Newman Selective Gifted Education Program

Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST)

On Tuesday the 25th March, five students from Our Lady Star of the Sea Miranda attended St Patrick's College. These students sat the HAST assessment in hopes to be considered for Newman & STEM classes at St Patrick’s College for Year 7 - 2026. We are so proud of you all and wish you the best of luck!

         Makeda C, Jonathan A, Austin G, Isabella A and Emily I.

Helping Your Gifted Child Understand Perfectionism

Perfectionism is more than just trying to do well—it’s when someone feels they have to be perfect and fears making mistakes. This often causes stress, frustration or even avoidance of tasks altogether. For gifted children, perfectionism can stem from a fear that they won’t meet others’ high expectations or their own.

What Parents Need to Know:

1. Perfectionism vs. Excellence:
   • Striving for excellence means learning from mistakes and improving.

   • Perfectionism is driven by fear and anxiety about not being “good enough.”

      

2. Where Perfectionism Comes From:
   • It can start in environments with frequent criticism or where achievements feel undervalued.
   • Children may feel like they need to “earn” acceptance through flawless performance.

   • Societal pressures for success can also make perfectionism worse.

      

3. Why It’s Important to Address:
   • Perfectionism can harm self-esteem and mental health.
   • Strong relationships and feeling accepted help children build confidence.

How Parents Can Help:

• Show Understanding: Ask open and caring questions like, “Why does this upset you?” or “What do you think when you make a mistake?”
• Encourage Reflection: Think about how you talk to your child—are they feeling judged or only valued for their achievements?
• Focus on Positives: Point out their great qualities (like hard work or kindness) instead of focusing only on what they’ve accomplished.
• Keep Talking: Build trust by having regular conversations. Let them know it’s okay to make mistakes and that being imperfect is part of being human.

By showing love and acceptance, parents can help their gifted children feel secure and develop the “courage to be imperfect.”If you are interested in reading a little more on this topic please click on the link to the reading that this information is summarised from: Tips for Parents: Making Sense of Perfectionism.

Miss Natalie Burland

Newman Leader of Learning