Head of Junior School
It is estimated that students who are gifted and highly talented encompass 5 to 15% of the school age population. These advanced students can have increased capabilities in academics, creativity, music, dance, art, and/or leadership. Here at Oxley, we use Gagne’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent as our foundation because it focuses on identifying outstanding potential rather than outstanding performance.
We recognise that giftedness is potential (natural aptitude or ability) that is significantly beyond what might be expected for one’s age, in any area of human ability including intellectual, creative, social and physical. We also recognise underachievers who have not yet been able to translate their potential into performance that is significantly above average. This all happens in a supportive and respectful environment to develop resilient learners who possess willpower, curiosity, love of learning and ambition.
Some of the ways we go about this are:
- To compact the curriculum and provide enrichment activities – implement a multi-level and multi-dimensional curriculum.
- To differentiate the curriculum in order to address differences in the rate, depth, and pace of learning.
- Take advantage of real-life experiences that can be translated into problem-solving academics for all students.
- Make the curriculum student-centred – allow students to pursue independent projects based on their own individual interests.
- Teach interactively. Have students work together, teach one another, and actively participate in their own and their classmates’ education.
- Encourage gifted students to participate in extracurricular activities that involve academic skills.
- Involve students in academic contests. Gifted students tend to be competitive by nature. Therefore, participating in regional and national competitions such as The da Vinci Decathlon, The Olympiad competition, Tournament of the Minds, ICAS competitions, science fairs, and essay competitions will be fun challenges.
- Allow gifted children to create and publish a Junior School newspaper to distribute.
- Set individual goals. Help guide students in creating their own goals and set goals that are specific, measurable, rigorous, realistic, and within a reasonable time frame.
Our aim is to establish and maintain warm, accepting classrooms where our College embraces diversity and honours differences. Within this environment, the child can demonstrate his or her potential or aptitude to learn and perform.
Ms Dani Noonan is our Junior School Gifted and Talented teacher who has completed the GERRIC training and is committed to fostering the wellbeing of gifted students by providing a supportive and challenging environment that encourages risk taking, strengths-based learning and opportunities for creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. We continue our established extension programs this year but also will be expanding our offerings to include some new initiatives.
Exciting times in 2024!
Warm regards
Miss Jane Campion
Head of Junior School