CineYouth will screen at the 55th Chicago International Film Festival in October.

Click here for complete details.

Opening Night: Wed., May 1, 5-9 PM, $10 Admission (Adults)

Other Sale Days:
Thurs., May 2, 9 AM-8 PM, Free Admission
Fri., May 3, 9 AM-8 PM, Free Admission
Sat., May 4, 9 AM-2 PM, Free Admission, Books by the Bag, $10 each.

New Location:
First United Methodist Church
424 Forest Avenue, Glen Ellyn

Our new location is just 1/2 block east of the Glen Ellyn Civic Center (just next door and adjacent to the GECC parking lot). It is on the SW corner of Duane Street and Forest Avenue. Enter from the Forest Avenue door directly into the Church’s lobby adjacent to the Great Hall and Dining room where the sale will be held. Free parking is available on the side streets nearby. Also, after 11 am weekdays and all day Saturday, you may park free in the commuter parking lots. 

Why do we collect and sell used books?

The AAUW Wheaton-Glen Ellyn Branch’s main fundraiser is the annual AAUW Used Book Sale. Each year, we sell more than 35,000 volumes to members of the community and visitors from surrounding states. Proceeds fund fellowships and grants nationally and COD scholarships locally.  AAUW Wheaton-Glen Ellyn Branch, NFP is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.  AAUW stands for American Association of University Women, a national organization founded in 1881.

Click here for complete details, including a coupon!

Email from the College of DuPage received 4/16/2019 . . .

Greetings from College of DuPage!

Thank you for your interest in the GADgET Girls summer camp!

The camp schedule has been finalized, and registration is now open!

GADgET Girls

Girls Adventuring in Design, Engineering & Technology

This one-week camp is designed to introduce girls, ages 11 to 14, to design and manufacturing processes, brought to you by the Youth Academy and Manufacturing Technology department. This camp will encourage creativity, self-confidence and innovation by introducing students to design and manufacturing processes and equipment. Students will be able to complete their own projects through guided instruction and will have the opportunity to explore career paths in manufacturing and engage with women currently working in the field. Students should bring a sack lunch each day. There will be at least one field trip to a local manufacturing facility during the camp.

Monday to Friday, July 8 to 12

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

YEEXC-0002-100, $239

Technical Education Center (TEC), Room 0014

There is a limited capacity for this camp due to the number of workstations available in the manufacturing lab. We highly recommend registering as early as possible to ensure a spot is available for your child.

You may register online at myaccess.cod.edu or over the phone with our registration staff at (630) 942-2208. When registering online, click on “Continuing Education Classes” on the right side of the screen, then choose “Youth Classes (Grades K-8)” on the right side.

Once capacity has been met, a waitlist will be started. To be added to the waitlist, please call our registration staff at the number listed above.

We hope to see you this summer!

Sincerely,

Jenna Greenfield

Youth Academy

Continuing Education

College of DuPage

425 Fawell Blvd.

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Phone: (630) 942-2208| youthacademy@cod.edu | www.cod.edu/youth

Click here for view all events.

The following is a blog post from professional member Midwest Academy for Gifted Education. You can see this post and others on the MAGE website.

This article is brought to you by MAGE - non-profit, private gifted option in City of Chicago.

Families of gifted students in the Chicago Public School District, and those in nearby areas should be aware of the just announced CPS-run Engagement Forum regarding the Accelerated Placement Act in less than 2 weeks time. Here are some key events around that time:

• CPS sends out their first round of offer letters for the 2019-20 year for selective enrollment and options programs electronically to the CPS application portal on Monday, April 22, 2019.

• CPS Forum Tuesday, April 23, 2019 6:00PM - 7:30 PM Colman Office, 4655 S. Dearborn Street

• CPS Forum Thursday, April 25, 2019 6:00PM - 7:30 PM Lincoln Park High School, 2001 North Orchard Street

• IAGC Policy Meeting, Saturday, May 4, 2019, 10:00AM-12:00PM IMSA

The only information about these forums publicly available currently is here. In 2017, a new law was passed in the State of Illinois that set the framework for the support needed for some gifted students. The law is called the Accelerated Placement Act and you can view the actual full text of the law here. The law was passed with a 1 year grace period, to go into effect on July 1, 2018. The state issued a guidance - a reminder - to districts to remind them of this new law, albeit, an unfunded mandate. Many districts jumped into action, creating policy to comply with the new law. CPS is the largest district in IL and the 3rd largest in the country. Their reaction to the law is a big deal. What did they do?

First, some key bits of the law from the above link:

“For purposes of this Article, "accelerated placement" means the placement of a child in an educational setting with curriculum that is usually reserved for children who are older or in higher grades than the child. "Accelerated placement" under this Article or other school district-adopted policies shall include, but need not be limited to, the following types of acceleration: early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, accelerating a child in a single subject, and grade acceleration.” (Illinois General Assembly Public Act 100-0421)

The rest of the act goes through important detail around notification of program availability, identification, and wording that could potentially be interpreted as the foundation for a Gifted IEP in the state.

Chicago Public Schools, CPS, in a meeting on August 22, chose to defer the adoption of this act, and the deferral decision can be read here. Only 3 people came to speak for the immediate adoption of the Accelerated Placement Act in CPS in that August 22nd meeting, which was well covered by Chalkbeat, and you can read about it here. After 3/4 of a year with news from CPS, these new forums are finally scheduled. They come at an auspicious time - CPS Selective Enrollment School results come out for Kindergarten through eighth grade on the 22nd of April, the day before the meeting. Therefore, it is unclear if there will be change, what year the change will take effect, and how it will impact the decisions made for the coming year. It is important to show CPS that you care about gifted education in the city, and that you show up. Unless people step up and show up, CPS will continue to defer the adoption of this act. You can read our coverage of the Accelerated Placement Act Part 1 here.

What can you do beyond just these forums? You can go to learn more at CGCC and IAGC, our two local gifted organizations, that periodically have policy-related events. You can even join the IAGC Policy Committee that works with Illinois Board of Education to create new policy for the gifted. That committee’s next quarterly meeting is Saturday, May 4th at IMSA, at 10AM, so mark your calendar.

Not in Chicago? Your district is watching. The state is watching. The country is watching. If you care about gifted education, you should come and participate in those forums because your support is paramount in improving the gifted education in Chicago and everywhere that will use it as a case example.

Stay tuned for part 3 in a few weeks. We hope that update brings good news for the city’s gifted.

About Midwest Academy for Gifted Education (MAGE): We are a not for profit, private gifted school focused on building community for gifted families in Chicago. If we don’t speak up for the City’s gifted, who will? Our next Admissions Coffee is on April 27th at 9AM and is a chance to connect to other gifted families in the city.

Sprout is a professional member of CGCC.