P.A.L. Workshop Series for Parents of Accelerated Learners
NOVEMBER 15, 2011 at 6:30 pm-8 pm

What's The Right For My Child? Options in the Gifted Arena-
A moderated panel of elementary school parents offer their perspectives on
districtwide, citywide, public and private options and the approaches to G&T
Education in NYC. Join us for an honest and rare look into the various gifted
and talented programs available to children throughout New York City.

New York Family Editor Eric Messinger will moderate a panel of parents from
Hunter College Elementary, citywide, districtwide, public and independent
schools that support advanced learners. Parents will share their experiences and
discuss the pros and cons of each approach, and when extra support may be
needed.

Topics will include:
• What's all the hoopla about Hunter?
• How is a citywide school program different than a districtwide?
• Do all private schools accommodate advanced learners and what are the right
questions to ask?
• Is a `really good' NYC public school the right fit for your G&T child?
• What options are there for twice exceptional, or gifted children with learning
differences like ADHD or Aspergers, etc?
• What are the pros and cons of a self-contained program? And other than Hunter
and citywide, what are the other options?

Panelists:
Jennifer Selendy is a litigation partner at the firm of Kirland & Ellis LLP,
where she tries commercial cases for clients such as IBM, Samsung, Verizon and
Discover. She has a long history of educational philanthropy and pro bono work
with New Leaders for New Schools, College Summit, Hunter College Elementary
School and, most recently, The Speyer Legacy School. She also chairs the board
of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, a national legal services
organization focused on the civil and economic rights of those living in
poverty, and co-chairs the board of The Speyer Legacy School. Her children have
attended Hunter College Elementary and Speyer Legacy School.

Pamela French, director and producer of "Getting In… Kindergarten," a
documentary that followed three families for over a year struggling through the
subculture of the NYC kindergarten admissions process, is a native New Yorker
and mother of two Anderson School/PS334 students. Presently, Pamela is in the
production stages of "Green Is The Word"; a comprehensive, educational film to
inform and inspire New York City school communities about how to make their
schools more environmentally sustainable.

Theseus Roche is the Director of After-School Programs for Manhattan Youth,
which serves children from several downtown schools. A longtime downtown
resident, he recently moved his child from a local public school to a
districtwide G&T program. He has been working with children in the neighborhood
for more than ten years.

Christa Acampora is associate professor of philosophy at Hunter College and The
Graduate Center. She is the parent of a highly gifted child who also has
learning differences. Her child has attended both public and private schools in
New York City and abroad, and is currently enrolled at The Lang School. She
chairs the Lang board of directors, and volunteers as an advocate for families
navigating public school systems.


The P.A.L. Workshops Series is a collaboration of Jade's ToyBox, NYC Private
Schools Blog, NYC Gifted & Talented Blog, TestingMom.com and the Downtown
Community Center in partnership with Hunter College Center for Gifted Studies
and Education, Advocacy for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE), Twice
Exceptional Children's Advocacy (TECA), Rutgers Gifted Education Certificate
Program and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).

For more information contact Angelique LeDoux at 212.343.8881, or email
palworkshops@...

Register for the series at http://palworkshops.eventbrite.com

Join the conversation with our new P.A.L. Listserv-
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palworkshops

Share resources and get G&T news, tips and event information
at:
http://palworkshops.wordpress.com

Date: November 15, 2011 at 6:30-8:00 pm



Location: 
The Downtown Community Center
120 Warren Street, in
TriBeCa; 1 block south of Chambers
Between Greenwich Street and West
Street
New York, NY 10013