Haralson County Gifted Association

Dear Parents,

Discussions were held on the following topics:

• Results received so far from the poll concerning cluster grouping vs. resource class delivery methods

• Initiation of the MathCounts program at Haralson County Middle School

• Persons who may not yet be aware of the Haralson County Gifted Association

• Upcoming Georgia Association of Gifted Children conference

All respondents to the poll thus far have all been opposed to the cluster grouping model of instruction. An email has been sent to our Superintendent, Brett Stanton, as well as School Board member, Richard Davis, and distribution of the postcard has been approved. We are also looking into what was the issue relating to gifted instruction that was tabled at the last school board meeting, as there were no available comments on the School System's E-Board.

An email has also been sent to Mrs. Jodi Cash, math coach at Haralson County Middle School, concerning MathCounts, and was received with positive a positive response. Mrs. Cash is out of town for a conference this week, but is interested in MathCounts, and will follow up when she is back. Great news!

We have had contact from several new persons in the past month showing interest in becoming a member with the Haralson County Gifted Association (HCGA). These persons indicated that they had just recently become aware of the Association, and felt that there are many more whom we have yet to reach. We are proud to have these new participants, and continue to welcome anyone with an interest in advocating for the needs of gifted children.

The annual conference of the Georgia Association of Gifted Children (GAGC) will be held on Friday March 12, 2009 at various locations within the state. The deadline to register is February 26th. Registration fees are $75 for members, and $105 for non members. (Remember, your membership in our local chapter includes your membership with GAGC). The closest location for our area is Rome, but there are different topics being covered at each site. For more information, you may request from HCGA, or visit the website at www.GAGC.org.

Next meeting will be held on Monday, February 15th, @ 6:30 pm in the Georgia Power conference room in Tallapoosa.

If you would like something to be included on next months agenda, please reply to this email with "Agenda" as subject.

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• The 2nd approved lollipop sale fundraiser will begin Feb. 1st and will continue til all have been sold. Mrs. Thomas has approved the use of parent volunteers to sale the lollipops during lunch hours again, and we need volunteers that will be able to help out to reply asap to set up a schedule. Rhonda Prather can sale on Fridays. Please reply to this email with schedule in subject line to set up a time, or call Rhonda Prather @770-827-9477.
  

• Donation request- materials for the Roller Coaster Unit:

1" styrofoam balls
3" styrofoam balls
drinking straws (not flexible)
colored 1/2 sheet poster board
4 rubber balls (2-4")
4 plastic balls (2-4")
4 1lb. coffee cans
12 1oz. fishing sinkers
4 spring scales

• This years field trip is to Six Flags on Friday April 30th. We will be leaving WHES around 8:30 am and returning around 8:00 pm. We will be using school buses for transportation. We will be at Six Flags from 9:30 am til 5:00 pm and lunch will be included. Dinner reservations are at Logan's Roadhouse in Douglasville at 6:30 pm.
• We have raised enough money through the fundraisers to pay for the bus, ticket, lunch and dinner for all TPS and WHES gifted students!!!
• If parents are going, the cost of the ticket including lunch is $32 per person. Dinner at Logan's is your responsibility.
• All tickets MUST be purchased through the school and Six Flags will not accept season passes on this day. The park is closed to the general public, open only to schools on this day.

For those who haven't done so, visit Six Flags site to view more information on Six Flags Education Days (www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/events/MathandScienceDays2009.aspx)

Thank you,

Haralson County Gifted Association