The Country School hosts Minds in Motion, a student enrichment program featuring interactive, fast-paced, hands-on workshops for students in Kindergarten-8th Grade, on Saturday, Oct. 5, on the school’s 23-acre campus in Madison. The event will also feature a program for parents and teachers.
Minds in Motion, the Connecticut Association for the Gifted’s signature student enrichment program, provides children opportunities to explore areas of interest that are rarely part of the everyday classroom. While students participate in workshops, parents are invited to attend a thought-provoking keynote address and their own special-interest workshop.
Student workshops will range from ecology to global language, art and music to writing and book publishing. Workshop faculty include Country School teachers as well as educators from Talcott Mountain Science Center, Talcott Mountain Academy, the Connecticut Experiential Learning Center, the Summer Institute for the Gifted, Eastern Connecticut State University, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Aux 3 Pommes, Cool-Ology, Discovery Toys, Arts Center at Killingworth, School of Rock, Square Ruth Associates, and Oddfellows Playhouse.
To see the full list of offerings and faculty members and to register, visit the Connecticut Association for the Gifted’s website, www.ctgifted.org. The deadline for registering is Friday, Sept. 20. Spots will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
For the adult portion of the day, Dr. Laurie Bottiger, Head of School at The Country School, will deliver this year’s keynote address, Full STEAM Ahead: Why an Integrated Curriculum Makes So Much Sense for Children. Dr. Bottiger will share research in cognitive and social neuroscience showing that integrated science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (or STEAM) activities enhance creativity, problem solving, memory systems, and analytical skills, allowing young learners to find meaning in their school curriculum.
Workshops for parents and teachers include Mindset: The Key to Success for Your Child with Katie Augustyn, MA, CAG Board of Directors; Design Thinking with Amy Leidtke, an artist, industrial designer, and educator at the Rhode Island School of Design who will talk about the importance of design thinking and project-based learning; and a panel of parents of gifted children sharing tools and techniques to advocate for children.
The Minds in Motions event is sponsored by the Summer Institute for the Gifted (www.GiftedStudy.org) and by Cool-ology (www.cool-ology.com).
The Country School, founded in 1955, is a coeducational, independent day school serving students in PreSchool through Grade 8. At The Country School, a rigorous academic program is accompanied by a commitment to hands-on learning and discovery and a focus on the whole child. The Country School prepares students to meet the future with confidence, encouraging them to reach their highest, both in school and in life.
Learn more about The Country School at www.thecountryschool.org or contact [email protected]. The Country School is located at 231 Opening Hill Road in Madison.