Student Enrichment
Student Enrichment Update
At Bimbadeen Heights Primary School we provide all students with opportunities to grow as learners. Many of the students at Bimbadeen have gifts and talents in certain areas of the curriculum as well as passions towards certain fields of study. We believe that it is important to nurture these areas so that each child can reach their full potential and demonstrate their abilities. So far this year, through the Student Enrichment Program, we have provided the following opportunities to students:
Victorian High Abilities Program
This term we have 6 students from years 5 and 6 participating in the Victorian High Abilities Program (VHAP). The VHAP is an extension course running for one school term, where students have the opportunity to meet and work with like-minded peers at Victorian government schools through weekly virtual lessons. These lessons are facilitated by expert Virtual Schools Victoria educators and are designed to cater to their point-of-need in either English or Mathematics.
Science Talent Search
The Science Talent Search (STS) was founded in 1952, making it one of the longest running programs of its type in the world. The Science Talent Search is a competition where students can either work independently, or with a partner to develop a science project (that is completed at home) and present it to a panel of judges. This year’s topic is ‘Innovations: Powering Future Industries,’ and we have 23 students across all year levels representing Bimbadeen Heights Primary School.
The Global Citizenship Student Ambassador Program
This is an exciting one-year program where seven Year 6 students work alongside other Student Ambassadors to design a real-life action project. They will meet with other schools, via Zoom, with a Bimbadeen teacher, to learn the skills needed to act on issues around them, plan responses, build leadership skills and share ideas with others. They may also submit video answers and reflections on ‘Flip’ in topics covered in our online sessions.
APSMO Maths Olympiad and Maths Explorer
This is an annual contest that has been offered by Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads Inc (APSMO) since 1987 and is designed specifically for high achieving students. Unlike many other maths competitions, the Olympiads consist of four separate contests held approximately six weeks apart between May and September. The overall aim of the Olympiads is to encourage students to develop important mathematical problem-solving skills in an enjoyable environment.
The Olympiads are designed to be challenging, however, even though students are competing against other members of their class and teams from other schools, they are primarily competing against themselves and trying to improve their skills over the course of the year.
This year we have 18 students from Years 4, 5 and 6 competing in the Maths Olympiad, as well as 27 students from Years 3 and 4 competing in the Maths Explorer.
Tournament of Minds
This year we have 14 students across Years 5 and 6 competing in the Tournament of Minds, which is a team-based, problem-solving program where students are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges. Tournament of Minds is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant, and public way. The Tournament offers students a unique, total experience, providing challenge and growth through its six-week problem solving structure. The Tournament process provides a platform for excellence and equips participants with strategies and skills which will support future success.
As you can see, there are many opportunities for students to demonstrate their talents and skills at Bimbadeen Heights Primary and we look forward to many more opportunities as the year continues!
If you have any questions regarding student enrichment opportunities, please feel free to email me at alec.baroni@education.vic.gov.au
Alec Baroni
Student Enrichment Coordinator