NZCGE Pānui - an update from us

2021 has been a year of change and challenge - but also of aspiration and growth.

This year, NZCGE has welcomed me as a new CEO, grown our MindPlus student numbers to the highest numbers ever, launched a new Gifted Network of Expertise with over 1200 educators, and is preparing to trial new programmes to support gifted kids within mainstream schools in 2022.

We have welcomed two new Board members - Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and Bridget Coates - and, as the year draws to a close, have appointed three exciting new teachers to our teams in Wellington and Christchurch.

Whilst we have all been challenged by Covid, we've been buoyed and brought through by the commitment and positivity of our students, our families and our staff. We've all had our moments, but it's been wonderful to see the teamwork between home and MindPlus continuing and deepening.

One of our families wrote to us this week to share their joy in seeing their daughter's confidence blossom this year at MindPlus. As they said:

Your process of validating our daughter's thinking competence, despite her other challenges, has breathed hope into her world view.

Feedback like this inspires us both to keep going and to work harder to ensure that all Aotearoa's gifted children can get this type of support.

MindPlus Expo and a message to our students from Nanogirl

MindPlus classes across the country held their regional online expos last week. These brought families from different classes and units to explore MindPlus learning together, to share and to celebrate. Highlights included sharing of games created during the year as part of our exploration of systems, limericks and gratitude from Auckland, 'breaking news' from Wellington West, deep and complex thinking in the Bay of Plenty, creative thinking in action from Mid-Canterbury, and even some dragonology from the Manawatū! Our specialist curriculum, offering our gifted learners opportunities to think and learn conceptually, to develop their strengths, and to explore their own giftedness, was beautifully shared, celebrated and bought to life.

Congratulations Loki!

Loki is one of our newest MindPlus students, with our Auckland Central MindPlus Friday class, taught by Anne Collins-Fifita. Loki recently applied for and was awarded a Ministry of Education Gifted Learner's Award.

This award was for Loki to undertake his planned project, which involved transforming 'beach junk' into wearable and beautiful resin and laser cut jewellery.

We are delighted to see him identifying and using his talents in art and design to undertake this exciting and challenging project.

We at MindPlus are so proud to be able to support him, alongside his family and his school, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

Alumni Success Story

Luie and Dylan attended MindPlus Auckland Central with Susan Jackson and are now at St Cuthbert's College. After a rigourous application process they are both now part of Auckland Ministry of Education Youth Advisory Group.

Their key advocacy interests are around neurodiverse learners particularly those who are gifted and have additional exceptionality and how the Ministry of Education might better respond to neurodiversity.

Congratulations Luie and Dylan and we look forward to hearing about your future advocacy efforts.

Congratulations also to another MindPlus alumni, Tanin Cain (MindPlus Auckland East), who is in his second year with the Ministerial Advisory Group. This group directly advises the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, on youth education.