High potential and gifted education

Peace Kids

What does it look like when students take the lead in creating a kinder, calmer and more connected school community? That is the purpose of our Peace Kids program. Peace Kids is a student driven peer mentoring initiative focused on supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of all students. Participants complete their initial training in Term 4 of Year 5, preparing them with skills in communication, empathy, conflict resolution and leadership. When they step into Year 6, they officially move into their leadership roles, becoming positive and visible role models, each break time. Wearing their pink vests, Peace Kids help younger students with game play, friendship building and solving small conflicts in a respectful and supportive way.

The program also empowers students to make real decisions that influence the wellbeing of the whole school. Every fortnight, Peace Kids meet with teachers to share feedback on how the playground is going, combining their observations with behaviour data gathered by staff. Together, they decide on a whole school focus that will best support student needs at that time. The Peace Kids then create a short lesson on the chosen focus, such as how to give an ‘I message’ and alongside teachers, deliver their lesson to every class. This gives students authentic opportunities to lead, teach and model positive behaviour, while also strengthening the social skills of the entire school. Through this program, our students gain confidence, empathy and agency, becoming leaders who help shape a safe and supportive school culture.

“I really liked the opportunity to take on that extra leadership role within our school. It feels really good when you are helping others on the playground.” Chelsea.

Dance Troupe

Swish, swirl, sway and shine!

The Wollongbar Public School High Potential and Gifted Education Dance Program offers a rich and vibrant opportunity for Stage 3 students with strong interest or emerging talent in dance. Our school dance troupe provides an environment where artistic expression, discipline and creativity come together, allowing students to grow as performers while building confidence in their abilities. Through weekly rehearsals and performance work, students learn to explore movement with purpose, develop musicality and collaborate as part of an ensemble.

Participation in the Dance Troupe gives students the chance to take part in a wide range of performance opportunities, including our School Concert, Assemblies, the Lismore Show, Lismore Eisteddfod, Alstonville Carols, and even the prestigious School Spectacular. These experiences allow students to showcase their skills publicly, celebrate their hard work and represent Wollongbar Public School within the wider community. For students identified as high potential or gifted in the area of dance, the program provides pathways for advanced challenges, personalised learning and extension tailored to their creative strengths.

Families and our wider community also benefit from this thriving program. Children involved in dance often develop stronger confidence, improved wellbeing, and a positive sense of identity as they pursue something they love. The high quality performances produced by our troupe further enrich the cultural life of the school and enhance the reputation of Wollongbar Public School as a place that values creativity, excellence and opportunities for young people to shine.

Choir

What does it feel like to be part of a group where every voice matters and together you create something bigger than yourself? That is the heart of Wollongbar’s School Choir. At Wollongbar, the choir is an inclusive space where any student can join, explore their creativity and develop confidence in a supportive environment. Students meet once a week during the recess break, building their skills and teamwork as they work towards shared goals. While the program is open to all, making the commitment means sticking with the choir for the full semester to ensure consistency, growth and a strong sense of belonging.

The choir also offers incredible opportunities for students to shine beyond the school grounds. Wollongbar regularly prepares for state-wide events, including the prestigious School Spectacular which is broadcast nationally and celebrates the talent of students across New South Wales. We also take on any opportunity to perform for our local community like the Lismore Show, Carols on the Plateau and the Lismore Eisteddfod.

From a High Potential and Gifted Education perspective, the choir provides an excellent extension pathway, it nurtures advanced musical skills, challenges students artistically and offers authentic performance experiences that promote personal excellence. For many students, the choir becomes a rewarding outlet where they can grow, express themselves and discover the joy of making music together.

“The best part about our school choir is the joy of performing and making music together,” Indigo.

Restorative

What is the quality of your relationships with the people around you? Restorative Justice is the philosophy that underpins everything we do in our school. Rather than working with a punitive approach, we look at how our actions impact relationships and how we can develop and sustain strong, healthy interactions.

Restorative Practice is strongly reflected in student leadership opportunities such as Peace Kids, Leadership in Sport and Year 6 Kinder buddies. Heavily focused on the Social Emotional Domain, students use the social skills and strategies explicitly taught to them to foster high expectations, high support relationships with their peers.

Specific roles are available to Stage 3 students, while students in Early Stage 1, Stages 1 and 2 benefit from peer modelling as participants.  Student leadership becomes a rite of passage through the school, learning through the modelling provided by older peers and explicit instruction from teachers. Through these cycles, high potential students are identified and promoted to additional opportunities such as formal student leadership opportunities.

“What I like about Restorative is it gives an opportunity to fix your actions. I provide an explanation of what needs to happen to fix any problems and make sure we have good relationships.”  Declan.

Debating

Imagine a place where curious minds come together to question, challenge and build ideas that spark deeper thinking. This is the essence of Wollongbar’s Debating Program, a dedicated learning space where high potential students refine their communication skills and discover the power of well crafted arguments. Through workshop sessions, students explore persuasive language, practise structured reasoning and learn how to collaborate as a unified team.

As students progress through the program, they take part in friendly competitions and inter-school debating rounds that celebrate thoughtful discussion and respectful disagreement. These opportunities allow them to grow as confident speakers who can listen carefully, respond thoughtfully and express complex ideas with clarity. Families value the way debating promotes leadership, resilience and critical thinking qualities that students carry into all areas of learning and personal development.

For many students, debating becomes a space where they grow in confidence, experiment with new ways of expressing ideas and learn to approach topics with curiosity and depth. Within the High Potential and Gifted Education framework, the program offers rich opportunities for capable learners to be stretched through complex thinking, flexible reasoning and purposeful communication. It encourages students to take intellectual risks, work collaboratively and develop a thoughtful, measured voice in discussions that matter. Wollongbar students have shared that debating has helped them articulate their thinking more clearly and feel proud of the perspectives they contribute.

“The best part about debating is learning how to explain your thinking and backing it up with strong arguments,” Evan.

Whole School Concert

Have you ever taken to the stage to perform? Each year, every student in our school is involved in the development, rehearsal and performance of a class item in our Whole School Concerts. Additionally, focus groups such as choir, dance and drama groups operate as extra curricular and enrichment programs to give the opportunity for students with strong interest and high potential to refine performances to be included in our program.

Our Whole School Concerts are inclusive of all students. Classes dedicate their Creative Arts programs throughout Term 3 to the preparation of class items. Our program particularly creates a showcase for High Potential and Gifted students not only in the Creative Domain for performers, but also in the Social Emotional Domain, for those carrying out the roles of stage managers, ushers, buskers and directors.

Performers are provided resources and support in furthering their abilities, working through a highly focused process as they develop performance quality presentations. Items range across singing, dancing, story telling and drama. As groups develop their items, high potential students have the opportunity to lead their peers, as well as having their own talents showcased. Some students come with previously identified talents, whilst others are identified through classroom programs and during enrichment activities.

“The best thing about getting to write, cast and direct my own play as part of the school concert was seeing how happy the cast was performing. It definitely improved my leadership. It was fun to share my passion with others.” Ruby.

School Competitive Sporting Teams

When a student knows they have something special to offer in sport they need a school that recognises their potential and creates opportunities for them to grow. At Wollongbar Public School our sporting pathways give students the chance to step forward with confidence, discover what they are capable of and feel proud of the contribution they make to their team.

Sport is a vibrant part of our school culture. Each year students have a genuine voice in shaping the sporting programs we pursue. Their ideas, interests and enthusiasm guide the direction we take and ensure that our teams reflect what our students care about most. When students help design the journey they step forward with ownership and motivation.

Students who show dedication, teamwork and strong interest in building their skills are invited to trial for our representative teams which may include soccer, basketball, netball, rugby league, AFL and touch football. Our teams proudly wear the new Wollongbar sport uniform which builds a strong sense of identity, unity and excitement.

What makes our sporting pathways special is the way students surprise themselves. Some arrive with clear strengths while others are identified through their participation, effort and enthusiasm. Many discover that with support, opportunity and belief they can achieve far more than they imagined.

Families who value an active and supportive school community will find that Wollongbar Public School offers sporting opportunities that help every student shine.

“Being chosen to represent Wollongbar Public School in sporting teams has been the highlight of primary school education. I especially loved sharing these moments with some of my best mates!”  Declan.

NSW PSSA Sport

If you are a budding athlete who excels in individual or team sports, we have the pathways to support your journey. Wollongbar Public School offers individual PSSA pathways for students who demonstrate high performance in a variety of sports. These pathways provide students with the opportunity to trial for different sports and advance through to regional and state teams. This encourages students to engage in competitive sport at higher levels and develop their skills in a supportive environment.

Participation in individual PSSA sports helps students build and refine their sporting abilities through regular competition and expert coaching. It also encourages goal setting, determination and resilience as students work towards personal and team achievements. Additionally, balancing sporting commitments with academic responsibilities supports the development of important time management skills.

Involvement in these pathways goes beyond physical skills, fostering leadership and teamwork through collaboration with coaches and peers. This well rounded approach promotes not only physical health but also mental wellbeing and personal growth. The individual PSSA pathways complement Wollongbar’s commitment to High Potential and Gifted Education by offering physical and mental challenges that enhance students’ overall learning journey.

“PSSA has given me the opportunity to make new friendships as I interact with students from other schools with similar passions for sport. I have had the opportunity to develop my sportsmanship, sporting and leadership skills.” Jordy.

Young Communicators Award

What does it take to stand confidently before an audience and speak with clarity, purpose and impact? The Young Communicators Award empowers students to discover their voice and develop the communication skills essential for future success. Designed for students from Kindergarten to Year 6, this high potential and gifted education initiative nurtures confident communicators and emerging leaders through a structured, supportive and inspiring speech making journey.

Through authentic opportunities to plan, rehearse and present, students strengthen oral communication, confidence, self expression, audience engagement and critical thinking. Learning experiences are carefully tailored to each developmental stage, ensuring every child is appropriately challenged and supported to reach their potential.

Participation builds far more than public speaking skills. Students develop resilience, self belief and leadership while learning to give and receive feedback and celebrate the achievements of others. Watching peers perform inspires confidence and fosters a strong sense of collaboration and belonging.

The presentations begin in classrooms, with students progressing through stage level presentations before selected finalists present to guest judges. A prestigious Person of Excellence award recognises outstanding achievement from each stage.

For families and the wider community, the Young Communicators Award reflects our commitment to excellence, nurturing articulate, confident and capable young leaders ready to thrive in an ever changing world.

“What I truly value is the development we watch over time. I think of a particular student who at first, lacked the confidence to present in front of her class. Over the years her skill and confidence developed, to the point that she became a school captain, who spoke confidently in large community settings. Without the Young Communicators program she may never have discovered her talent and potential.”  Staff member