Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

http://mooc.org/

I've recently become aware of these online courses and can't believe the learning opportunities that are available! Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free online courses available for anyone to enrol. Do you know someone who would enjoy one of these courses? I'd love you have your feedback on any courses that you or your kids complete.

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July GERRIC Student Programs

Do you know a student in Year 3 – 10 who is bright, intellectually inquisitive and looking for something more challenging, more intellectually demanding, and more fun than they may sometimes experience in school?

GERRIC offers a range of school-holiday programs for gifted and talented students for students from years 3-10. The GERRIC holiday programs will open students’ minds to abilities they may have not suspected they possessed, and opportunities to use those abilities to the fullest during a 3 day program run by our industry experts and educators qualified and experienced in gifted education.

 

Program Dates: Tuesday 9 - Thursday 11 July, 2019
Daily times: 8:45am - 3:30pm
Venue: Matraville Sports High School
Cost: $365 per child (some workshops vary)
 

Program details and available workshops for July can be found here. Places are popular and limited, so get in fast.

Email gerric@unsw.edu.au if you have any questions, or would like to know more about what GERRIC has to offer. 

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MindQuest 2019 Workshops

These challenging fast paced two day workshops are designed to stimulate and extend your child across a broad range of subject areas. These hands on activities include chemistry, earth sciences, lego robotics, drama, art, writing and much more. Courses focus on developing critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving and broadening your child's interests. Many of the courses for older children give them a unique opportunity to acquire advanced concepts at the high school level. 

To find out more about the 2019 courses click here.

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CaSPA 2019 Student Ensemble Auditions - Registration Open Now

BREAKING NEWS! 2019 Student Ensemble Auditions Calling all Creative Students from Year 5 - Year 12 We want YOU to audition for the 2019 Student Ensembles held in Term 4, Week 3 2018. WHAT: Skillbuilding in Drama, Dance and Vocals followed by a MASSIVE Showcase event in one centralised venue. WHEN: Term 4 Week 3, 2018 Monday 29 October (Primary) and Tuesday 30 October (Secondary) WHERE: Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College, Neich Parade Burwood TIME: 5:00pm - 6:30pm REGISTER NOW! Please see the full rehearsal and performance schedule here. And for any other information please visit caspaonline.com.au or contact your CaSPA Coordinator. 2019 Audition Requirements DANCE: Students must present themselves in correct dance attire eg: tights, jazz pants, hip hop wear. Students are to bring all dance shoes that they train in eg: jazz shoes/boots, ballet shoes, pointe Students will be auditioned in one group across a variety of dance styles Students are not required to present an individual piece Students may be required to improvise a short sequence DRAMA: Students are required to prepare a monologue or poem either self-devised or known  exploration The piece should be no longer than 1 minute in duration Students may be required to join in improvised group work and individual play VOICE: Students are required to perform part of one song that best represents their vocal quality. A second, contrasting song may be asked for if required. Students will audition without accompaniment Students may be required to sing a simple harmony ENSEMBLE FEES: The cost to participate in the 2019 Student Ensemble Program is $260. This amount will be billed from Sydney Catholic Schools via school fees once students are accepted into the program. A registration fee of $50 is included in this cost and is non-refundable if you forfeit your position in the program once workshops have commenced.

REGISTER NOW TO AUDITION FOR 2019 STUDENT ENSEMBLES

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Term 4 MindQuest Workshops - Registrations Open Now

TERM 4 Workshops - Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November 2018

These challenging fast paced two day workshops are designed to stimulate and extend your child across a broad range of subject areas. These hands on activities include chemistry, earth sciences, lego robotics, drama, art, writing and much more. Courses focus on developing critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving and broadening your child's interests. Many of the courses for older children give them a unique opportunity to acquire advanced concepts at the high school level. 

To find out more about the 2018 courses click here.

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Big Day In - STEM and IT careers conference

Students from Stage 3 attended the the BiG Day In Junior hosted by St Ignatius' College Riverview (Regis) on Tuesday 21 August 2018.

The BiG Day In Junior is an IT careers conference designed for students in Year 5 and 6. Students had the opportunity to interact with Australia’s technology leaders and gain valuable knowledge and advice from industry professionals. St Mary’s students participated in 3 workshops: Learning to code with the ap Playgrounds, racing F1 cars and programming robots to dance.

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Congratulations to our Year 4 and 5 students who participated in the Hypatia's Challenge.

Congratulations to our Year 4 and Year 5 Team who represented St Mary’s in an exciting and enriching academic gala day for gifted girls held at Marist Sisters’ College, Woolwich. The girls participated in a number of stimulating and challenging tasks across subject disciplines.A special congratulations to our Year 4 team who one the Year 4 category.

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Outschool: Live online classes by independent teachers

You and your children may like to explore some of the thousands of online courses available through Outschool. Courses can be one off sessions or run over a period of time. 

For more information see the video below.

Outschool: Small Online Classes for K-12 Learners

To view the latest courses click here.

Please let Mrs Bassett know any of the courses that you have completed and send her a review so that we can share this information with other students.

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The Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Animation Challenge

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra is looking for animations created by students that represent one of the following musical movements. 

Create your animation to represent one of these movements:

• Movement I: Awakening. Track Cue 1: 0.00–6.22

Introduction – Lullaby – Awakening – The Escape
 

• Movement II: Plummet. Track Cue 2: 6.22–10.27

Suspension – Slow Motion (Pixilation) – Descending to the Sea
 

• Movement III: Trash Vortex.  Track Cue 3: 10.27–14.11 or Track Cue 4: 14.12–18.14
  Surging dirge, reality, beautiful melodies intertwined with the trash vortex texture – Repeat (not literal) – Albatross circling – Ending

You may use any software to create the animation such as:

• PowerPoint
• AnimateIt for stop-motion animation
• DoInk for green screen activities
• iMovie
• Adobe Animate
• Adobe Character Animator
• Scratch and Scratch Junior
• Minecraft

How to submit your entry

Upload your animation to YouTube and email the YouTube link to education@sydneysymphony.com by Monday 21 May 2018.

(Mrs Bassett would also love to see any entries that you submit. Please share with her at meghan.bassett@syd.catholic.edu.au)

Applications must include:

• The student's name and age
• Track cue number
• A short description of what appealed to them in the music to inspire their visual representation
• Which animation tools they selected.

The SSO will advise which students' animations selected for screening in the week commencing 21 May 2018.

More information is available here.

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Gateways Festivals - Enrolments open now for July program!

G.A.T.E.WAYS has pleasure in inviting
gifted and talented children
 from Years 1-6 to
  ‘The Sydney Festival of Workshops’
 hosted by Ravenswood School for Girls, Gordon
Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd July 2018
 from 9.30 - 3.15
(registration 8.45) 

G.A.T.E.WAYS Festivals offer a large range of workshops running concurrently over two days with the emphasis on challenge and fun. Parents may enrol directly at www.gateways.edu.au.

Enrolment information for parents - setting up an account if a child hasn't been before

Year 1 & 2 program
Year 3 & 4 program
Year 5 & 6 program

Phone 02 9940 0303 if you require assistance or emailsydney@gateways.edu.au

G.A.T.E.WAYS is an independent, non-funded organisation, established in 1994 to provide opportunities for highly able and gifted children with special educational needs. Like-minded students can participate in programs that will challenge them intellectually and help develop their individual talents.

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Be a Science TV Reporter competition

Create a 90-second video about something you find fascinating about the universe.

Research one aspect of the cosmos that excites you and create a video with you as the host, then upload it at the below link. The organisers are looking for great examples of science, research, communication and media literacy. You can work individually or in a group.

The best entries will be featured on Stargazing Live with Brian Cox and Julia Zemiro on ABC TV.

Upload your entries here from 16 April 2018. Contact education@abc.net.au if you have any questions.

Closes: 9 May 2018, 5pm (AEST) 

Mrs Bassett would also love to see your entry. Please share your film with her at meghan.bassett@syd.catholic.edu.au

Looking for some inspiration? You might like to watch these videos.

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Mind Quest Workshops

These challenging fast paced two day workshops are designed to stimulate and extend your child across a broad range of subject areas. These hands on activities include chemistry, earth sciences, lego robotics, drama, art, writing and much more. Courses focus on developing critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving and broadening your child's interests. Many of the courses for older children give them a unique opportunity to acquire advanced concepts at the high school level. 

To find out more about the 2018 courses click here.

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GFSG's Thoughtspace - opportunities for gifted students and their families

The latest issue of GFSG's Thoughtspace has some great opportunities for gifted students (K - 8) and their families and also contains some interesting articles. Click here to read the publication.

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Performing Arts Opportunities with CaSPA Regional Squads

Anyone with a love of dancing, singing and acting can join the new CaSPA Regional Performance Squads! Each squad will work towards a piece in the final CaSPA Live regional performance. In addition, each region will also get a special one-off masterclass with one of our industry guest tutors – you can read all about them here. There’s still time to register to join our Regional Performance Squads!

Join the #RPSquad in 2018!

WHO:
Primary and Secondary Students from Year 5 and up. Students do not have to audition to participate in this program.

WHEN:
Terms 1 and 2, 2018. 

WHERE:

Eastern Region: Our Lady of The Sacred Heart College, Addison Rd Kensington 

TIME:
4:30pm - 6:00pm

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION

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G.A.T.E.WAYS Brainwaves Club - New Host Venue.

Saturday afternoon Brainwaves Club is a parent enrolled program that you can nominate your child for. Bondi Public School is a new host venue, with other clubs held at venues in Ryde and North Curl Curl.

The G.A.T.E.WAYS Brainwaves Club program is based on the philosophy that highly able and gifted children have particular needs for stimulation and challenge that match their high level of curiosity and desire to learn. In addition, children with specialised skills and talents in advance of their age peers need both affirmation of these abilities and opportunities for talent development. For more information on each of the programs click here.

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Looking for the perfect Summer holiday activity for your child?

Looking for the perfect Summer holiday activity for your child? Click here to find out more about the JAM Online Invention Course.

️  

Let their creativity blossom with JAM's Online Inventions Course, taught by mechanical engineer Paul Long, who will develop your child's engineering skills, creativity, and confidence.  

★★★★★ “JAM has been a fantastic summer break activity for my kids. It keeps them in 'learning mode' and feels like quality screen time instead of iPad games and Nintendo." - Chloe, JAM Mom

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GERRIC Holiday Programs

Are you a student in Years 3 – 10 at an Australian primary, middle or secondary school? Are you bright, intellectually inquisitive and looking for something more challenging, more intellectually demanding, and more fun than you may sometimes experience in school? Would you like to take part in school vacation program that will really stretch your mind?

GERRIC offers a range of programs for gifted and talented students (generally students who are capable of performing in the top 10% of their age-peers). GERRIC holiday programs will open your mind to abilities you may have not suspected you possess, and opportunities to use these abilities to the fullest. You’ll meet other kids who share your interests and you’ll also meet inspiring teachers who love working with gifted students.

Our next GERRIC Student program will run 16-18 January 2018. Click here for more information.

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CaSPA Student Ensemble auditions are coming soon!

Do you have a passion for the performing arts?

Are you a talented singer, dancer or actor?

Have you thought about auditioning for the CaSPA Student Ensemble program for 2018?

CaSPA Student Ensemble auditions are coming soon!

Auditions are in Term 4 at SCCVC Burwood. Primary auditions are on 16 Oct  5-7pm and Secondary auditions are on 17 Oct.

Being a part of the CaSPA Ensemble program is a great opportunity to extend your performance skills as you get to work with a range of industry professionals as well as expert tutors and teachers from our schools in the various art forms.

The program is tailored for students from Years 5 and up so current Year 4's are able to audition for the 2018 program. Current Year 6 students attending a Sydney systemic high school may audition for the High School program.

If you would like to audition go to the CaSPA website  to Register online. You must first read the Rehearsal and performance schedule and the Audition requirements for either VOICE or  DANCE or DRAMA. Please also email Mrs Bassett (meghan.bassett@syd.catholic.edu.au) so that she knows who is auditioning.

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