March 4, 2016

The "G" Word

I heard it again just this week. "I don't believe in gifted education. I believe all children are gifted."

Of course, all children have gifts. All children are capable of learning new things at school and showing growth in a variety of ways each day. But this statement makes me bristle because I also know that not all children have the same gifts. To treat them if as if they do, denies them the chance to be the unique individuals they are.

Many of us who specialize in gifted education are uncomfortable being saddled with the term "gifted" for the children we are passionate about serving. There is often an assumption that the label "gifted" is an honor or achievement, and programs for gifted kids can be accused of being elitist for that reason. But, for better or worse, it is the term applied to the students that we serve, first by the field of psychology and then by education. It's important that we understand what it means when we use it – also what it does NOT mean.

This is how the Federal Government defines gifted students.

"The term 'gifted and talented' … means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities."

Summer@Seabury '16!

We have an awesome six-week line-up of STEAM camps this summer starting June 20, plus Tacoma's first ever Maker Fair on June 25 (Stay tuned for lots more news about that).

Camps are open to kids throughout the community entering kindergarten through sixth grade.

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Library talk

Our child is gifted;
That's a good thing, right?
In this presentation at Wheelock Library on Wednesday, March 9, Head of School Sandi Wollum, will explore what the term "gifted" does and doesn't mean. She'll describe the kind of education that helps a gifted child thrive and discuss how parents can advocate for these special and sometimes challenging children with people who might not always understand their needs. 

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Save the date!

Seabury: Where the Force Awakens

Auction 2016: April 30

Join us for an evening of Star Wars inspired fun! This is a not-to-be-missed party and an opportunity to see old friends and support Seabury. Donations are coming in now and evites should be in your inbox in the next couple of weeks. 

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Go Team Seabury!

We are so proud of our lower school Destination Imagination team, the United Seaburians, which won the Fine Arts "Get A Clue" category at regionals in Rochester. They advance to the State DI Competition on April 2 in East Wenatchee. Their skit was a murder mystery set in the 1920s, with three suspect characters identified and three alternate endings prepared. 

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Overheard at Seabury

At the bottom of our weekly email to parents, we share funny, surprising and amazing things we hear Seabury students say during the course of a regular week. We thought you might enjoy a few gathered here. (Let us know if you think this has the makings of a book.) There are lots more where these came from, and more created each week. 

From a kindergartner:

"I know all about Africa. That's because I'm going to be a geographer. And a doctor. But first a geographer. I need to climb to the top of every mountain so I can see what's up there."

A kindergartner carrying a frisbee full of wood chips on the playground:

 "I'm making some remote controls that can save the world. You can have this one, it's not very dangerous."


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In This Issue

Upcoming Events

April 20th
2024 Auction: Party Like It's 1989!

May 30th
8th Grade Capstone Night

June 7th
8th Grade Graduation

Seabury School

www.seabury.org

 

Elementary Campus

1801 53rd Street NE
Tacoma, WA 98422
(253) 952-3111

Middle School Campus

925 Court C
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 604-0042

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