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2008
 |
November 13, 2008 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. Hinsdale Public
Library Auditorium,
How to Fuel A passion for Science
Please join GECO for a roundtable discussion to share ideas on how to support
and encourage children who are intrigued by and passionate about science in
general. For
more information
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| Tuesday, November 4th, 2008:
Visit to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the
Chicago Board of Trade, Join us for a visit to the
Federal Reserve Bank
of Chicago and CME Group/Chicago Board of Trade.
Grades 5 to 8 (with adult chaperone) are welcome. Fee required, includes
lunch. Due to space limitations, registration is open only to members until Oct.
11. Click here
for additional details. |
|
October 23, 2008 7 - 8:30 p.m. Hinsdale Middle School
Commons
Perfectionism: Why Being Good
Can Be Bad Featuring
Kathy Ross, a presenter at national and state gifted conventions and a
regular speaker at the Center for Talent Development’s Parent Seminar
Program.
For
more information
|
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October 16, 2008 Hinsdale Public Library Auditorium,
Gifted 101:What We
Wish We Had Known About Raising a Gifted Child.
For more information
|
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September 22, 2008 Hinsdale Public Library,
Build Bridges with Friends: The challenge:
build the strongest bridge from ordinary household items.
For Information: Build Bridges
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September 29, 2008 Hinsdale Public Library,
Meet the new Administrators: Join us as Dr. Janet Stutz, Assistant
Superintendent for Learning and Dr. Bonnie Strykowski, Chief Accountability
Officer describe their roles in District 181.
For more Information: Meet the
Administrators |
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July 10, 6:45 pm,
Mayslake Peabody Estate,
First Folio Shakespeare Theater,
Thursday, July 10, Mayslake Peabody Estate. GECO's annual
summer event brings families together to enjoy the acclaimed First Folio's
open air production of Much Ado About Nothing. For more
information, Shakespeare
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June 5, 1-3, Hinsdale Public Library,
Mastermind Mania:
Join us for an afternoon of fun and games. Learn Mastermind and other
games at our 5th (!!!) annual game party. For information,
Mastermind Mania. |
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March 13, 9-11 am, Hinsdale United Methodist Church,
A discussion with Dr.
James Tenbusch: Our Superintendent will
join us to discuss his views on gifted education and current initiatives in the
district. For more details click,
GECO Coffee
Event
April 9, 7:00 pm, GECO Book
Club: The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette.
Described as a good 'spring break read.'
April
17, Gifted Advocacy Day in Springfield, :
An advocacy field trip to
Springfield and a great educational opportunity for
your children. Last year over 500 people converged on
Springfield from around the state to highlight the needs of gifted students
and succeeded in getting gifted funding reinstated into the state budget.
Help keep the pressure on while having an educational day with your child,
seeing government in action. For more information see
Day in Springfield.
April 24, 7:00 PM, HMS,
"Enhancing Your Child's Emotional IQ":
Presented by Dr. Melba Nicholson, a licensed clinical
psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. some
argue that emotional intelligence (including self-awareness, empathy, and
social competence in interpersonal relationships) are a better indicator of
future success than IQ. Come learn more! For more information, click,
Speaker Event.
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February 20, 7:00 pm, GECO
Book Club: Emotional
Intelligence by Daniel Golman. |
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February 7, 7-8:30 pm, HMS, GECO Summer Activities Fair:
Meet
representatives from many of the local organizations that provide summer
programming for children. Over 30 camps will send representatives
and/or send brochures. Get a head start on your summer planning or
come to get new ideas. For a list of participants, click
Summer Activities Fair List |
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January 24 at 7 pm,
CHMS,
What’s Down the Road?
Since it is a different school district, high school may seem mysterious and
foreign. Reduce the mystery of the educational opportunities ahead by
attending this forum for parents of elementary and middle school students
about Hinsdale Central High School, about daily life and programs, and about
what happens for gifted and talented students there. The HCHS principal,
Kevin Pobst, and a panel of HCHS teachers and experienced parents will give
an overview of being gifted/talented at HCHS and answer questions! |
2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007: 7:30 p.m. at a member's
home
GECO Bookclub
- Join us to discuss
The Myth of Laziness
by Dr. Mel Levine.
E-mail
Lynne Bloomfield to
RSVP:
GECObookclub@ArvaMont.com.
She will tell you where the meeting will be held.
Read the book (or at least skim it!). Come to
the meeting with one or two discussion points, questions or issues that are
relevant to the topic for you and your child/children. Haven't
read the book, but always wish you had? Join us anyway! 
Friday, January 26, 2007: 9 - 11 a.m. at the Community House
GECO Coffee
- Join us to discuss a child's need to struggle. Why is it vital
for gifted children to have special programming? If they are so bright,
why do more for them? Research indicates that one of the most important
things children learn is school is how to learn, which is impossible to do when
you already know the answer before the teacher asks the question. Join us
as we explore this question. Meet other parents who are just embarking on
their child's educational journey and others who have older children.
Want to read more about this concept before the
meeting? Check out:
-
Struggle, Challenge and
Meaning: The Education of a Gifted Child
by Valerie Bock
-
Gifted 102: The Next
Steps...
by
Carolyn K of
HoagiesGifted.com
Grab a mug of your favorite morning brew and join us
for a round table discussion.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007: 7 p.m. at Clarendon Hills Middle School
SELAS Author
Presentation - Come hear Dan Kindlon discuss his book and our December book
club choice,
Too Much of a Good Thing, Raising Children of
Character in an Indulgent Age.
Thursday, February 1, 2007: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO
Planning Meeting - Join other GECO members as we plan for upcoming events.
All GECO members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please email
GECO@Arvamont.com for an agenda and the
location of the meeting.
Sunday, February 4, 2007: 12 noon - 4 p.m. at Chicago Marriott
Hotel, Michigan Ave.
IAGC Parent Seminar - Come
and share a stimulating afternoon with parents from all over Illinois as we listen to our featured speaker,
Dr. Susan Jackson. Dr.
Jackson is a counseling psychologist, District Gifted Coordinator, teacher,
researcher, parent, and founder of the Daimon Institute for Highly Gifted, which
is located in British Columbia, Canada. The title of her presentation is "Down the Rabbit Hole - Growth and Development of the Gifted Child: a Parent's
Primer." You'll learn important strategies which will help you support the
social and emotional development of your child.
A second
feature of the afternoon will include the latest update on advocacy for
gifted education and what is going on in the Illinois legislature. Finally,
choose to participate in one of several breakout sessions led by experienced
facilitators. These sessions will focus on issues related to social-emotional
needs as a follow up with the presenter; school; home and family; underserved
populations, including twice exceptionalities; and Chicago Public Schools. By
the end of our time together, you will go home knowing what you can do to help
your child, and you'll know that you are not alone!
The IAGC
Exhibit Hall will be open for previews between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Exhibitors include schools for gifted children, summer programs, publishers,
game and toy makers and more! Plan to stop in to browse or shop!
Register
before November 30th for the best rate!
Click
here to register or for more information.
Sunday, February 4, 2007: 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Chicago Marriott
Hotel, Michigan Ave.
IAGC Parent
Evening - Understanding and Sustaining the Uncommon Development of the
Gifted Child
by Dr. Susan Jackson, Daimon Institute for the Highly Gifted — More than
an “able learner,” the gifted child is a rich amalgam of mind, body, spirit, and
soul in dynamic evolution. What does “normal” (yet often uncommon) development
look like in this population? What is the optimal role of parents and educators
in
responding to and guiding the gifted child? What are some of the key indicators
that a gifted child is at risk? This presentation provides insights as parents
and educators navigate the matchless, often impenetrable “code” at the core of
each gifted child in the always surprising and most often rewarding task of
parenting and educating gifted children.
Register
before November 30th for the best rate! The early rate for this
presentation is as low as $15 per couple!
Click
here to register or for more information.
The IAGC
Exhibit Hall will be open for previews between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Exhibitors include schools for gifted children, summer programs, publishers,
game and toy makers and more! Plan to stop in to browse or shop!
Monday and/or Tuesday, February 5 &6, 2007: 8:30 a.m. - 3:45
p.m. at Chicago Marriott Hotel, Michigan Ave.
IAGC Convention
- Over 175 sessions per day with more than 75 presenters on topics ranging from
parenting gifted children, the social/emotional needs or gifted children,
differentiation of instruction, specific curricula appropriate for gifted
children, twice exceptional children and more!
Register
before November 30th for the best rate!
Click
here to register or for more information.
Thursday, February 8, 2007: 7 p.m. -
8:30
p.m. in the Hinsdale Middle School Commons
GECO
Summer Activities Fair - Looking for new or different things for your
children to do this summer? Come learn about many summer programs and meet
the people behind many of programs.
Click here
for last year's
Summer Camp Catalog.
This program is an Open House - come any time between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Please direct questions to
Tom
Isaac.
Sunday, February 11, 2007: 1 - 5 p.m. Fermilab,
Batavia
Fermilab Family Open House -
Organized by the Fermilab Education Office, the event offers free
family-style hands-on activities and exhibits, make-and-take projects,
science shows and tours. The highlights of this year's program will
include the demonstration of historic experiments originally conducted
during the 18th century by Benjamin Franklin and other scientists; the
popular Ask-a-Scientist session on the 15th floor of Wilson Hall; and tours
of the linear accelerator. Plans for tours to additional sites are now being
finalized. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend.
Registration is required!
Thursday, February 22, 2007: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO
Planning Meeting - Join other GECO members as we plan for upcoming events.
All GECO members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please email
GECO@Arvamont.com for an agenda and the
location of the meeting.
Saturday, February 24, 2007: 11 - 3:30 p.m. Illinois Institute of
Technology, Rice Campus in Wheaton
Engineering the Future: Celebrating Sustainable Engineering - IIT has a day
of hands-on activities and presentation planned, designed to introduce children
to the disciplines of engineering. You'll find a building full of
opportunities to build, touch and create science and technology knowledge.
Make plans now to attend this fun, free event! For more information see
the
Engineering the
Future Flyer, the web site:
www.rice.iit.edu/engineersweek
or contact Barbara Kozi - 630-682-6040.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007: 7:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO Bookclub
- Join us to discuss
Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind by Deborah Ruf. Copies ordered at Books-a-million in Grant
Square. E-mail
Lynne Bloomfield to
RSVP:
GECObookclub@ArvaMont.com.
She will tell you where the meeting will be held.
Read the book (or at least skim
it!). Come to the meeting with one or two
discussion points, questions or issues that are relevant to the topic for
you and your child/children. Haven't
read the book, but always wish you had? Join us anyway!
Friday, March 9, 2007: 9 - 11 a.m. in the Community House Auditorium
GECO Speaker:
Cathy Risberg
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Celebrate the Differences: Creating Understanding, Support and Advocacy for Your
Twice-Exceptional (2e) Child.
Cathy Risberg, M.A., is an educational consultant. As the owner of Minds That
Soar, LLC, she specializes in providing academic advocacy services for gifted
and twice-exceptional children and their families. Cathy has 15 years of
teaching experience in public and private schools, the last ten as a classroom
teacher in a school for gifted and talented. She is an adjunct faculty member
for the Technology in Education program at National-Louis University in
Wheeling, Illinois, and presents regularly to various educational and
professional groups. Cathy can be contacted at
c.risberg@comcast.net.
What
is a twice exceptional child? How can parents create a collaborative
relationship with each other and the schools to help meet the needs of their
bright, talented and gifted children with learning differences? Why are there so many gifted children who
are also learning challenged? Why do the intellectual needs of so many
special education students get ignored in the classroom? What can you do to help your child?
Join us as we explore twice exceptionality.
Want to read more about this concept before the
meeting? Check out:
-
The
Twice-Exceptional Dilemma by the National
Education Association.
-
Gifted But Learning Disabled: A Puzzling Paradox by Susan Baum.
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Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Children by Meredith Warshaw.
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What Does It Mean to
Be Twice-Exceptional (2e)? by Cathy Risberg.
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2 e - twice-exceptional
newsletter by Glen Ellyn Media.
Grab a mug of your favorite morning brew and join us at
the Community House. This presentation is free and open to the public, so
bring a friend! Contact
Linda Rio Reichmann for more information.
Friday, March 16, 2007: 4 - 6 p.m. at The Lane School
GECO Kids
- Join other GECO kids and their families for our annual Mastermind Mania
Party!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007: 7 p.m. River Forest
Public Library
I N S I G H T
(INforming,
Supporting & Inspiring Gifted, Highly Talented & Twice Exceptional Children)
presents Randee Blair and colleagues from the Northwestern
University Center for Talent Development SUMMER PROGRAMS, SATURDAY
PROGRAMS and TALENT SEARCH for GRADES K-12. Learn about
·
Summer and
Saturday Enrichment Classes and Programs
·
Distance
Learning through LearningLinks,
·
Midwest
Academic Talent Search
Questions? Contact Maury at (708)
771-2189 or Cheryl at (708) 366-1686 or by email to
INSIGHT.RiverForest@gmail.com
Thursday, March 22, 2007: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO
Planning Meeting - Join other GECO members as we plan for upcoming events.
All GECO members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please email
GECO@Arvamont.com for an agenda and the
location of the meeting.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007: 7:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO Bookclub
- Hold this date for the April GECO Book Club! The book for April has not
yet been selected. Have a recommendation? Email Lynne at
GECObookclub@ArvaMont.com
and let her know what you would like to read!
Friday, April 13, 2007: 9 - 11 a.m. location to be determined
GECO Roundtable
- Join us to discuss Charting Your Child's Course. Discuss what we
did and what you can do to mold your child's educational experience.
Discuss what you can expect next year with parents who have children who are a
little older than yours. What can you do to ensure that your children
flourish? Grab a mug of your favorite morning brew and join us for a round
table discussion.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007: Springfield Illinois
IAGC Please Don't Leave Our Children Behind Day - Join other gifted
children and their parents on a visit to Springfield, our state
capital. The objectives of
this visit are twofold. First, we want an opportunity for our children
to experience democracy in action, see how laws are made, meet their local
representatives and visit the new Lincoln Library and other historic sites.
Second, we want state lawmakers to see that many of their constituents are
interested in educating gifted
children.
More details will be posted once they are available. Email
Springfield@Arvamont.com to be
added to the mailing list for more information on this trip. To
organize a group to participate, please see the
Springfield Organizers Packet.
Wednesday, April 22, 2007:
Fermilab, Batavia
Wonders Of Science - Fermilab sponsors a science
show for area elementary students and their parents during National Science
and Technology Week. Students in grades three through six and their parents
come to a Sunday program where high school science teachers entertain the
guests with the wonders of science. Students receive a demonstration kit
based on the show's activities which they can share with their classmates.
Students attend on a first-come first-served basis.
Register here.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007: 7:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO Bookclub
- Join us to discuss
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko.
E-mail
Lynne Bloomfield to
RSVP:
GECObookclub@ArvaMont.com.
She will tell you where the meeting will be held.
Read the book (or at least skim
it!). Come to the meeting with one or two
discussion points, questions or issues that are relevant to the topic for
you and your child/children. Haven't
read the book, but always wish you had? Join us anyway!
Wednesday, May 9, 2007: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO
Planning Meeting - Join other GECO members as we plan for upcoming events.
All GECO members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please email
GECO@Arvamont.com for an agenda and the
location of the meeting.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at HMS
Gifted Program Review Presentation to the Board: Dr. Shillingburg will
be presenting a review of the new tiered gifted program's first year.
Parents are encouraged to come.
Retirement Reception for District 181 - District Superintendent Dr. Mary
Curley, and teachers Mary Sparks, a gifted specialist, and Jan Soenen will be
honored. For more information phone (630) 887-1070 x 226.
Invitation.
Thursday, May 31, 2007: 12:20 - 2:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO
Planning Meeting - Join other GECO members as we plan for upcoming events.
All GECO members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please email
GECO@Arvamont.com for an agenda and the
location of the meeting.
Friday, June 1, 2007: 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Community House
GECO Coffee
- Come hear Dr. Shillingburg give us a review of how the gifted program has
gone this year. Bring your favorite morning beverage and join us.
Monday, June 4, 2007: 4 - 6 a.m. location being finalized
GECO Kids
- Join other GECO kids as they set up to conquer a team engineering challenge.
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We would like to thank Dr. Schillingburg,
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, for his presentation on the first
year of the new gifted programs at our year-end coffee on June 1st.
The meeting was very well attended, but for those who could not make it, Dr.
Schillingburg has allowed us to post his presentation slides.
Slide Presentation
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Tuesday, June 12, at 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Oak
School, there will be a meeting for parents regarding assessment.
Ms. Lori Gehrke, Director of Assessment and Program Improvement, will be
there to explain the districts assessments tools and to answer questions.
For more information on the district MAP scores, Ms. Gehrke has allowed us
to post her May 14 presentation to the board,
District MAP
Update , as well as a chart with the average RIT scores for each grade,
Average RIT Scores.
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Thursday, August 2, 6:45 p.m., Richard III
at First Folio Shakespeare Festival, a special evening has been
planned for GECO, beginning with a picnic on the lawn before the open-air
performance and ending with a backstage tour after the show. See
Events for more information. |
Tuesday, May 29, 2007: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at HMS
Gifted Program Review Presentation to the Board: Dr. Shillingburg will
be presenting a review of the new tiered gifted program's first year.
Parents are encouraged to come.
Retirement Reception for District 181 - District Superintendent Dr. Mary
Curley, and teachers Mary Sparks, a gifted specialist, and Jan Soenen will be
honored. For more information phone (630) 887-1070 x 226.
Invitation.
Thursday, May 31, 2007: 12:20 - 2:30 p.m. at a member's home
GECO
Planning Meeting - Join other GECO members as we plan for upcoming events.
All GECO members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please email
GECO@Arvamont.com for an agenda and the
location of the meeting.
Friday, June 1, 2007: 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Community House
GECO Coffee
- Come hear Dr. Shillingburg give us a review of how the gifted program has
gone this year. Bring your favorite morning beverage and join us.
Monday, June 4, 2007: 4 - 6 a.m. location being finalized
GECO Kids
- Join other GECO kids as they set up to conquer a team engineering challenge.
Information of interest: Prior to her parent meeting last June,
Ms. Lori Gehrke, Director of Assessment and Program Improvement, allowed us
to post her May 14 presentation to the board,
District MAP
Update, as well as a chart with the average RIT scores for each grade,
Average RIT Scores.
This information may be helpful to parents with questions regarding
assessment and MAP scores.
Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10, 2007: Printers Row Book
Fair, Kids Alley
Printers Row Book Fair, Kids Alley -
Perhaps your children would
enjoy the 23rd annual Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair on June 9 and
10, 2007. The Midwest's largest free outdoor literary event features 150
new, used and antiquarian booksellers and more than 100 captivating programs
including author readings, panel discussions, cooking demonstrations and
children's activities. For one weekend, the historic Printers Row
neighborhood is transformed into a festival for booklovers of all ages and
interests. Come celebrate the world of reading with the Chicago Tribune and
the Chicago Public Library.
Kids
Alley
Thursday, August 2, 2007: 6:45 p.m.,
Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook
Richard III, by First Folio Shakespeare
Festival - Join GECO families, including
current and former GRC/ACE students and their teachers to see Shakespeare's
Richard III at First Folio's open-air theater. Bring a picnic
dinner for your family and a dessert to share at 6:45.
Performance begins at about 8:15. There will be a backstage tour
after the show, and special group discount price for tickets. For more
information:
Summer Shakespeare
Evening
Tuesday, September 25, 2007: 7:15
p.m. - Hinsdale Middle School Commons
GECO
Discussion –
Should You Challenge Your Child More? Do you want to better understand how enrichment and
acceleration really help your child? Would you like more information about
testing available for gifted and talented students?
Discuss these issues
and learn about the opportunity to take the SAT or Explore tests in grades 3 to
8. A
representative from Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development will talk
about the Midwest Academic Talent Search,
a program that offers above-grade-level testing to
bright students and follow-up information (based on their score) about future
school years, the best classes to take, and how best to advocate for them. Email
geco@arvamont.com for more information.
Wednesday, October 10, 7:00 PM, at Scapa Italian
Restaurant: Kick-off social event for the Book Club.
Lively conversation guaranteed. Feel free to bring book suggestions
for later in the year. See
Book Club for
more information.
Thursday, October 11, 2007: 7:00
p.m. - Hinsdale Middle School Commons
GECO
Speaker
- Teaching Self-Discipline to the Gifted Child,
by Andy Mahoney.
Mr. Mahoney is nationally recognized counselor of
gifted children and their families and a
frequent speaker at conferences, symposiums, consultations and training
workshops for fellow counselors, educators and parents. This year, he is
leading a training session for District 181 social workers to discuss the social
and emotional needs of gifted children. Please
submit questions on issues related to discipline and motivation that you hope
will be covered in advance to
geco@arvamont.com or call Susan Portland at
630-920-1027 for more information..
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Wednesday, November 7, 7:30 PM, at a member's home: How
to Handle a Hard-To-Handle Kid (C. Drew Edwards).
This book is a parent’s
guide to understanding and changing problem behaviors.
See
Book Club for
more information. |
|
Friday, November 9, 2007: 9
a.m. Hinsdale Community House:
GECO Coffee – What is the gifted program
in District 181? - Are you still confused by the tiers, and
wondering what opportunities are available as your child advances through
the grades? Join us for a discussion of experiences as you learn from those
who have children in grades ahead of yours. Questions? Contact
geco@arvamont.com. |
|
Saturday,
November 10, 2007: 1:00 p.m. – Argonne National Lab:
Kids’ Field Trip. This event is filled to capacity. We
are taking names on a waiting list. See GECO Kids
for more information. |
Wednesday, December 5, 2007: 7:30
p.m. at a member's home
GECO Book Club
-
Freeing our Families From Perfectionism
(Thomas
Greenspon) Contact
Sara Tieke at
tieke.b@sbcglobal.net for details.
In this groundbreaking book, Tom Greenspon explains
perfectionism, where it comes from (including influences outside the family),
and what to do about it.
Friday, December 7, 2007: 9:30 a.m. -
Clarendon Hills Public Library
GECO Coffee – Gifts for the
Thinking Child. -
Join us with a cup of your favorite
brew to discuss gift ideas for the holidays. We’ll discuss classics, new finds,
and award-winners. Bring your favorite game, toy, or book to share or just come
to hear others’ thoughts on creative and innovative gifts for your child, just
in time for your holiday shopping. Everyone welcome! Questions? See
Upcoming Coffee or contact
geco@arvamont.com.
Link to the 2007 NAGC Toy list,
http://www.nagc.org/uploadedFiles/PHP/Toylist%202007.pdf
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