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Newsletter - January 1998 - Issue 2
Dear Parents of Challenge and Honor Program Students,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. We sincerely wish you all the best in this new year.

Now on with 1998! The academic year is very close to half over. Schedules at the high school will change for the semester. Our Seniors will soon receive those awaited acceptance letters from the universities and colleges they applied to for admittance. We have every confidence that they will receive more "You have been admitted..." than those infamous .......! Please Seniors, let us know where you will attend. We would like to know. On a historical note for the Challenge Program, this Class of 1998 is the first class that started in the Challenge Program, First Grade Cluster.

The parents' support group had two meetings this past fall. The group is scheduled to meet again Tuesday, January 13, 1998, at Hiatt Center. We invite teachers, counselors, friends and parents of students at all levels to attend.

Parents are also invited to participate on the Broad Based Planning Team. This will be the second of two meetings that are required by the state grant. This is an opportunity for parents, teachers and administrators to discuss issues of the program. The next meeting will be March 18, 1998, at Hiatt Center in the Board Room starting at 3:45 p.m. Our last newsletter, for 1997-98 will be in the Spring. Please let us know if you have information that needs to be passed on to other parents, teachers, etc. of challenge students.

- FYI -

  • Support Group- January 13,1998, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., at Hiatt Center.

  • Broad Based Planning Team- Wednesday, March 18,1998, at Hiatt Center, in the Board Room. The meeting will begin at 3:45 p.m.

  • Elementary Achievement Tests
    Grade 1- Metropolitan Achievement Test, (MAT), March 2-13, 1998
    Grades 2,4, &5- Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, (CTBS), March 2-13, 1998

  • IAG- Indiana Association for the Gifted will have a conference in Indianapolis, April 27 & 28,1998, at the Radisson North. More information will be available at the January 13th meeting.

  • SPECIAL NOTE:
    First Grade Cluster Parents: Shortly after Spring Break, students in the Challenge cluster will be given the Slosson Intelligence Test by school counselors. This is part of the procedure used for identification into Grade 2, self- contained, class. A reminder will be sent from school as the dates near.

For Students-

Super Saturdays- Ages 5-14 Purdue University, Saturdays 9:30-11:00 a.m. February 21- May 2, 1998. No classes March 14. Call 494-9719 for more information.

1998 Gifted Education Resource Institute- A residential experience at Purdue University in June and July.
COMET- 6/21-27 or 6/28- 7/4 -for students who have completed grades 3-6.
STAR- 6/21-7/4 or 7/5-18-for students who have completed grades 7 & 8.
PULSAR- 7/5-8- High school students
NOVA- 6/21-7/18- Intensive format for high school students that offers Purdue University course credits.
Call 494-9719 for more information.

GOLDEN APPLE AWARDS !!!
Congratulations to Mrs. Cindy Shriner and Mrs. Pam Cray!! These are two of our First Grade Cluster teachers in the Challenge Program. Mrs. Shriner teaches at Vinton Elementary and Mrs. Cray at Murdock Elementary.

How To Cure the Perfection Infection

When you start feeling that nothing you do is ever quite good enough, either by your own standards or someone else's....or you stop trying new things for fear of flubbing up, we hope you'll think about these truths:
  1. Nobody is perfect and no one is good at everything. Albert Einstein was one of the world's greatest scientists, yet he didn't learn to read until he was seven and he was terrible in math. Learn to give the things that are the most important to you your maximum amount of energy. Then, give yourself a break and don't expect to go all out in everything else as well.
  2. It's perfectly OK to be perfectly imperfect! We know you've heard this adage before but we think it's worth repeating: We learn best by our mistakes. People who don't take chances and don't flub up aren't learning as much as those who do. ( People who don't take chances don't have much fun either.)
  3. Doing things perfectly doesn't make you a more successful person. Other things count too. Getting an A in math or reading doesn't mean you're a nicer person, only smarter in math or reading. It's healthy to spend energies learning to care about and to help others.
This is an excerpt from The Gifted Kids Survival Guide-for ages 10 & under. This is just one of the many books that we have on hand at Vinton. Please feel free to check any out for your use. Also the Shared Information Services at Purdue University is a terrific source of information on gifted education and children. 494-1887

If you have any questions about the Challenge Program call Vinton-449-3860 for Dr.Vicki Vaughn or Barb Knott.

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