Judy Loudon 

The Early Years Network presentation ‘The Inclusive Mindset’ has been postponed to 2nd September. I look forward to presenting at this event. 

Our school has approximately 11% of it’s students identified as requiring extension adjustments due to gifts and talents. This is a small identified group of students. Students are identified via a compilation of data- 

• Academic records 
• Diagnostic maths, reading, spelling assessments and NAPLAN 
• Formative and summative assessments 
• External reports 
• SAGES Screener for Gifts and Talents for all year 1 and 4 students 
• ICAS assessment results 
• Sayler Parent and Teacher Checklists 
• Observational data 
• Cognitive assessments 

There is a difference between students being ‘bright’ and students being ‘gifted/talented’. Some of these differences include (by Janice Szabos) - 

• Bright students know answers but gifted students ask questions 
• Bright students work hard but gifted students still succeed despite being off task 
• Bright students learn with ease but gifted students already know 
• Bright students grasp meanings but gifted students draw inferences 
• Bright students absorb information but gifted students manipulate information 

Students can be ‘twice exceptional’. They can have a gift/talent but then also have disabilities like Dyslexia. Students are tracked via the class data, and referred to the Student Services Support Team which meets weekly.  

Our Gifted Education Mentor Group meets monthly. Myself, Annabel deBoer, Natasha Andrews, Natalie Foss and Angela Lamb are progressing through the GEM training. We are also involved in the City Cluster GEM Network. In Term 4 our school will be hosting the GEM Network. Other than quality differentiated teaching that our teachers provide, there are various additional programs that students access including- 

• Our school’s Sporting Achievers Program, Innovators of Tomorrow Program, Art Club, Dance Club. 
• High Achievers (years 5-6) 
• BRAINways (years 2-6) 
• City Cluster Mini Festival (years 3-4) 
• QVSA STEM Scholars Program (years 3-6) 

Our school has many bright students who we support and celebrate in different ways. Our diversity is our strength. Should you have any further questions please email our Inclusion Coach Judy Loudon jloud6@eq.edu.au