Hamilton Girls’ High School believes that every child is a unique individual who deserves to receive the best possible educational opportunities in order to meet their potential. Gifted and Talented students (GAT) have special needs and characteristics which may require differentiated learning programmes and support both within and beyond that normally provided in the regular classroom. Hamilton Girls’ High School is committed to identifying Gifted and Talented students and to providing appropriately for their individual needs.
Intellectual/Academic
Students with exceptional abilities in one or more learning areas
Creative:
Students with outstanding creative abilities such as evidenced in their abilities to think, create and problem-solve innovatively.
Visual and Performing Arts:
Students with exceptional abilities in areas such as Music, Dance, Drama, and Visual Arts.
Leadership:
Students with outstanding interpersonal and intrapersonal qualities which enable them to act in leadership roles, problem-find and problem-solve.
Culture:
Students who demonstrate exceptional abilities within a cultural or ethnic group, such as traditional arts and crafts, language, performance or tikanga.
Physical Education/ Sport:
Students with exceptional physical abilities and/or skill, in sport or Physical Education.
Identification of Gifted and Talented students is a vital first step to providing meaningful support. Parents are invited to complete THIS FORM to tell us more about your child. Identification can also come through feeder school information, HGHS teacher recommendations and outstanding involvement in the student’s area of talent, whether that be academic, sporting, cultural etc
Please contact the GATE Coordinator, Lee Hill, to make a connection or for further information. [email protected]
Students on our GATE register will be tracked and monitored throughout their time at HGHS. Students will be asked to complete an initial student profile form and then annually to complete a check-in form. The GATE Coordinator and other relevant staff will actively seek to connect with and support students on our register. Counselling is available to all students at HGHS. GAT students should be encouraged to access this support if needed. Management of stress, and anxiety are not uncommon issues for some GAT students. Career counselling is available to all students at HGHS. GAT students are encouraged to make good use of this service.
HGHS recognises the power of positive relationships in making a difference to students. Mentoring is available to GATE students who would like to receive it. This could be from a senior student to a junior student, or from a staff member.
Every year, we also look for outside of the classroom opportunities to offer students that would enrich their learning. For example, lecture days at the university, competitions, leadership days.
For further information on our academic extension programme please click HERE.
Our focus in GATE is to nurture learners with special abilities by supporting them in their individual endeavours. Sometimes this may mean individualised learning programmes to accommodate the time taken in a cultural or sporting area of talent.
Or for an academically talented student, it may mean doing different courses outside of the regular year levels such as studying a university paper.
Extra-curricular learning opportunities are available across the different GATE areas. For example, the Philosophy Club and the Philosothon are wonderful opportunities for academically gifted students to engage in respectful philosophical discussions that are intellectually enriching and fun. There are many other clubs and sporting groups to be involved in. Use the following links to see more information and clubs and sports at HGHS.
Clubs and special interests, Visual and Performing Arts, Sport
At HGHS we seek to support our talented sportswomen by offering mentoring and tracking with a sport’s staff member. Students who are representing their region above their age grade or in an open grade, or are representing at a national level are considered GATE.
Please do let HGHS know if your child is involved in sport at these levels.
Competitions:
https://gifted.tki.org.nz/further-support/competitions/
Awards:
https://gifted.tki.org.nz/further-support/awards/
Events and opportunities:
https://gifted.tki.org.nz/further-support/events-and-opportunities/