Personality Pictures

Whakaaro has begun this year with exploring active gratitude and completing a simple iconography task.  Iconography is a concept the children explore deeply later in the year, but for now we have been looking at symbols that tell an audience who we are.  The personality pictures that go with our photos represent who we are as individuals, our passions and our "favourites".  I am really looking forward to getting these on display.

We also practiced our active gratitude again in our sessions this week.  I love reading these responses - it gives me such an insight into what is important for the students.  The kids are grateful for everything from achieving a new high score on their favourite game, to be being grateful they returned from their summer in China without contracting corona virus.  Others are enjoying such a wide range of topics, from a new found fascination with rocks and minerals, to being able to come and have fun in Whakaaro.

Some examples:

Adiel - Navigator Centre
Thankful for:  Being in an environment with people of the same skill level and ability in school.
Hopeful for: To learn new skills.
Interested in: music, especially piano.
Savouring now:  Playing basketball.

Marcel - Kahurangi
Thankful for:  Creation of videogames.
Hopeful for: Memes fill the internet.
Interested in: SMG4 // Glitch productions
Savouring now: Making a cool lego thing from my imagination.

Sophie - Haepapa
Thankful for:  Being here.
Hopeful for: myself.
Interested in: having a play.
Savouring now: Not being in maths.


I am looking forward to sharing active gratitude with you at the hui.  The students will be preparing their own portions and practicing the script over the next few days.  It's going to be a great time together!

Welcome Back to 2020

     

Hello and welcome back to GATE for 2020.  For those of you who haven't met me yet, my name is Victoria Zhou and I have been in the role of Gifted Education Coordinator at Whakarongo for six years.  I have just one and a half days each week for this role.  I spend another two days a week as the ORs funded Additional Teacher for three of our high needs students.  I am married to David, and have three children -Jasmine, Eva and Devon.  I love to create and I am passionate about children discovering their potential - whatever that may look like.

As you will be aware, there are changes afoot.  GATE is getting a facelift and will be known as Whakaaro from now on.  We have a hui coming up on March 3rd to explain why these changes are necessary and to outline the year ahead.  Many of you have already RSVP'd  - I would love to hear from those of you I haven't heard from this week.  We are really looking forward to the hui where you will not only hear about the programme, you will be actively taking part, putting your creative thinking hats on and exploring Whakaaro with your children.  For those of you who aren't able to join us for the hui, I will make the "script" available so you can catch up on the details.  Its going to be a fun event - I look forward to seeing you there.