June 2026 

Friends of PAGE – 

There’s a familiar rush that comes as the school year draws to a close. Teachers, like myself, are eyeing the calendar, trying to fit in year-end assessments amid all the activities and celebrations. Parents are juggling work, childcare, vacations, and camps. And our kids—perhaps the luckiest of all—are eagerly counting down the days! As you plan for the summer ahead, we invite you to explore this curated collection of activities, resources, and enrichment ideas thoughtfully compiled by our PAGE board members. From engaging books and hands-on learning tools to creative summer fun, these recommendations are designed to help inspire curiosity and keep gifted learners engaged all summer long.  Amid the whirlwind of activity, I want to pause and reflect on the year we’ve had at PAGE and look ahead to what’s coming next.

This past fall, Pennsylvania and PAGE had the honor of hosting the 2025 NAGC Annual Convention in Pittsburgh. With over 2,000 teachers, parents, and experts in the field of Gifted Education coming together, the Convention was an incredible opportunity for PAGE to expand our reach and deepen our knowledge base. I can’t think of a better way to build on that experience than by inviting everyone to our annual PAGE Conference this fall. We’ll return to Harrisburg, and while our event may be smaller, I assure you that the ideas, stories, and insights we share will be just as rich. I encourage you to visit our Conference Page and register!

Supporting parents, teachers, and gifted learners continues to be a core focus of PAGE. In Pennsylvania, Gifted Education remains an unfunded mandate. Research continues to affirm the value of specialized teaching and learning for gifted and highly capable students. Yet, nearly 10% of our state’s student population is at risk of not receiving the support they need. The good news is that more and more of our State Legislators are beginning to take notice. Please take a moment to reach out to your legislators and remind them that investing in gifted learners is an investment in Pennsylvania’s future leaders.

Finally, I’d like to ask those who haven’t yet joined PAGE to consider becoming members. Our $40 annual membership gives you access to monthly webinars, a helpdesk for personal support, and our growing library of online resources—not to mention discounts for our annual Conference in October! If you’re already a member, consider gifting a membership to your child’s teacher.

Wishing you all a relaxing and rejuvenating summer—I look forward to connecting with many of you this fall!

Warm regards,

Dave Mendell