Service to Our Community
All-Volunteer Organization
All of us at EPCGT are parent volunteers and receive no pay for the time we give to this organization and, through its activities, to our community. Membership dues pay for printing and mailing our newsletter, printing other informational materials and providing this website. We do fundraising activities to help us to further support our community.
Mini-grants to Teachers
EPCGT has awarded numerous mini-grants to teachers at all sites to supply such items as enriched reading materials, challenge games, startup of the Science Olympiad program at CMS, resource materials for KEY units, a digital camera, a musical for 4th graders to perform, and AP review books for high school students. Mini-grants are awarded biannually. For more information, see Mini-grants.
Feed Your Brain
In 2003, EPCGT conceived, organized and co-sponsored this continuing project that offers healthy snacks to 3rd graders in the four Eden Prairie elementary schools on MCA testing days. For more information, see Feed Your Brain.
Young Scientist Roundtable
We support the multi-district Young Scientist Roundtable (YSR) program through annual payment of Eden Prairie’s participation fee and by providing board member volunteers at YSR Science Fests and board member participation on the YSR board. EPCGT arranged for tapes/DVDs of YSR events to be housed at Central Middle School and EPHS and hosted a YSR event at EPHS. For more information about this program, please choose the sidebar link under EVENTS.
Family Science Nights, Science Fest, Support of School Science Programs
Once a year we provide fun ways for families to learn together. We have hosted Physics Force presentations, Chemistry Night with entertaining instructors from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and an Eden Prairie Science Fest with many presenters from the greater Twin Cities, EPHS science instructors and students who have participated in science contests.
We have used proceeds from our numerous science events to make equipment purchases for CMS and EPHS science programs such as microscopes, a Molecular Orbital Set, an electric vacuum pressure pump and a Whimshurst machine. For more details, see Science Nights Funds Allocation.
SENG Class Support
We have worked together with Eden Prairie Family Education to provide resource materials and support personnel for SENG (Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted) classes for the community.
Support of EPHS Drama Department and EagleVision Studios
In gratitude for student and staff help from the Drama Department and EagleVision Studios with lighting, sound and taping of our family science nights, we have donated monies to help them fund their projects, including an auditorium lighting upgrade.
EPCGT Board Member Participation on School District Committees
EPCGT board members have participated on numerous school district committees, including various Curriculum Improvement Committees (CICs).
Presentation Materials for Education on Preschool Intellectual Complexities
EPCGT members did extensive research to develop a PowerPoint presentation on identification of intellectual complexities of preschoolers and ways to help meet the needs of those children. The presentation has been used for communication to Early Childhood staff, parents and MCGT conference attendees and is available at the request of any member of EPCGT or MCGT.
PROP Food Shelf
We have used our Family Science Night as an opportunity to publicize PROP needs and to collect donations of food. As an example, in 2006 we collected 122 lbs. of food.
Voter Information
In 2002 we co-hosted a preprimary candidate forum with the Coalition for Legislative Action. Nine of the eleven candidates seeking seats in the Minnesota House and Senate from District 42 participated in the live broadcast moderated by Minnesota Public Radio’s Lorna Benson.
We have in the past asked school board candidates to complete a short questionnaire on issues that we feel are important to gifted families. The results were sent to EPCGT members.
We periodically send quick e-mail notices to members about legislative issues in the field of education.