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Giftedness is an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability. Differentiated learning and experiences of a depth and breadth beyond the norm must be provided and usually go beyond regular school programming. The goal is to satisfy the level of educational potential indicated in identification. – Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Attempts to define giftedness have resulted in little consensus. Giftedness may be defined as interactions among high ability, task commitment, and creativity (Renzulli, 1986) or high general intelligence (Terman, 1925) or high aptitude in a specific academic area (Stanley, 1976).
It is difficult to define giftedness because there is argument about what intelligence, in general, is. Different experts offer a variety of psychological, developmental, and thinking-process approaches, which conflict.
Some of the definitions accommodate children with learning problems. Some experts say it is not necessary to be gifted in all ability areas. Others find it difficult to accept students with learning difficulties as highly able.
Most governments and school boards generally accept a multi-faceted view of giftedness. One definition (Marland) is: gifted and talented children are those who demonstrate high achievement or potential in any one of six areas: general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creative or productive thinking, leadership ability, visual and performing arts, and psychomotor ability. A revised version asserts that "outstanding talents are present in children and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor" (U.S. Department of Education, 1993, p. 26). Although culturally disadvantaged gifted children are recognized, gifted students with learning disabilities were not. There is no exclusion in those definitions because there is no mention that students with learning disabilities or those who may perform at a lower level or are not exceptional at everything are not gifted. Many people have a problem with accepting low performance by gifted students.
If you are gifted, enjoy it, be very thankful for your great gift from God and use your skills and talents to make the world a better place. Is it not better if the smartest people run the world – gifted or not? Value intelligence and make it grow.

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How to Shop Online Safely
(excerpts from an article in the North York Mirror by Kevin Wasslen)

1. Protect transactions by using only a secure net browser with 1280-bit encryption. Your credit card number will be scrambled and only you and the merchant can view the transaction.
2. Visa cards are accepted by many merchants and offer you zero liability against unauthorized use of the card. You pay nothing if problems arise.
3. Never send payment information through email. Email is not encrypted.
4. Read the fine print. Check return, refund, credit policy, cost of delivery, contact information if problems arise.
5. Create a paper trail. Print off records of purchases in case of return or exchange. Note email addresses and Internet addresses. Save an emailed purchase confirmation.
6. Shop with known merchants who are reputable.
7. Report unusual activity on your credit card to your bank immediately. Visa, again, has a zero liability policy.

(comment: another consideration. Get a new, totally separate card away from other credit cards, low limit credit card that is used ONLY for internet purchases. It will limit damages and personal upset if your card is misused or stolen.) Happy and safe shopping.

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Canadian Blood Services – Summer Volunteers

Du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival

Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival (Michigan- authentic old German town)

Havelock Country Jamboree (one of the top 5 festivals in Canada)

McMaster University – Mini-Shad Enrichment Program

Memorial Tug-of-War Championships (highland games)

National Aboriginal Day

Royal Canadian Mint (Coin Design Contest)

Summer in the Square Concerts (all over Toronto)

Toronto Street Festival (shows, performers, fireworks, parades, etc.)

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Alexis C., Gr. 11, LAT Gifted Program, is getting ready to go to France for a credit course.

Silvia I., Gr. 11, LAT Gifted Program, has been elected as a Grad Rep for 2002-03. Congratulations.

Joyce L., Gr. 9, LAT Gifted Program, got an honourable mention in the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Saskatoon. The airline lost the demonstration part of her project but she still did this well! What a fighter. Congratulations.

The following students participated in the production of "Oklahoma" at St. Michael College School in May: Sarah L., Maureen K., Celina J. Congratulations on a superb presentation.

The following students participated in the TDCAA Track & Field Championships in May: Julie A., Sarah A., Sabina C., Sonya C., Ceilidh K., Eugenia P.

The following students attended the Ontario Model Parliament: Janice C., Christine D’A., Olivia M.

Katie K., Gr. 9, LAT, is a member of a Ukrainian folk dance tour group. On June 9^th, they will be putting on a two-hour performance at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre. Tickets are about $25. Show starts at 7pm. Try to attend.

Emily Z., Gr. 11, LAT, was promoted to Sergeant in Air Cadets. She also finished her Bronze medal level Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Congratulations. She has started working on the Silver level.

Emma W., Gr. 10, LAT, just got back from the fantastic 3-day, free, HOBY Leadership Training Workshop as the LAT representative.

Allison M., Gr. 11, LAT, will be going to Italy this summer for a Classical Civilizations credit course. She attended University Open House at Guelph, Waterloo, and Wilfred Laurier. She is continuing her work on the Silver Level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and should finish in the Fall in this 18-month endeavour. Good luck. Stick to it. Congratulations on your tenacity.

The following students attended a Canadian Club luncheon with important leaders as guest speakers: Anne C., Carolyn R.

Cristina C., OAC, LAT, wrote the Descarte Math Contest for the first time. She has never entered a math contest before but wanted the experience. She has also been involved in the physics and building of kites. Contact her if interested in knowing more. Just to give you an idea of what someone in the LAT Gifted Program is capable of doing. Cristina also does the following: volunteers at the Toronto Public Library, tutors two immigrant children in English on Saturdays, works at the Out of the Cold Program for homeless people, lector and youth minister at her church on Sundays, active member of the school debating team, member of the Science Club, LAT Voice (announcements), writes articles for the Catholic Register and the LAT school newspaper, attends free lectures regularly at U. of Toronto. She is graduating this year and has been perhaps the most active member of the gifted program over five years. Congratulations. We will miss you.

Alexis S., Gr. 11, LAT Gifted Program, will be studying for a university-level English credit course in Ireland this summer.

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What Motivates Hockey Players During Playoffs?
(article by Garth Woolsey, Toronto Star)

Playoffs are a grueling time for hockey teams. Players are tired, bruised and beaten from a long regular season but they seem to come newly alive and fight on. For what? Most players play as hard as they do in playoffs because of the Stanley Cup!

Winning the Cup is often considered the toughest quest in team sports. Players generally make more in the regular season than in playoffs so money is not usually worth the grind.

Most people do not understand the motivation experienced by players that want to win the Stanley Cup. Money is a small part of the whole thing:

• Cup winners will receive about $85,000US for about 60 days of effort. That averages out to about $1,400/day per player.
• The regular season is 194 days and top players ($9 million) earn about $46,000/day. Bonuses can add on up to $25,000/game. (Sean Burke got this for each playoff win).
• Most players have playoff bonuses for winning the Conn Smythe MVP Trophy. Prizes can be from $50,000-$500,000.

It is about as close as a player gets to the old amateur status. That’s why they go all out. They are playing for the glory and the Stanley Cup.

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(regular article by Sandra Tipei, Gr. 9, LAT Gifted Program)

Summer is quickly approaching and this is the most exciting time for an auto enthusiast.

Here's a list of some of the upcoming automotive events this summer.

Molson Indy 500
Toronto- July 5,6,7
Vancouver- July 26,27,28
Montréal-August 23,24,25

Formula 1 Racing
Montréal-June 7,8,9

Drag Racing
Spring Nationals-May 26, St. Thomas Dragway, St. Thomas, ON
1320 Shakedown-June 22, St. Thomas Dragway, St. Thomas, ON
Summer National- July 28, Sanair Dragway, Montreal, Quebec
Sport Compact Shootout-August 11, Grand Bend Motorplex , Grand Bend, ON
Fall Nationals- September 29 St. Thomas Dragway, St. Thomas, ON

Sport Compact Nights- June 1, Montréal , Quebec
Octane Overdose- June 8, International Center, Toronto, ON
High Society '02-June 15, Toronto Congress Center, Toronto, ON
Darknights Nat’ls 4th Annual-July 13,14 Markham Fairgrounds, Markham, ON
Full Throttle-July 21, Montréal, Quebec
Innovative Race Series Dragnights-August 3, Toronto Motorsports Park
5th Annual North of the Border Bash and Truck Nationals-Aug. 9-11, Bingemans Park, Kitchener, ON
GT Live -August 16, Mosport Racetrack, Toronto, ON
Import Revolution-August 17, Toronto Convention Center, Toronto, ON
nnovative Race Series: The Big One-Sept. 7, Toronto Motorsports Park Autoxtacy-September 7, Civic Terrace, Windsor, ON
The First Episode-Aug. 31-Sept. 1, Toronto Congress Center, Toronto, ON

We often have the best intentions about improving life. We get things to change and then fall back into old habits and ways. Here a few tips on how to keep up the motivation, for a little longer at least:

Buddy Up. Pick a pal with similar interests and keep each other going. You might be able to do it on your own but being committed to somebody else will help you go on with the challenge.

List the Positives in Black and White. Write down the benefits of what you are about to do. What is the payoff when you accomplish your goal? Think about how your life will be different or better. Write it down, post it in a prominent place and refer to it in needy times.

Focus on Pleasing Yourself. Don’t do stuff to impress others. YOU want to enjoy the benefits of what you are doing. Keep remembering that in tough moments. When you stop having fun, motivation vanishes too.

Harness the Powers of Positive Thinking. Bad thoughts are easy to come up with. Dwell on your failings and pretty soon you will give up. Instead, think about the successes and achievements, no matter how small. Learn from the mistakes instead of beating yourself up over them.

Keep a Record of the Slipups. Notice what causes you to mess up or lose – your thoughts especially. Learn from the mistakes and control things better next time.

Challenge: What keeps you motivated? Send us your ideas.

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(special submission from Laura Edmison, Gr. 11, LAT. Thanks.)

On May 5th 2002, 53 students from Loretto Abbey departed from Toronto on a bus to attend a five-day Mini-Enrichment Program held at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. This is an annual event that gives students from across the province an opportunity to get a taste of university life.
Each day consisted of classes from 9 am - 3 pm. Lectures were conducted on subjects we had pre-selected when we registered. Time before and after classes was spent in interesting activities ranging from yoga, sports, movies, improv, a Haunted Walk, visiting attractions around Kingston, and more.
I fondly remember the Tuesday night when many of us gathered in the local movie theatre to watch the newly released Spiderman. Our last evening in Kingston was spent at a lakefront entertainment centre where we enjoyed a terrific Much Music Video Dance. Other highlights included the surprisingly good university food, the clean residences, and attending classes with members of the opposite sex!
The week seemed to pass by very quickly and we soon found ourselves boarding the buses that took us back to Toronto. Although we knew that we would soon have to catch up on all our missed homework, we sought comfort in the fact that we would have many great stories to share when we got home.
On behalf of all the student participants from Loretto Abbey, I wish to extend our thanks to the many individuals who made this week such a tremendous success. Firstly, Mr. Schmidt who so diligently coordinated this event and made sure that everything ran smoothly at school. In addition, thank you to the OAC supervisors Lisa, Caroline, and Francine who showed an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm and made it a positive experience for everyone involved. Most importantly, thank you to Queen’s University, including the professors, student volunteers, kitchen staff, and organizers, for offering the E=MC2 Mini-Enrichment Course.
Personally I found this to be a wonderful enrichment and pre-university experience and if given the opportunity, would gladly attend again next year. Try it, you’ll like it too.

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(from an article in Eye Magazine)

There is a simple thing that provides these great things for every body:

• lowers blood pressure and stress hormones (calming effect) –
• increases our pain threshold

• boosts our immune system
• in one minute can give a workout to our lungs, abs and heart equal to 15 minutes of cycling
• gives constant massage to the digestive tract
• improves blood supply & circulation
• releases endorphins which are your feel-good chemicals

• it is used in the grieving process in aboriginal mortuary ceremonies
• native people consider it a catalyst for creating dialogue between natives and non-natives
• there are international clubs formed that people can join
• in some native cultures it boosts cultural self-esteem
• artists use it to stimulate creativity
• it is considered surgery without an operation

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(adapted from an article by Vera Held, M.Ed. a coach, speaker, facilitator, writer and the author of the Canadian business best-seller "How Not to Take It Personally."
Remember the truism: all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy?
Work can be fun. It's supposed to be an inspired, passionate representative of who you are and what you have to offer skill-wise, talent-wise and personality-wise.

Here are ten tips to make your job more pleasant, more joyful, more fulfilling and ultimately, more fun.

1. Stick to your agenda
Don't get caught up in anyone else's agenda. Doing so will only drain your energy and, therefore, your fun potential.

2. Enjoy all the little moments
Share breakfast with a colleague. Laugh over a slight error you made. Recognize the lighter moments of your day and enjoy them.

3. Be spontaneous
There's a time to stick to your "to do" list and a time to break away. Find ten minutes to sit-in on an exciting project that others are doing. Take five minutes to read an interesting article in a magazine. These diversions provide a welcome break from your routine.

4. Stay curious
No matter what the situation or project, always ask yourself: "Is there something new here for me to learn?"

5. Get physical
Move around. Stretch. Build in a short walk at lunch. This will help you to stay energized throughout the day.

6. Drink
Keeping a bottle of water at your desk will keep you hydrated and thinking clearly. Aim for eight glasses a day.

7. Think outside the box
Always ask yourself: can I do this a different way? Will it spawn different results if I do?

8. Maintain your interest
Don't allow yourself to feel stuck for too long or it will wear you down. If your job no longer interests you, consider a different task for a while. Everyone needs a paycheque but there are many ways to get one.

9. Be creative
Try a new idea. Do something you've never done before. Work with a new colleague. Explore. Challenge and test yourself.

10. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Take work seriously but always in conjunction with life as a whole. When something goes wrong, ask yourself: "Is this is a matter of life or death?" If the answer is "No" (and it is 99 per cent of the time) don't panic.

1721 South Sea Company Scam – promises of instant wealth due to the company’s charter to bring riches back from far-off lands caused many people to get in on the frenzy of investing in the company. The bubble burst.

A lot of young people and adults volunteer their time and services. This is highly commendable but can cause problems. Read on.

There are four kinds of caregivers: caregivers, former caregivers, future caregivers and those who will need a caregiver. Who cares about them?

Caregivers easily burn out if they:

• act as if they were superhuman beings
• lose control over their personal time and life
• don’t talk to others about what they do
• don’t learn to delegate
• don’t engage in other activities
• are tyrannized by the person they help

• 54 million (1 out of every 4) North Americans volunteered last year
• almost 4 of 10 looked after somebody around the clock
• 3 out of 10 have been caring for a friend or family member for more than a decade
• 24%-60% of caregivers show signs of non-clinical depression. The ones most depressed are adult children tending to parents.

• if friends or family offer to help, give them specific things to do e.g. watch over a loved one for an hour once a week, file papers, do a house repair.
• encourage the patient to be as independent as possible. Make the person feel self-accomplished.
• look at old photos, invite in friends, watch comedies, and laugh.
• Encourage the person being cared for to join a support group instead of talking to only you.
• Join a caregivers support group to share feelings.

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• US bombs range in price from $200,000 for an airburst bomb (explodes 5m above ground and sprays shrapnel) to $2.5 million EACH for cruise missiles.
• the language of war is designed to reduce emotions felt by citizens of countries involved. American language in use: sortie: planes go out on a bombing mission, collateral damage: people killed, friendly fire: killed by someone on your own side.
• Causes of death (USA 1998): adverse effects of medications – 106,000, medication errors in hospitals – 7,000, homeopathy/dietary supplement poisoning – 10.
• Amount spent (2001) by pharmaceutical companies on extravagant parties, gifts and trips to "educate" doctors: $6 billion US.
• From 1999-2000, percentage increase in number of prescriptions dispensed for the 50 most advertised drugs: 24.6%.
• Amount spend by pharmaceutical companies on mass media ads for top 50 drugs in 2000 - $2.5 billion, in 1996 - $791 million. Increase in retail purchases by consumers (1999-2000) for 9,900 prescription drugs on the market – from $111.1 billion to $132 billion – increase of 18.8%.
• Canada’s top three medications: (age 12+, 1998-99): pain relievers – 65%, cold remedies – 20%, stomach remedies/blood pressure medication – 10%, allergy medications, penicillin, antibiotics asthma medications were next most commonly used.
• Amount of grain required to produce one pound of beef: 8.
• Amount of water required for one pound of beef: 2500 gallons. Water required for one pound of lettuce or tomatoes: 23 gallons.
• China is expecting to land a man on the moon and start colonies by 2010.

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(article in the Toronto Star)

A University of Toronto study (1998-2000) of how safe teenagers are was just published recently and produced the following results:

• only 32.4% of victims of sexual assault reported the incident to parents, school officials or police.
• 41% reported assaults with a weapon
• 44.2% reported being assaulted
• 48% reported they had been robbed
• 71.6% had experienced property crimes
• 10% of girls had been sexually assaulted in the past year
• 2.8% of boys had been sexually assaulted in the past year
• 22.5% of girls had unwanted touches
• 5.5% of boys had unwanted touches
• 37.3% had experienced minor theft
• 15.5% had experienced major theft
• 39.3% had experienced verbal threats
• 39% had been physically assaulted
• 80% of boys and 55% of girls admitted to being physically assaulted at some point in their lives

• tough love and/or zero-tolerance do not work because it takes the fight out of schools and into the streets where there is no supervision or option of help
• teenagers have a great attachment to independence and think they can take care of things themselves. It is important that they get more help from adults when necessary
• property seems to be more important than people

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(from an article in the Toronto Star)

On April 18^, 2002, Thor Heyerdahl died. His name might not be a household word today but in the 1940’s he caught the imagination of the world.
Heyerdahl crossed a stretch of the Pacific Ocean in a balsa-log raft called the Kon-Tiki, seeking to prove that prehistoric South American people could have settled Polynesian islands. He and his crew went over 7000km in 101 days on a 4-sq. metre raft.
Heyerdahl was an ardent exponent of "difusionist" theory of cultural anthropology, which suggested that various civilizations around the world came from one or a few cultures and each society is influenced by others. This idea has died out in popularity.

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"Once the mind has been stretched by a new idea, it will never again return to its original size." ...Oliver Wendell Holmes

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On a special Teacher's Day, a kindergarten teacher was receiving gifts from her pupils. The florist's son handed her a gift. She shook it, held it over her head, and said, "I bet I know what it is.... some flowers."
"That's right!" said the boy. "But how did you know?"
"Just a wild guess," she said.
The next pupil was the candy store owner's daughter. The teacher held her gift overhead, shook it, and said, "I bet I can guess what it is...a box of candy."
"That's right! But how did you know?" asked the girl.
"Just a lucky guess," said the teacher.
The next gift was from the liquor store owner's son. The teacher held it over her head but it was leaking. She touched a drop of the leakage with her finger and tasted it.
"Is it wine?" she asked.
"No," the boy replied. The teacher repeated the process, touching another drop of the leakage to her tongue.
"Is it champagne?" she asked.
"No," the boy replied.
The teacher then said, "I give up, what is it?"
The boy replied, "A puppy!"
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Three mischievous boys went to the zoo one day for an outing, since they had the day off from school. They decided to visit the elephant cage, but soon enough, they were picked up by a cop for causing a disturbance. The officer hauled them off to security for questioning. The supervisor in charge asked them to give their names and tell what they were doing at the elephant cage.
The first boy innocently said, "My name is Gary, and I was just throwing peanuts into the elephant cage."
The second added, "My name is Larry, and all I was doing was throwing peanuts into the elephant cage.
The third boy was a little shaken up and said, "Well, my name is Peter, but my friends call me Peanuts."
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See you next month. Enjoy.

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