 The PC-TAG Board recently held a retreat to plan for the 2014-2015 school year. The retreat's featured speaker was Janet Hale, one of PC-TAG's founders.
PC-TAG began 22 years ago, and continues in its original mission to advocate for gifted children in HPISD.
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PC-TAG Parents Book Club -- The Perfect Score Project: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT (Sept 25)8/17/2014  PC-TAG Parents' Book Club meets on Thursday, September 25 at 7:00 pm at Christine Goff’s home, 3933 Wentwood Drive, 75225.
Our September book is The Perfect Score Project: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT, by Debbie Stier. It all began as an attempt by Debbie Stier to help her high-school age son, Ethan, who would shortly be studying for the SAT. Aware that Ethan was a typical teenager (i.e., completely uninterested in any test) and that a mind-boggling menu of test-prep options existed, she decided – on his behalf -- to sample as many as she could to create the perfect SAT test-prep recipe. Debbie’s quest turned out to be an exercise in both hilarity and heartbreak as she took the SAT seven times in one year and in-between “went to school” on standardized testing. Here, she reveals why the SAT has become so important, the cottage industries it has spawned, what really works in preparing for the test and what is a waste of time.
 Congratulations to HPMS Texas History Teacher Brianna Riddell, the 2014 recipient of the PCTAG Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Riddell was nominated by students and parents who praised her enthusiasm for her subject and her ability to bring Texas History to life in creative ways. Ms. Riddell received her award on May 2 before a classroom of cheering students.  From the generosity of PC-TAG gifting, Amy Powers' 7th grade language arts students participated in Peter Nevland’s two-day writing workshop How to Write Awesomeness and Get Away With It on April 29-30. Peter’s workshops grab students’ attention and equip them with simple, powerful tools that make their writing spring to life. Students go from hating writing to loving it. Those who love writing do it better. After the workshop, teachers get exercises to use in their classes. Students in years to come will also benefit from these rich writing lessons. Peter is a writer and a graduate of University of Texas at Austin (website). Students discovered:
 On April 9th, over 100 parents attended a presentation by Susan Goodkin who talked about "What Today's Parents Must Know About Getting Into Selective Colleges." Susan Goodkin is a graduate of Harvard University, Harvard Law School, and Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. In addition to advising families about college admissions, Susan writes and speaks nationally on gifted education issues including college admissions. Her articles have appeared in newspapers including The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, The Philadelphia Enquirer, The Sacramento Bee and The Houston Chronicle.
Over the past few years alone, Susan's clients have been accepted to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, Columbia, U.Penn, UC Berkeley, Tufts, U. Michigan, Emory, Johns Hopkins, and Harvey Mudd, along with many other colleges ranging from large state universities to small religious schools. Click HERE to learn more about Susan Goodkin and her services. If you would like to be informed about upcoming interviews and free teleseminars, please email Susan Goodkin to get added to the list.
After careful review of all requests, the PC-TAG Board of Directors approved funding in the amount of $40,274. Amy Genender, PC-TAG Chair, presented the check at the HPISD Board of Trustees meeting on April 8, 2014.
The gift funds requests from teachers at all seven HPISD campuses in support of the district’s Talented and Gifted (TAG) and enrichment programs as well as mainstream educational programs. The current year gift enabled the purchase of enrichment items including iPads for use in the classroom, curriculum enrichment materials, classroom technology, support for academic competitions, teacher scholarships and training, and summer curriculum development. Teachers were grateful for funding received. One teacher responded: “Thank you! Great news! Very excited about science DataHubs! Thank you! Thank you!” Click HERE to see funded items.  On March 26, Kathleen Fischer presented Fastening Your Seat Belts: Preparing for Departure to a packed room of over 65 parents.
She talked about how as middle adolescence comes to an end and young adulthood beckons, a transition is underway for both parents and late teens. How are they doing at managing their emotional ups and downs? Are they able to be in charge of their own sleeping, eating, wellness? Are they able to spot good friends from the other kind? Can they step into a broader world and navigate unfamiliar social situations? She also talked about what else our kids need from us to be ready for self-sufficiency and prepared for the world after leaving home. Check out Kathleen's website and blog for more information. Click HERE for the handouts form the presentation.  Students in Sarah Weatherford's sixth-grade social studies class were presented with a challenge to research, create and produce a short documentary about one country in the Southeast Asia region. The challenge was to create a film to explain life in the country through the words and daily experiences of a young child from that nation. In cooperative learning groups, students used Weatherford's online Livebinder resource collection to study the geography, government, economic systems and culture of the people living in the country they were assigned. Students were able to collaborate between school and home by sharing research and visual content in their Digital Lockers in Gaggle. Using iMovie on the ExMo Team iPads that were generously provided through the PC-TAG gift fund, students acted in and directed their own films. The seven-day process culminated with a glamorous Film Festival where students spotted "celebrities" such as Macklemore, Justin Bieber, various Disney princesses and several sharply dressed Hollywood executives in tuxedos. When all of the votes are in and tallied, a grand prize winners will be recognized.
 PC-TAG has selected Reagan Brumley, Director of Instrumental Music for HPISD, as the 2013 PC-TAG Teacher of the Year. Brumley was selected from teacher candidates across all seven Highland Park ISD (HPISD) campuses.
Brumley was presented the award at the Highlander Band Spring Concert and Banquet on May 17 by PC-TAG Chair Sarah Clark. Clark said of Brumley, “Not only has Mr. Brumley achieved amazing results with the band programs, but he has also proven to have another very important quality in an educator- the ability to inspire our kids as individuals to reach for new heights and to be the best that they can be” PC-TAG is honored to present the PC-TAG Teacher of the Year award to Reagan Brumley. Comments provided by Margie Baker, Photo provided by Bill Anderton HBB |
