For those of you who are looking for a little extra for your students we would like to share The Super Saturday Program. They are not affiliated with Sycamore Community Schools but are a great resource and activity for all students, especially gifted ones. Many of our GEAR families have and continue to participate in this wonderful program. In fact, you might recognize the contact name as our own Maggie Gunnerson, co-President of this year’s GEAR Board!
The Super Saturday Program, TSSP, since 1981, has been a volunteer-run program with hired teachers offering enrichment classes to gifted students. There are opportunities for kids as young as 4 through 14 years to take a morning and/or afternoon classes. Classes include rocket building, games and chess, art, engineering, Harry Potter, and coding. See the latest class brochure on the webpage or the class listing attached for all the classes. There is also a teen leadership program for kids 13-17 years old. It is a great opportunity to do some learning beyond school, often hands-on, among gifted peers. There are 3 terms a year- fall, winter, and spring if this time doesn’t work for your kid(s). Scholarships are available for students on free or reduced school meal programs.
Fall registration is now open at www.supersaturday.org/registration. Sign up early to get the first pick of classes and avoid late fees! The last day to register for the fall term is October 1st. It is highly recommended that students pick their own classes to ensure a good fit.
The program is held at DePaul Cristo Rey High School at 1133 Clifton Hills Avenue, 45220. Classes are $80 for a 6-week, 2-hour/week class. Also, note that many classes have an additional fee to cover supplies paid to the teacher directly.
Parents are encouraged to stay on campus during class and listen to various speakers focused on gifted topics of interest. The parent speaker series is free and open even if you do not have a student enrolled. The community and resources I’ve received for the parent program have been invaluable.
Parents are encouraged to stay on campus during class and listen to various speakers focused on gifted topics of interest. The parent speaker series is free and open even if you do not have a student enrolled. The community and resources I’ve received for the parent program have been invaluable.
For those that are new to the program, you will need a professional recommendation for your student. For younger students, it is often just a teacher recommendation. For older students, it is typically a Math or Reading MAP score or a cognitive test, such as the CogAT, of 95% or above. Your child’s classroom teacher, advanced reading, or accelerated math teacher can fill out the recommendation. Please note- you can register for classes before getting the recommendation formalized. If you have any questions, please contact me at maggie.gunnerson@supersaturday.org.