High Potential and Gifted Education
Celebrating Excellence: UoN High Performing Student Program Graduation
On Wednesday, 23rd of July we proudly celebrated the graduation of students from the University of Newcastle’s High Performing Student Program (HPSP) - an extraordinary initiative that offers eligible Year 9-11 students the opportunity to study first-year university units while still in school.
Students were awarded certificates for their achievements in first-year courses across Business, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences. While academic excellence was at the forefront, the ceremony also recognised the motivation, dedication, and perseverance that each student demonstrated throughout the program.
A highlight of the event was the keynote from Tim, a former HPSP participant and current fourth-year Biomedical Science student. Tim reminded us that the HPSP is more than just a program - it's an aspirational pathway. He encouraged students to “aim higher, say yes to opportunities, and surround yourself with likeminded people.”
His parting message was powerful:
Find what lights your fire, believe in yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and lift others up along the way.
We are proud to share that one-third of the graduating cohort came from diocesan schools within our Catholic system - a reflection of the commitment to fostering high potential and gifted education across our schools.
We extend our sincere thanks to:
- Jacqueline Wilkinson, Director of Schools
- Patricia Humble, Assistant Head – School Improvement
- Liz Stokes, CSO System Lead – Pedagogy & Curriculum
…as well as our dedicated Principals, Assistant Principals, Gifted Education Mentors, Education Officers – HPGE, Project Officers, teachers, and families who supported and celebrated our students on this special day.
This unique program - offered only by the University of Newcastle - continues to pave meaningful and transformative pathways for our students.
Together, we are building a future where students are not only achieving, but thriving.
Thanks to Tim Bowd for capturing the moment.
Great to see our students also being represented in the Newcastle Herald today - University of Newcastle program preps future students | Newcastle Herald | Newcastle, NSW
HPGE Networking Day – Professional Learning
Gifted Education Mentors (GEMs), Project Officers, and Virtual Academy Educators will gather for a professional learning session designed to enhance leadership in high potential and gifted education:
Thursday, 14 July 2025
St Bede’s Catholic College, Chisholm
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
MNPeople Professional Learning Link https://cdmn.elmotalent.com.au/learning/courses?courseview=520
Casual Release Code: No (occurs on the system-allocated GEM day)
World Scholar’s Cup – Hunter Valley Round
Another exciting opportunity on the horizon is the 2025 World Scholar’s Cup, hosted at St Philip’s Christian College, Cessnock on 7–8 August 2025. Selected students have been identified and will participate in four academic challenges - the Scholar’s Bowl, Team Debate, Scholar’s Challenge, and Collaborative Writing - under the global theme “Reigniting the Future.”
This is a unique chance for selected students from across the diocese to explore current global issues, develop critical and creative thinking, and build lasting connections with peers.
Virtual Academy Semester 2 – Units Commencing Week 2
Semester 2 Virtual Academy units will commence in Week 2 across the Diocese. We are excited to continue delivering rich, transdisciplinary learning experiences for our high potential and gifted students.
In response to newly emerging Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) data from our Year 7 cohort, additional selection opportunities into the Virtual Academy will be made available. Schools will be contacted directly regarding eligible students.
CogAT Administration Update
We are pleased to share that all CogAT data has now been successfully uploaded to Power BI, enabling access for Principals, Assistant Principals, and Gifted Education Mentors (GEMs). This ensures visibility of student ability data to support targeted planning and provision.
In addition, all secondary school CogAT data has been uploaded to Compass Data and Analytics, providing an integrated platform for ongoing monitoring and strategic decision-making.
CogAT Data Analysis and Next Steps
As we continue to analyse the recently collected CogAT data alongside schools, we are coordinating online Teams meetings with school leadership teams to unpack the data and identify appropriate follow-up actions.
These collaborative sessions will explore:
- How the data will be interpreted and shared with relevant staff
- How it can meaningfully inform teaching, learning, and extension strategies
- Identification of student needs for enrichment or intervention
We encourage the participation of the Principal, Assistant Principal, and GEM, with the option to include Pastoral Coordinators (PCs), Pedagogical Mentors (PMs), and Leaders of Learning (LOLs) as required. Each session is expected to run for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. If a meeting has not yet been scheduled for your school, we will be in touch shortly to arrange one.
For any questions regarding the above initiatives, please contact:
Maree Karaka
Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education
maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au | 0428 120 620