Extending Students

At St. Mary’s our focus is the support of the whole individual. The learning needs of each student is catered for by a dedicated team of teachers and learning support officers who use best practice to support each student.

Gifted and talented students are entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning opportunities drawn from the curriculum and aligned with their individual learning needs, strengths, interests and goals. At St. Mary’s we acknowledge that there are numerous models of curriculum adjustment relating to gifted and talented students.

Our rigorously implemented Inclusion and Diversity program focusses on early identification of students with addition needs (SWANs). Followed by the development and implementation of strategic plans to meet the child’s needs in a caring and supportive environment and where they receive an equitable opportunity to receive their entitlement to a world class education.

Learning programs are personalised in relation to individual student need through curriculum adjustments which may include the following for gifted and talented students:

  • Drawing from learning area content at different levels along the Foundation to Year 10 sequence to personalise age-equivalent learning area content.
  • Using the general capabilities learning continua to personalise age-equivalent learning area content.
  • Using the cross-curriculum priorities to personalise age-equivalent learning area content.
  • Aligning individual learning goals with age-equivalent learning area content.

The formation of a Program Support Group, involving teachers, parents and members of school leadership, our SWAN’s progress is monitored, tracked and communicated to parents on a regular basis. Short and long-term goals set collaboratively by the team and where appropriate.