REGISTRATION OPEN!

The day has finally arrived! Please review the information below prior to beginning your application (link at the bottom).

Thank you for your patience as we adjusted to a virtual format! PLEASE View the program descriptions for your child on our Pk-12 Student Programs page PRIOR to completing your application. There is nothing quite as sad as a gifted child in a class they aren’t interested in. We also encourage you to meet your teacher through our Staff Page.

Some changes to note:

Price Reductions: All program prices have been reduced to reflect our virtual status. Because we already keep our programs at a break-even range, this means that the traditionally residential programs have seen a much greater reduction than the Day Program. Our teachers are hand-selected to work with our young students, so they do still have to be paid. Your tuition is a reflection of our attempt to provide fair wages to our employees, carefully selected materials you will need, and economically priced shipping options for those materials.

Registration Forms: Due to the volume of other summer camps and programs that are transitioning to a virtual world AND the deadlines we have set here at the university, we are temporarily moving BACK to our MACHFORMS application system. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but want to encourage you that the application is actually shorter than in previous years. We have eliminated most of the health and medication items from the application for your convenience. All programs are utilizing ONE form this year as well. You will still need to complete a separate application for each child. We will move back to CampDoc as soon as possible for future programs.

PK and Kindergarden: Your class is self-paced. You will receive access to a Google Classroom with video lessons and instructions from your teacher; however, we are NOT expecting this age group to meet through Zoom for their lessons. Parents, your participation is very important to help guide little hands through the experiments and activities in a safe manner. Your supervision is required. There will be at least one (and maybe even two) Zoom event(s) that your child can participate in so that they can meet their classmates and enjoy time together.

All Programs and Courses: As part of your tuition, you will receive a package of materials that have been carefully selected to assist with the hands-on experiments or activities that your teacher has planned for you. You will receive a schedule of events on or about June 10 (or once your registration is complete) that will provide you with the times for your Zoom lessons, your access to your Google Classroom, and other social activities that will take place during the dates for your program. Zoom lessons will be staggered for the various age groups to allow siblings of different ages to participate.

Social Events: Part of what our students love about the Karnes Center is the ability to make new friends that think like they do. We will have a variety of social events schedule through Zoom for our participants in all programs – even the Day Program. Our Dorm Directors are busy planning for your engagement, excitement, and entertainment just like they always do.

The Application

Please click the link below to open YOUR APPLICATION!

2020 Virtual Summer Programs – ALL Sessions

We are so excited to see you online this summer!!!

Karnes Programs Move to Virtual Environment

Please view the following video by our director, Dr. Heather Houston, for the latest updates on the summer programs offered by the Karnes Center this Summer.

Dr. Houston shares information about the move to virtual programming.

Please allow a few days for updates reflecting these changes to be made to our registration site. Our registration site with CampDoc and the DocNetwork company may be found at: http://app.campdoc.com/register/fakcgs.

Program pricing has been adjusted to reflect the move to the virtual environment. Reductions are primarily derived from the cost of housing and food services for our traditionally residential programs. Therefore, some programs will not see as great a reduction as others. The price of all programs still includes the cost of all materials your child will need to successfully complete the program. This year that does include providing your child with a “program in a box” that will be shipped directly to your home. Please insure that when you register, you are providing the best address for that package to be safely received.

In addition to the non-refundable registration fee of $30.00, program costs will be as follows:

  • Day Program for Young Gifted Children: $175.00
  • Summer Gifted Studies Program: $400.00
  • Leadership Studies Program: $400.00
  • Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth: $1700.00

Scholarship applications will be available for the Summer Gifted, Leadership, and Academically Talented Youth Programs through the registration site this year. As always, scholarships are primarily need based and will be provided on a first come, first served basis. If funds remain after all need based applications have been filled, any remaining amounts may be awarded based on merit.

Eligibility requirements for programs will be adjusted to reflect the changes in intellectual and academic testing due to school and testing site closures as follows:

  1. Day Program Eligibility: Students may prove eligibility with a letter of recommendation from a pre-school, day-care, faith-based organization, or community organization teacher. (For example: a Sunday-school teacher or a guitar teacher.)
  2. Summer Gifted Studies Eligibility: Open to students who have just completed one or more of the following grades: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grades. Students may provide a letter of recommendation from a general education teacher, or the most recent report card indicating grades equal to or above an average of 90 or better in one or more of the following: English/Reading, Math, Science, or Social Studies/History. NWEA-MAP scores for Fall or Winter of the just completed school year are also acceptable and must be at or above the 90th percentile.
  3. Leadership Studies Program: Open to students who have completed one or more of the following grades: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th grades. Any student wishing to learn about leadership and apply their learning toward improving their community is eligible to attend.
  4. Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth: Open to Academically advanced students who have completed one or more of the following grades: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th grades. Eligibility for this program is based on academic prowess in a major subject area: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, etc. through consistently high achievement at or above the 90th percentile. Normally an ACT or SAT score would be required; however, report cards, teacher recommendations, and evidence of scholastic achievement may be presented in evidence of eligibility as well this year.

As usual, if a student has attended a program in the past, they are still eligible to attend that program again. If a child is transitioning to a new program, please let us know that they have attended other programs with us before so that we can review the records we already have to determine eligibility based on those records.

Please allow a few days for the registration site to reflect these changes. If you have any questions regarding eligibility, you may email the Center staff at giftedstudies@usm.edu.

Sunshine After the Storm

Almost a million people throughout the southeast are without power today after the massive storms that moved through last night. Homes are not just damaged, many are simply gone, as are trees, cars, and other property. Even worse is the death toll of at least 11 people. This comes at a time when we are all already on high aleart, quarantined and sheltering at home, concerned about getting too close to our neighbors and even family members lest we pass along a deadly virus.

Yet early this morning, churches, community agencies, and individuals from all around this area are loading up equipment and heading out to be the hands of hope to those in need. Mississippi is known as the Hospitality State for a reason. We may fall on the lower end of many state by state rankings, but one thing we have learned to do, is to love one another and to stand in the gap for those in need.

We know that many of our Karnes Center Families have been affected by these storms and we want to know that you are safe. When power returns and you are able to see this message, please let us know you are okay. We miss your children and their curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking abilities. Their stories are so valuable and we’d love to collect them all. We will let you know how you can participate in this collection soon.

Although our staff is currently working remotely, we care about each one of you and want to provide updates and answers to as many questions as we can. Within the next week, we hope to know more about the status of our summer programs and whether we will hold those as usual or if adjustments will have to be made to the schedule or delivery method. Keep an eye out for announcements regarding online opportunities from the Center in the next few days and weeks.

Please let us know how we can support you during these extraordinary days. As always, your families are in our prayers.

Faithfully,

Dr. Houston

Day of Sharing for Teachers Registration Now Open

April 17, 2020 at 9:00 AM Central Time through Zoom!

Please visit our REGISTRATION FORM to sign up for the first ever Virtual Day of Sharing! We are so excited to bring you timely information for Teaching Gifted Children in the current distance learning climate.

We know you will be empowered by our special guest speakers William Knudson (NAGC) and Tracy Inman (WKU) as well as our regular local names and faces. We will also have a moderated discussion during our lunch hour as well as our signature time for sharing your best ideas in the afternoon. If you have insightful and helpful tips for teachers in today’s world, please check that box on the registration form.

CEUs will be available for those attending a minimum of 5 hours (0.5 CEUs) for $25.00. If you select the CEU box in the registration form, we will contact you regarding how to fill out the required forms.

Registration is Required in order to join us through ZOOM on the day of this virtual event. We can’t wait to see you there!

Agenda and registration available HERE.

SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 17, 2020!

Our Day of Sharing for Teachers of the Gifted is changing formats this year. We will be hosting a Zoominar! More information regarding our agenda, CEUs, and registration will be forthcoming. If you teach gifted children in a resource classroom, a general education classroom, or if you are just curious about how we do this thing called gifted education, please stay tuned!! We can’t wait to see you (ONLINE) in April.