Quest new parent meeting Welcome!

Agenda Gifted Education Advisory Council (GEAC) Quest Office Divide into groups by program (tentative locations) Middle School to Library Pull Out Quest to Lunchroom Full Time Elementary stay in Field House Quest Teachers Q and A Parent socializing

GEAC What is GEAC? Gifted Education Advisory Council Like a PTA for LWSD highly capable community Non-profit, founded in 1989 Our operating budget is funded 100% by annual donations and corporate matching.

GEAC Who we are… Primarily current or past Quest or other Highly Capable program families. Educators and other community members are welcome and encouraged to join. All are volunteers.

Sign up for our mailing list on lwsdgeac.org

Sign up for our FB page

GEAC - Mission Our Mission: To support the unique needs of highly capable students enrolled in the Lake Washington School District. We approach this mission through four avenues: Outreach: fostering communication and connection among families and staff within the highly capable learning community, as well as fostering communication and understanding between the highly capable learning community and others. Enrichment: supporting highly capable student learning in the classroom, making available funding for enhancements including, but not limited to, curriculum resources, excursions, and professional development for staff. Education: offering information about and/or access to relevant education and support opportunities for parents, students, and educators in the highly capable community. Advocacy: advocating for the needs of highly capable students before families, the LWSD School Board, and the LWSD administration, and supporting broader advocacy efforts on behalf of the highly capable community.

GEAC Enrichment - Grants Support student learning in the classroom through grants Including, but not limited to: curriculum resources excursions professional development for staff

GEAC Grants Start of year Grants: in August, each Quest and HC teacher receives unrestricted grant money Almost $8000 for ! Application Grants Over $4000 for !

GEAC Sampling of Application Grants for Math Conference registration and substitute time New York Times subscription 52 copies of novel Chains Costumes and props for classroom-written play Exhibit boards for National History Day Laptop adapters for data probes Listening Center and Read Along Books Student copies of Pocket Constitution Math instruction books for teachers Environmental Science teacher training Admission fees for Holocaust Center in Seattle

GEAC Grants “We purchased Vernier probe adapters through a GEAC grant this year. These adapters allow students to plug advanced probes directly into their computers and collect data in real time. Prior to this students had to manually collect data or use complicated, outdated, and cumbersome LabQuest devices. These adapters allow students to go deeper with their learning and have real, accurate data they can analyze critically and in real time.” Jason Steele Evergreen Middle School Science Department

GEAC To help support these efforts – Please Join/Donate Now!Join/Donate Paper forms available tonight Or online at lwsdgeac.org Donations are tax-deductible Company matching is approximately 40% of our total donations Please submit a request if your company matches

Opportunities to volunteer – Contact GEAC President for more Treasurer in training Outreach VP in training Grants VP in training and Grants committee Secretary or co-secretary Advocacy VP and Advocacy committee School representatives (more on that coming up!) Community Education VP and database technical support June 1 st general meeting 6:30 pm at district resource center Board elections School Representatives meeting Planning meeting for

Join the GEAC team by becoming your GEAC School Representative Objective: School representatives are the contact point within a school; they provide information about GEAC services and events to Highly Capable parents and gather feedback to share with the GEAC Board. School representatives are supported by the GEAC School Representative Coordinator, who manages questions and provides details of required communications. Contact:

Join the GEAC team by becoming your GEAC School Representative Responsibilities: Reach out to parents, promote awareness of GEAC (eg, represent GEAC at beginning-of-the year GEAC Meet & Greet park dates) Gather contact details from interested parents and/or encourage signup via website Distribute membership forms and encourage parents to join and donate Advertise upcoming GEAC events, encourage attendance Attend monthly GEAC meetings, take notes and materials and share with school parents Act as point of contact for GEAC questions/concerns/feedback

Join the GEAC team by becoming your GEAC School Representative Optional Responsibilities: Work with parents/teacher to determine and coordinate classroom grant applications Conduct surveys to gather parent input on GEAC topics Liaise with other GEAC school representatives Arrange school social meet up events Arrange for GEAC leadership to speak at school events

Join the GEAC team by becoming your GEAC School Representative Sign up sheets tonight Contact School Representative Coordinator Alice O’Brien at

GEAC - Thank you We look forward to seeing you again soon!