Minds In Motion Returns For Second Annual Event

The second annual Minds In Motion academic enrichment event will be held at Reed Intermediate School March 13, from 1 to 4 pm. 

Jointly hosted by the Connecticut Association for the Gifted and parents and educators from the Monroe, Newtown, Shelton, and Trumbull school districts, Minds In Motion offers three hours of enrichment classes for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program rotates among the four towns on a yearly basis.

“This is a great opportunity for kids to explore learning in areas they wouldn’t necessarily get to learn about in school,” said Monroe resident Brooke Burling, Connecticut Association for the Gifted executive director. “Kindergarteners can learn about being a veterinarian or eighth graders can get an introduction to chemistry and physics. These are the kinds of experiences that stimulate kids to want to delve deeper into specific areas of learning.”

While students are in classes, parents and teachers will have the opportunity to attend a free keynote address and workshops. Participating teachers will be eligible to receive free Continuing Education Units for the workshops they attend. 

“We brought Minds In Motion to the area last year as a way for the community to give back to our local schools,” said Ms Burling. “With education budgets under such stress, this was an opportunity to provide professional development for local teachers at no cost to the school districts.” 

Teachers who attend this year’s Minds In Motion will be able to enter a drawing to win free enrollments to this summer’s Confratute, a weeklong institute on enrichment teaching and learning at the University of Connecticut.

Registration for the Newtown Minds In Motion is open to all students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Information on the program can be found on the Connecticut Association for the Gifted website, www.ctgifted.org, through any of the area school districts, or by emailing MIMnewtown@ctgifted.org.