Motupipi School: extension programmes for high achievers
Motupipi School is right into a brain-cracking term with a stimulating programme for all students, and participation in a specific programme for gifted and talented children.
“We have a programme that we tend to run in conjunction with other schools,” said principal Mark Cullen. “Luckily we have a very good working relationship with the other schools and we work quite tightly together. Currently the focus is on art and writing and we have a chess tournament coming up with representatives from each of the schools taking part. We had someone come into the school to teach chess strategies and a lot of children know how to play chess.”
Extraordinarily gifted and talented children only represent a small group in each school, he added, and co-ordinating activities and sharing the costs with other schools allowed the school to target the high achievers more effectively.
Top achievers tend to stand out above the average student in various areas and in the way they think. Often they are gifted in only one or two areas and may not be overall high achievers, and they are often underchallenged in the school system.
“They can be easily distracted; their minds are elsewhere and they are dreaming sometimes,” said Mark. “We tend to have limited funds and efforts to spend on these students. Part of our job though is that all children are given programmes that meet their potential, and at primary school, where we do a lot of group teaching, we can come up with a different programme and send kids off on a tangent. But it takes a lot more work and planning.”
All of the students’ and staff brains are exercised at the school in the morning. At 9.15 Jump Jam gets everybody into gear with aerobic exercise. This 15-minute workout is similar to Jazzercise and is led by six older students.
“It’s not only great for fitness but it also helps with flexibility and coordination. It’s a bit like Brain Gym with lot of crossovers and coordination with music, and it helps a lot of children to focus on the day. I think it makes a difference... Continued on page 2
Motupipi School
Continued from page 1
“...Afterwards they’re just ready to go and attack the day.”
The school is bursting this year with its highest-ever roll, which was stretching resources, said the principal.
“With our increased roll we also had to expand our organic school vegetable garden to cater for all classes. Sol Morgan continues his weekly mentoring sessions to guide us and inspire us in organic and sustainable gardening practices. Our school fundraising committee, supported by a large number of parents, catered for the recent Mystery Bike Ride, and vegetables and herbs from our school garden were included in the pizza toppings.”
The children are also encouraged to look at the natural environment and sustainability through their participation in enviroschool-type activities such as making bowls from recycled classroom paper and building huts under the trees.
The large number of parents standing for this year’s Board of Trustees election shows the interest and continuing community involvement in the school. Mark Cullen is looking forward to meeting his “new bosses”.
Ina Holst
