October 11 , 2011: College Essay Writing Workshop

NEW TIME: Monday, October 17 at 4:00
Where: Auburn High School Library
Click here to download a pdf flyer with details for this Workshop

Here are three useful references regarding College Essays
Resource Books
Writing the Essay
10 Steps for Writing a College Essay
Auburn Library Resources

August 6 , 2011: 2011-12 School Year Student Directory Registration Form

Registration is August 16 from 8 am til 3 pm and August 17 from 10 am til 6 pm. Click here to download a pdf version of the registration form.

May 5, 2011: Latest Board Contact Information
Printable verision: Here (pdf)

District F Harmon Mitchell President
2514 Mandrake Drive 61108
Term expires 2013
harmon.mitchell@comcast.net
815-399-0710
District G Laura Powers
5850 Colleen Ave. 61109
815-874-3446
laurapowersdistg@gmail.com
District C Kenneth Scrivano
1226 Harlem Blvd 61106
815-871-6683
kjscrivano@swedishamerican.org
District B Tim Rollins
PO Box 219 61105
Term expires 2013
tim@rollins4rockford.com
815-987-8910
District A Lisa Jackson
2007 Arthur Ave 61101
Term expires 2013
ljack69@live.com
815-375-0175
District D Jude Makulec
4913 Birch Ave 61114
Term expires 2013
judemakulec@gmail.com
815-633-6818
District E to be determined

Why Retain Dr. Gaffey as Principal

Click here to download a pdf listed reasons to maintain Dr. Gaffey.

2010-2011 Seniors to Apply for Ruth Harris Scholarship

It is time for seniors in the gifted program (Academy and/or CAPA program) who have been in the program for all four high school years to apply for a $500 scholarship award.
In addition to the recognition of such an award, PGE will award one or two $500 scholarships that can be used for college book expenses. A complete description of requirements for the scholarship can be found here: Scholarship Instructions (pdf).
The deadline is April 15, 2011.

The Ruth Harris Scholarship award is given by the Parents for Gifted Education in remembrance of Ruth Harris, -a dedicated administrator for the gifted program in the Rockford Public Schools for many years. She passed away while in the position of director of the gifted program.

In 1975, Ruth Harris began working for the Rockford Public Schools as the psychologist of its nascent gifted program. In the subsequent years, Ruth became the mainstay of the program, weathering many changes in district and school administrations, student populations, and definitions of "giftedness." She showed a special sincere interest in keeping the gifted program strong.

Those who knew her well often have remarked how much she cared for the students. In her conversations she showed a special interest in students who showed a passion and energy for learning.

This scholarship is targeted towards those students who best embody the creativity, drive, intellectual intensity, and leadership the gifted program seeks to nurture in gifted students; but not singularly for success in a career, but more importantly for the joy in the pursuit of knowledge itself.

March 5: Students for Gifted Education: To the School Board and Administration

As a student-group developed to advocate for the needs of students within the gifted program, Students for Gifted Education (SGE) feels compelled to represent for you the views of these students. What better method, we decided, than to transmit the very words of these mature, intelligent students?

Click here to read the full letter from Students for Gifted Education (pdf)

March 4: ILLUSORY SAVINGS BY CUTTING THE GIFTED PROGRAM

DOES CUTTING THE GIFTED PROGRAM REALLY RESULT IN SAVINGS TO THE DISTRICT?

People adjust behavior to stimuli affecting them. The district needs to take into account the rational actions parents will take if successful programs are cut. It is a fact that some parents will leave district schools if the gifted program is cut. The question is how many and what would be the effect to the proposed budget?

From our survey we project that the district will actually lose money by cutting the gifted program.

We project that by seeking a one time savings of $1,058,000, the district would lose anywhere between $1.4 and $2.8 million a year from lost students in the district. Thus, in the first year the district would actually lose between $330,000 to $1.7 million, then see recurring loses of betwen $1.4 to $2.8 million per year.

Click here for a pdf of the full press release

February 19: PGE Survey Results

Click here to see a summary of the results of a survey of PGE parents regarding recent proposals for the Gifted Program. (pdf file)

A Positive and Engaging Rally For Gifted and CAPA Education

When: Thursday, February 17th
Where: Auburn High School Auditorium
Time: 7 pm to 8 pm

Click here to download a pdf file describing the meeting details.

Move of Academy to East


Where are We?


The Education Committee met Wednesday and asked the administration to look at the option of remapping the high school district to add students at East and reduce the number of students at Auburn to allow the gifted program to stay at Auburn. We believe that this should only be a marginal change to make this happen. Auburn has some room at the main campus currently and, therefore, could absorb a significant number of the students at the freshman campus now. We hope that a preliminary look at this could be given to the board next week. A satisfactory report on the remapping option would eliminate the risk of damages that could follow from a move to East.

What are the risks in the Move? Moving the gifted program to East sounds easy to many, but to those who have an operational knowledge of the high school gifted program and its over 20 year established synergistic relationship with the other programs at Auburn, a move has lots of risks that could have bad consequences for all. In general the risks affect everyone in the district including the regular education , the Academy, and the CAPA programs at Auburn; the entire West side of Rockford, the progress of the program at East, and the enrollment in the entire district.
The Gifted Program at Auburn (Academy): The biggest threat for many knowledgeable supporters of the Academy is the risk that the current teachers could be replaced by tenured teachers with seniority who are not as qualified ,as passionate about the special educational teaching demands for gifted teaching that is required to be an effective teacher in the Academy.
The CAPA program at Auburn: Many of the students in the arts are in both CAPA and the Academy. Without the Academy there will not be enough students to have some of the classes.
The regular education program at Auburn: Currently regular education students are able to take some classes such as advanced and AP classes and elective classes in foreign languages, arts, publications anatomy, and Organic Chemistry. Without the Academy's students numbers most of these classes cannot be offered.
The West Side of Rockford: Imagine people discussing the notion that there are no more advanced courses in the entire west side of Rockford.
The Program at East: East High School is making much progress in lots of areas. Students are participating actively in a more established and accepted environment set up for them. The disruption of the gifted program in their midst, although theoretically a potential addition, at first may be resented by some in the first few years and not only by students but by counselors and teachers as well.
The Entire District: With so much disruption, the real risk of losing the best teachers, and the possible prospect of gaining an inexperienced and on unenthusiastic administration in gifted education, there is a reasonable risk that a significant number of parents will not enroll in the program and not enroll in the district schools.

Please let the School Board and Administration know that they need to find a better way which does not risk the gifted program

PGE Survey Results

Click here to view some of the comments from the Proposal on Grades 7-12 to Auburn Freshman Campus Survey
Subject: Gifted move analysis PGE

In order to help you discuss the gifted program more productively with the administration and with each other in your meetings, we have put some information together for you.
1. An analysis and action recommendations based on discussions and meetings we have had with parents, students, teachers, and Michele Beach, curriculum gifted administrator.
2. Summary of parents' written comments from our most recent forum at Washington which we did in co-operation with Michele Beach.
3. Statistics recently compiled with help from Auburn teachers on AP results at Auburn.
4. A well constructed argument in favor of the move put together by a parent after discussions with many parents of similar opinions.

You can download the complete information here (ANALYSIS FOR MOVING GIFTED PROGRAM GRADES 7-12 TO AUBURN FRESHMAN CAMPUS) and here (Auburn AP Scores for School Year Ending 2010).

We also still have a public forum scheduled at Auburn this Thursday night to get more public input.

Since you have many issues to discuss at your board meeting tomorrow night, we hope that you will take advantage of this concise compiled information. Many parents from Washington will not be able to be at the board meeting tomorrow because of the music concert and three basketball games at the school tomorrow night.

Thank you for your public service and for taking the pro-active stance to ensure that the gifted program fulfills its valuable mission to the community.

John Torrence
President
Parents for Gifted Education

Download the PGE Survey

You can download the Parents for Gifted Education Survey:
Proposal on Grades 7-12 to Auburn Freshman Campus here (pdf)

PGE To Sponsor Public Forums on Administration's
Proposal to Move Gifted Program to Freshman Campus

Public Forums:
Tuesday, November 30, 6:00pm til 8:00pm, Washington Academy Auditorium

Thursday, Dec. 9, 7:00pm- 8:30pm, Auburn Freshman Campus Auditorium


The superintendent, Lavonne Sheffield, has asked administrators to look into moving the gifted program grades 7 thru 12 to the Freshman Campus. Michele Beach, the administrator in charge of gifted curriculum, is looking for input from teachers, students, and parents as well as the general public.

The genesis of this idea evidently comes from the superintendent's interest in expanding the gifted program. Moving grades 6 thru 8 to Auburn Freshman Campus(AFC) opens up spots at Washington. Moving grades 10 through 12 to AFC also is intended to open up more spots at all higher grades as well.
In a meeting this week Michele Beach said this proposal is at its earliest stages with adequate analysis and input from all stakeholders required. With a large budget deficit facing the district, cost considerations are a large part of the analysis.

We have been told that all input is welcome; including the time frame, costs, curriculum, arts offerings, foreign lanquages,class size considerations, staff needs, facility concerns (such as number of adequate labs and rooms, room for expansion, library and supplies needs),extracurriculars, sports teams(seperate or as part of Auburn) , safety, discipline, grading scales, measuring performance, commitment to adequate course offerings, gifted program growth, college placement, counseling, teacher selection, relationship to the Auburn main campus, forecasted student numbers in the first few years, displacement of current programs at AFC, teacher schedules and courses to teach, and effect on recruitment to the gifted program.


Come to the PGE Meetings to learn what is happening and to offer and listen to other's input on this issue.

Directories Have Been Delivered and Handed Out to Students

If you filled out a directory form at registration for a free directory and do not get a directory in the next few days, please notify us at johntor@comcast.net .

If you want an extra directory or did not fill out a directory form, you can purchase one for $10.00. Just let us know of your interest.

Visit and Bookmark Auburn's New Web Site: Click here

U.S. News & World Report magazine names Auburn High School one of America’s best public high schools (2008)
PGE MEETING SCHEDULE
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June 13, 2006: Academy Word Paper Survey Results

Click here to view the results of a survey regarding the Word Paper assignment for Academy Junior English.

December 2, 2005: Auburn Student Survey Results

The results of the Auburn Academy Student Survey regarding school workload are in and tallied. Click here to see a spreadsheet summary of the results. Click here to see a complete summary of student comments.

Why Gifted?

Click here to read an updated version of a concise but thorough explanation of the benefits and advantages of choosing the Gifted Program for your child's education. (pdf format)

PGE Meeting Minutes for 2000-2002 are now available in the PGE Archives. Click the button or click here to go to the Archives Page.

Welcome to the web site for PGE. PGE is an organization dedicated to students in the Rockford, Illinois public school system who have opted to participate in the differentiated Centralized Academic, Creative and Performing Arts Gifted Program of Rockford Public Schools District 205.

PGE Purpose:

  • To support and promote gifted education in District 205; involving parents, faculty members and administrators.

    PGE Goals:
  • To advocate for continuation and expansion of the District 205 Academic and CAPA Gifted Program.
  • To provide speakers and develop programs pertinent to the education and parenting of gifted children.
  • To provide an opportunity for networking with parents who have children in the Program.

PGE has a printed newsletter covering the program as well as events and issues concerning gifted education outside of Rockford. Minutes from past meetings available.
Click here or on the button marked Newsletters to view the current and past newsletters as well as minutes from prior PGE meetings.

Join PGE: Click here to download the Registration form for PGE (pdf format - click here to learn about pdf files.) You can contact a PGE board member if you have any questions. Click here for contact information.

Click here or on the button marked State News to view information Terry James Mohaupt, Chairman, ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN Parent Affiliates; IAGC Liaison, and Past President, PARENTS FOR GIFTED EDUCATION.

Click here or the button marked Articles for articles and stories about Gifted Education.

Click here or the button marked FAQs for Frequently Asked Questions.

Click here or the button marked Contact / Links for Contact Information as well as a listing of useful links.

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