Gifted students forum

BILLANOOK College in Mooroolbark, is committed to providing the best possible education for gifted students. The college’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre for support education runs an outstanding extension and enrichment program called Dimensions.
The head of Billanook’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, Jenni Heffernan said the Dimensions program had been designed to identify and celebrate the particular talents of highly able students.
“It challenges them to extend their boundaries,” she said.
“Both in and out of the classroom students come to see that learning is an engaging, practical, ever changing continuing process. They draw on knowledge from one discipline to another to solve problems in another. They apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations in school, at home and in the community.”
Ms Heffernan said gifted students often sailed through primary school, achieving high grades, with little or no effort.
“While this makes the primary years enjoyable and easy, these same students often come crashing down in later secondary years when more than intellect alone is necessary to obtain high results,” she said.
“For students who are not in the habit of doing homework, or who have not developed and practiced effective studying techniques, the study demands at this stage can be a little overwhelming, leaving students feeling disorganised, unmotivated and doubting themselves and their ability to actually achieve their goals.”
The Dimensions program guides and mentors gifted students with particular emphasis on organisation and effective studying techniques.
The program also provides education and support for the parents of gifted students.
The college is conducting a series of parent forums with the latest forum, “Providing strategies and guidelines for effective learning for gifted students,” to be held at the college on Tuesday 12 May at 7.30pm.
This forum will be conducted by Alison Brown – psychologist, teacher and parent. Ms Heffernan said the Dimensions’ parent forum was suitable for both parents and students and looked at very practical ways in which students could manage their time and maximise their learning opportunities. An RSVP is essential. To register email to registrar@billanook.vic.edu.au or phone 9724 1179.