Provision for the diverse learning needs of students is a priority at Corpus Christi. Our Gifted and Talented program (ASPIRE) is one feature of our school’s differentiation practices.
The ASPIRE Gifted & Talented Program was implemented in 2019 with the assistance of Di Barnes, who is the former Senior Curriculum Adviser for the Gifted and Talented Unit for NSW Department of Education and Training. ASPIRE stands for “Achieving Specific Personal Inspiration with Real Enrichment”.
The ASPIRE program is coordinated by Mrs Cybelle Massey and Miss Lauren Blamey at Corpus Christi.
ASPIRE offers enrichment and extension opportunities for high potential students and those who are gifted and talented. Our highly-qualified staff are undertaking professional learning in gifted education and are offering opportunities throughout all key learning areas. We have organised for experts in art, STEM, science and technology, IT, engineering, and sport to come in and work with small groups of students.
One example of ASPIRE is “Genius Hour” sessions which are run regularly including a range of students from K to 6 with a focus on design thinking, philosophical questions, and areas of interest for selected students.
We also run regular SPARK sessions in conjunction with several other CSBB schools. SPARK stands for “Supporting Potential Among Remarkable Kids” and is a program open to high potential students. SPARK sessions focus on a variety of different subject matters such as mathematics, drama, literacy and art.
Additionally, enrichment programs for all students are provided both within the classroom setting and as extra curricular opportunities. Students are set individual learning plans which assess their strengths, interests and functional needs.
Community mentors
Mentors in our community and beyond work with students in Mathematics, STEM, Visual Arts and Digital Technologies. Our newly opened STEM Lab provides space and easy access to a host of new 21st Century resources. This flexible learning space is utilised by all students.
Art enrichment classes
At Corpus Christi, gifted education is not only limited to students requiring extension in literacy and numeracy. Students who demonstrate a high skill set and keen interest in The Arts are invited to join our gifted art classes. Junior (Kindergarten – Year 2) and Senior (Years 3-6) gifted and talented art classes are held weekly during school time. Students are exposed to a range of different creative mediums and techniques as they delve deeper into the theories of art studying key art movements and influential artists of our time.
We currently hold gifted art classes every week with renowned local artist and art teacher, Mrs Karen Sentonaris, and students run an exhibition every year at The Gallery at St Ives Village.
STEM
Our new dedicated STEM Lab provides space and easy access to a host of new 21st Century resources including drones, Virtual Reality goggles, 3D printer, robotics, coding and more. All classes visit our STEM lab as a part of their weekly STEM classes. Our specialised equipment enables exciting forms of STEM learning at Corpus Christi under the leadership of our STEM specialist teacher Mr. Andrew Spencer.
As a part of our Gifted and Talented unit, Corpus Christi invites outside STEM mentors to run gifted workshops with small groups of selected students. Recently we have welcomed workshops run by community mentors such as a Sydney University Professor, astrophysicist, drone pilot and 3D print specialist.
Our Principal Mrs. Wheen also runs a popular weekly STEM lunch club open to all students who show a keen interest in STEM.
Public speaking
Starting from Kindergarten, students at Corpus Christi learn the art of public speaking. All students participate in our school wide Public Speaking Competition annually. Students who excel in public speaking in Years 6 progress to the Cluster and Diocesan Competitions, competing against the best public speakers from our Diocese of Broken Bay primary schools.
External and Extracurricular opportunities
da Vinci Decathlon
The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics and chess, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy.
At Corpus Christi the da Vinci Decathlon is one way we support those children in Stage 3 with high ability in a particular field of their academic studies. They are prepared for the competition by participating in a number of practice sessions which are facilitated by a teacher trained in this field.
Maths Olympiad
Maths Olympiad is a unique program that is offered to gifted and high achieving Mathematics students in Stage 3. This international program allows high achieving students to put their talent to the test by competing alongside other students in Australia and New Zealand to solve mathematical problems in a creative manner, as opposed to simply reaching a solution using a prescribed method.
G.A.T.E.WAYS
G.A.T.E.WAYS is an independent, non-funded organisation, established in 1994 to provide opportunities for highly able and gifted children with special educational needs. Like-minded students can participate in programs that will challenge them intellectually and help develop their individual talents.
ISDA Debating and SDN Debating
Stage 3 students have the opportunity to participate in the Independent Schools’ Debating Association Competition (schools such as Barker, Knox, Riverview, Abbotsleigh, Redlands, Kincopple Rose Bay and so on) under the banner of the Brigidine College Junior team. The ISDA is the premier student debating competition for independent schools in Sydney. Expert coaches from Brigidine College coach our students in the art of debating and students participate in this interschool competition against a number of prestigious independent schools across Sydney.
Stage 3 students also have the opportunity to participate in the Schools Debating Network Competition which is held at a different time during the year. This is also under the banner of Brigidine College Junior team.
Chess
Students have the opportunity in engaging in Chess coaching through Sydney Academy of Chess. The Academy provides a quality chess coaching service to schools and individuals and ultimately aim to bring an appreciation of chess into the minds of all Australians. Students can opt to participate in a range of interschool competitions throughout the year.
ICAS Competitions
Students at Corpus Christi can participate in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools yearly. ICAS is developed by UNSW Global through the University of NSW and is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies. These competitive assessments are designed to recognise academic excellence and students’ ability to apply classroom learning to new complex contexts.
Tournament of Minds
Students at Corpus Christi participate in Tournament of Minds which is a program for all primary and secondary students providing the opportunity to solve authentic, open-ended challenges that foster creative, divergent thinking whilst developing collaborative enterprise, excellence and teamwork.
Challenges are set in the following disciplines… The Arts, Language Literature, Social Sciences and STEM.
