Newman Selective Gifted Education Program

Domremy’s light focus brightens hearts and minds

Light-themed projects at Domremy College Five Dock have brightened the minds of gifted students in the Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) network and provided help to families in Papua New Guinea (PNG) living in energy poverty.

Lights for learning

With only 20 per cent of PNG’s 10.5 million residents able to access electricity, school students must rely on dangerous and unsustainable sources of fuel – like kerosene, diesel, wood or candles – to study after dark.

To help improve the situation, Domremy student volunteers have built 50 solar-powered lights as part of the Origin Energy Foundation’s Solar Buddy light initiative.

“We are very proud of all students who gave their time to become more aware as global citizens and make a difference,” – Sarah Thompson

The Solar Buddy project marries STEM and social justice to improve the health and education outcomes of people living in energy poverty around the globe. The lights will be shipped to PNG.

Domremy’s Leader of Innovative and Global Connections, Sarah Thompson, praised the efforts of the students involved in an emotive letter to the Domremy community that acknowledged the severe impacts of energy poverty around the world.

The Solar Buddy initiative was led by the school’s Environment and Humanities captains, with students writing a heartfelt letter to accompany each light.

“We are very proud of all students who gave their time to become more aware as global citizens and make a difference,’” Ms Thompson said.

“We would like to thank the team of volunteers from Origin Energy Foundation for their financial and personal support throughout this project.

“We hope to maintain this relationship and continue to make a difference in the lives of those in need.”

Let there be light

jaderamirezsydcatholiceduauJuly 25, 2024|

Empowering the gifted student

Sydney Catholic Schools’ (SCS) network of St George schools is proudly dedicated to providing an unparalleled education for the gifted student.

With 19 primary and secondary Catholic schools in the St George network of schools, Sydney Catholic Schools offer an array of programs catering for high-achieving students, providing an environment that stimulates, challenges and helps them realise their potential.

Our gifted education teachers network to upskill and share ideas and resources, ensuring students benefit from a wide variety of gifted education strategies and across-school opportunities.

SUPPORTING THE GIFTED JOURNEY

Gifted students within the St George network are identified at an early age and supported at all stages of their learning journey, not just in the later primary or secondary years.

As students move from SCS primary schools to an SCS secondary school, their gifted background will be known, allowing for a seamless learning transition.

The St George network of schools run a variety of complimentary gifted education programs, including the Newman Selective Gifted Education Program.

These specialist gifted education programs are embedded within our schools, allowing gifted students to maintain their regular friendship groups, thereby nurturing students’ emotional and social wellbeing while extending and challenging them intellectually.

ENHANCING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Our Catholic schools in the St George network recognise that gifted students have specialised needs and require a tailored approach to learning that goes beyond the traditional classroom.

Alongside the Newman Selective Gifted Education Program, each school also facilitates their own programs and initiatives for gifted and talented students.

For example, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Kogarah and St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Hurstville both run Maths Olympiads; Mater Dei Catholic Primary School Blakehurst students have been working …

domenictrimboli01January 30, 2024|

Worldwide Win in Gifted Education

A global award in gifted education has been awarded to Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) for the systemic Identification and selection process of our gifted students.

On 1 March 2023, SCS’ Bernadette Bentley and Nicole Shepherd attended the World Giftedness Centre Awards in Dubai to accept the ‘School Global Award Initiative of Gifted Education’ for Distinguished Academic Performance.

The award is the initiative of the World Giftedness Centre in recognition of the continuous efforts of the Hamdan Foundation to encourage and support best practices in gifted education.

“SCS winning this award recognises the distinguished contribution of the Systemic Gifted Identification and Selection Process in serving gifted education and talent development at an international level,” said Education Officer, Bernadette Bentley.

SCS’ Nicole Shepherd and Bernadette Bentley at the World Giftedness Centre in Dubai

“It has been a privilege to accept the award on behalf of Sydney Catholic Schools, my colleagues, and all of the Newman Selective Gifted Education Program schools,” she said.

The inaugural award affirms the Newman Selective Gifted Education Program and its Gifted Identification and Selection Process for gifted students, as one of the only system-wide gifted programs in the world.

The Gifted Identification and Selection Process is a research-based and contemporary best practice for identifying gifted students using objective and subjective data including the Higher Ability Selection Test.

“This award recognises the exceptional work of our education and research team and all of our Newman accredited schools.We are proud of their commitment to our students to ensure they achieve learning growth, to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.” Tony Farley, Executive Director, Sydney Catholic Schools.

This award helps to facilitate …

AdminMarch 8, 2023|

Domremy’s light focus brightens hearts and minds

Empowering the gifted student

Worldwide Win in Gifted Education

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our schools and offices now stand. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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