Gifted Education update
Perfectionism
Santa Sabina had the privilege of hosting a guest speaker, Eileen Seah, who presented the Perfectionism Paradox: working with Perfectionistic Students.
The Gifted and Talented Secondary Teachers Association (GATSTA), of which Santa Sabina is a member, holds professional learning for teachers every term. As host school for Term 3 we welcomed over 70 educators from across NSW who came to listen to Eileen’s clinical insights.
Eileen defines perfectionism as: ‘a striving for and setting of exceedingly high standards of performance, with overly critical evaluations of oneself; in which a perfectionists’ self-worth is often contingent on the pursuit and achievement of these unrelenting standards.’
She draws the distinction between striving for excellence, which is healthy and striving for perfection, which is impossible.
Perfectionism in students can manifest as anxiety, burnout and avoidance behaviours, and is something families and teachers should be on the look out for. It can include setting high standards, being hypercritical of oneself, and interestingly, being critical of others.
The antidote to perfectionism is self-compassion. We should aim to teach our students to be kind to themselves in the face of disappointments.
Some strategies to alleviate perfectionism in students might include
- Focusing on feedback rather than grade attainment when assessments are returned
- Helping students reframe narratives around their self worth with less emphasis on success and being perfect
- Encouraging down-time within a busy schedule of schooling, co-curricular activities and tutoring/homework/study.
Parents and teachers play an important role in identifying when a student may be struggling with perfectionism. If you have any concerns, reach out to our College counselling team. Early support can help develop healthier coping strategies and maintain a balanced approach to their academic and personal goals.
Socratic summit
In late August we were able to send 10 Year 10 students to Newingtown College to participate in the Socratic Summit. This had a very similar structure to the Meeting of the Minds excursion that was attended by Years 7 and 8 students earlier in the term. The girls engaged in some real-world philosophical thinking and were able to discuss important issues with students from diverse backgrounds.
Mr Matthew Mountford
Dean of Gifted Education