iNNOVATE@Hilliard Inspiring Young Minds Program
Hilliard SS is very excited to announce the launch of the iNNOVATE@Hilliard - Inspiring young Minds Program. This program is designed to challenge and develop academic students in Years 1 to 6. Students are invited to this program based on their excellent academic achievement in both English and Maths.
In Semester 1 of 2025 iNNOVATE@Hilliard is offered within 3 groups:
- Years 1/2
- Years 3/4
- Years 5/6
These groups participate in challenged based learning activities designed to develop critical and creative thinking skills. As per the V9 Australian Curriculum critical and creative thinking is decribed as:
"Critical and creative thinking represent 2 important ways of thinking that work together to help students inquire into the world around them.
Critical thinking involves students analysing and assessing possibilities against criteria for judgement. They construct and evaluate arguments, and use information, evidence and logic to draw reasoned conclusions and to solve problems.
Creative thinking involves students learning to generate and apply new ideas, and see existing situations in new ways. They identify alternative explanations and possibilities, and create new links to generate successful outcomes.
Dispositions such as inquisitiveness, reasonableness, intellectual flexibility, open- and fair-mindedness, and a readiness to try new ways of doing things are enhanced by critical and creative thinking. Students consider alternatives and develop persistence throughout the learning continuum."
Who are the Gifted?
According to the Education Queensland Framework for Gifted Education: Students who are gifted excel, or are capable of excelling, in one or more areas such as general intelligence, specific academic studies, visual and performing arts, physical ability, creative thinking, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Giftedness in a student is commonly characterised by an advanced pace of learning, quality of thinking or capability for remarkably high standards of performance compared to students of the same age. Although these students are capable of outstanding achievement, the learning environment is pivotal to enabling them to demonstrate and develop their abilities. Students who are gifted are at risk of underachieving and disengaging from learning if they are not identified and catered for appropriately.
Objectives for students who are gifted:
- A greater awareness of the prevalence and specific needs of students who are gifted
- The identification of all students who are gifted regardless of their ethnicity, location, (dis)ability, gender or economic status
- Meeting the specific needs of students who are gifted and improving their learning outcomes
- Cooperation and collaboration among teachers, parents/carers, students, education administrators and community to ensure students who are gifted have opportunities to develop their abilities.
In support of these objectives, Hilliard SS will strive to ensure:
- There is a rigorous and justifiable identification process in place
- There is maximum collaboration between all stakeholders
- The needs of gifted students are considered during planning to improve the learning outcome for all children
- Teachers are encouraged to differentiate the curriculum to challenge gifted students
- Students are aware of their giftedness and actively seek opportunities to realise their potential for outstanding achievement.
Our school also offers a range of extra-curricular activities, which can support these students. We invite all students at our school to identify activities that they may like to participate in.