The Gifted Education Centre

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AWARENESS WEEK

Awareness Week is being held from Monday 15th-Sunday 21st June 2009.

(You can see the 2008 Awareness Week page here.)

See the diary of Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy regarding Gifted & Talented children here.
See the Labour Party blog regarding Gifted Education funding here.
See Trevor Mallard's question to Heather Roy in Parliament here.
Article in the East Bays Courier about ODS student Amber is here.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Nationwide:	Scrabbleathon
Auckland:	Auckland Open Day Jeremy Corbett plays Scrabble at Owairaka Information at Auckland Malls MAD session, Owairaka MAD session, North Shore
Waikato:	'Bring a Friend' Day MAD session, Waikato
Hawkes' Bay:	MAD session, Hastings Library Displays at Havelock North & Hastings Public Libraries Fundraising Sausage Sizzle at Mitre 10 Mega, Hastings Creative Writing Workshops "Bring your Teacher to School"
Wellington:	Tairangi School MAD session Peter Dunne visit to Wilton
Nelson Area:	Richmond Mall Stall info ODS class vs Appleby School in various word and speed games/competitions. Fundraising BBQ at Nelson's The Warehouse MAD session, Nelson
Christchurch:	Philosophy for Children Open Day at Kendal School Gifted Girl? From Fairy wings to Lip gloss. A talk by Rose Blackett

The purpose is three-fold:

Primarily to raise awareness about the Gifted Education Centre and the needs of the gifted school population in general;
To raise some much-needed funds for the Gifted Education Centre
To have some fun, and celebrate the birthday of our inspiration, Professor George Parkyn who was born on June 17th 1910.

There will be lots of events going on, and lots of VIP visitors to One Day Schools, so bookmark this page and come back often.

Auckland:

Auckland Open Day

Saturday 20th June, Owairaka School, Richardson Road, Mt Albert.

Bring a friend, bring a teacher, bring a parent, bring anyone who has an interest in the education of gifted children. There will be a series of talks, displays and other happenings:

For teachers: learn how the Gifted Education centre can provide you with professional development
For parents: Find out what giftedness is, and hear what the Centre does
For children: Interactive sessions to keep your child stimulated, amused and safe while you are attending a session for adults. Each session for the children will facilitated by a qualified teacher of gifted (and all!) children.

Plus there will be displays, information, and the ubiquitous Scrabble challenges.

	Area 1 - Teachers	Area 2 - Parents	Area 3 - Children *
1.00 - 1.55	"Reading assessment reports" - a very brief guide, what to look out for, further support options within the Auckland area. Q + A time available. Presented by Chris Herbert.	Our guest speaker this afternoon is Gay Gallagher who will share her expertise on gifted children, with particular attention to supporting children through "Transitions: - starting school, class-class, primary - intermediate, starting high school etc." Q + A time available.	An interactive session to keep your child stimulated, amused and safe while you are attending a session for adults.
2.00 - 2.55	"Wellbeing for Teachers" An interactive session with Howard Small, designed to help teachers with strategies to care for themselves as well as their charges! A variety of topics may be discussed, dependant on the needs expressed by the group, including: Anger & Bullying Behaviours; Parenting and Wellness	Gay Gallagher will offer a workshop and discussion on "Counseling for Gifted Children". This will cover aspects of self-esteem, bullying, motivation to learn, perfectionism and socialization. Q + A time available.	An interactive session to keep your child stimulated, amused and safe while you are attending a session for adults.
3.00 - 3.55	"Philosophy for Children" As mentioned on TVNZ's Breakfast (9 June) Marilyn Stafford is a 'great philosopher' with skills to help teachers facilitate philosophy in their own classes. A discussion on benefits and a glimpse at specific strategies.	"What questions can I ask as a parent to help my child through school?" Discussion forum - "Working WITH your school". Presented by Sandi Purdie (Lead Teacher One Day School/Veronica van der Straaten (DP Mt Roskill Primary)	An interactive session to keep your child stimulated, amused and safe while you are attending a session for adults.

* Each session for the children will facilitated by a qualified teacher of gifted (and all!) children.

Jeremy Corbett plays Scrabble

The non-vertically challenged half of More FM's Kim and Corbett played Scrabble against two former One Day School pupils - Ben Kornfeld and Sam Casey- and one current pupil.

To sponsor Jeremy in his Scrabble game please click here.

Information at Auckland Malls

Information on Giftedness and the Gifted Education Centre will be available during Awareness Week.

Come and see us at Westfields St Lukes from Wednesday 17th-Sunday 21st or at Westfields Albany from Monday 14th-Sunday 21st by K-Mart.

Owairaka School MAD session - Saturday 20th June

ODS classroom, Owairaka School, 113 Richardson Road, Mt Albert.

9.30am – 12.00	– a hands-on glimpse at the One Day School™ programme for students aged 9 – 12.
1.00 – 3.30pm	– it’s the chance for the younger ones to see what One Day School is like! 6 – 8 year olds can book for this session with Sara.

Bookings are essential for these sessions. Please phone Head Office (09) 845 4176, or email head.office@giftededucation.org.nz. There is a $30 charge per student to cover costs. Parents and teachers are most welcome to come along, and there will be staff on hand to answer your questions while the classes are in session.

North Shore – MAD sessions – Saturday 20th June

Room 19, Glenfield Primary School, 101 Chivalry Road, Glenfield.

9.30am – 12.00	– Juniors – aged 6 – 9. Debbie and Jill will be working with the young ones and showcasing a One Day School session.
1.00 – 3.30pm	– Seniors – aged 9 – 12. It’s your turn to see what One Day School is about.

Again, bookings are essential, and parents and teachers are very welcome. Please phone Head Office (09) 845 4176, or email head.office@giftededucation.org.nz. There is a $30 charge per student to cover costs.

Christchurch :

Philosophy for Children: Kendal School Library, 7.30pm Tuesday 2 June. Anne Devlin, Specialist Teacher of Gifted and Talented students is speaking to parents on the benefits of teaching children about philosophy to give them lifelong thinking and communication skills. Tickets $10. Places are limited and bookings are essential!

Christchurch Open Day Monday 15 June One Day School™, New Zealand’s longest running programme for gifted learners (aged 6-11) has classes in both Christchurch and Rangiora. Small Poppies for gifted preschoolers (3-6 years) is now open in Christchurch. Teachers for both will be at Kendal School in Burnside from 3-4.30pm to speak to interested families.

Gifted Girl? From Fairy wings to Lip gloss. Wednesday 17 June. Gifted girls are identified only half as often as gifted boys. Why? Does it matter? Rose Blackett, Educational psychologist and president of the NZAGC will speak at the College of Education at 7.30pm. Tickets $10. Bookings are essential!

For more information on any aspect of our services, or to book tickets, ring Andrea on 021646963 or email andrea.wong@giftededucation.org.nz.

Hawkes' Bay :

MAD sessions at St Joseph’s Primary School, Hastings, Monday 15 June. These hands-on ‘tastes’ of the One Day School™ programme are 2½ hours long, and places MUST be booked. Mind Adventure Days are an excellent way for parents, teachers and students to see what happens in a One Day School class. Book by contacting Jo at either jo.laurie@giftededucation.org.nz or phoning (06) 877 1512.

Library Displays with ideas for busy young minds – 8th -20th June - Havelock North Public Library, Hastings Public Library (all week)

Fundraising sausage sizzle to be held at Mitre10 Mega in Hastings Saturday 27 May - a great winter’s day treat! And have a chat to a parent of a Gifted Child to see what it is all about.

COMING UP:- Creative Writing Workshops will be held later in the year. Please get in touch with Jo to have your contact details recorded, and she’ll get back to you with more information once everything is finalized.

COMING UP:- “Bring Your Teacher to School” – a regional initiative to help regular class teachers understand more about what’s happening for their students involved with the One Day school programme. More information will come home next term.

Nelson area :

Richmond Mall Stall info Monday 15 June, 2009 - all day. Come along and find out what the Gifted Education Centre and One Day SChool is all about. Includes a sign-up station for the MAD session on June 24th (see below).
ODS vs Appleby School! The clash of the Titans, as the ODS classes take on Appleby School in various word and speed games and competitions. Tuesday 16th June (am) for the senior class, and the morning of Thursday 18 June for the junior class.
Fundraising BBQ at Nelson's The Warehouse. Sunday 21 June - all day -Information and brochures will be available at the table.
MAD (Mind Adventure Day) facilitated by Sandi Purdie, Lead teacher for One Day School™ who will be visiting Nelson at that time. Wednesday 24 June – details of times and booking arrangements can be sought from Leanne – leanne.pressman@giftededucation.org.nz.

For details for all Nelson-based Gifted Awareness Week events, email Leanne, your local coordinator, or phone her on (03) 544-2788

Wellington area :

Tairangi School MAD sessions - Friday 19th June

There will be a very special day held on Friday 19 June at Tairangi School in Porirua. MIND ADVENTURE DAY (MAD) SESSIONS - a chance for your child to come and experience first-hand what One Day School™ is like.

The MAD sessions will be held in our One Day School classroom at Tairangi School, Omapere St, Waitangirua, Porirua.

2 sessions:

08.30 – 11.00am 6 –8 year olds

12.30 – 3.00pm
9 – 12 year olds

The cost is $30 per child per session.

Parents and teachers are welcome.

There will be a Q & A session directly following each MAD session: “What is One Day School and how can it help me and my gifted students?”

As spaces are limited, bookings are essential. To book or for more information, please call Shirley Lawn, the Wellington One Day School Coordinator, on 04 232 3523 or email: shirley.lawn@giftededucation.org.nz.

Peter Dunne visits Wilton - Wednesday 17th June

The Honourable Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue and United Future MP for Ohariu, will be visiting the Wilton One Day School, to see what goes on and to join in the Scrabble fun.

Waikato area :

We are having a “Bring-a-Friend Day” for One Day School™ pupils in senior/middle classes.

The students of the junior/middle class have been invited to bring parents or grandparents along. This is an opportunity not often available – so make the most of it!

Waikato One Day School will host MAD (Mind Adventure Days) during the school holidays. All schools will be notified well in advance, and more information will be posted on the website.

For any inquiries about joining in with our planned class events for Awareness Week, or expressions of interest for MAD sessions, please contact Mary, the regional coordinator at mary.stgeorge@giftededucation.org.nz