Spotlight: St Augustine’s College's Ignite and Enrichment Programs

We acknowledge that it is our incredible team of educators who influence the success of our Primary School, whilst they cater for the individual needs, abilities, talents, personalities, and dispositions of all the boys. Prioritising these connections ensures the boys are engaged in relevant, meaningful, and purposeful opportunities, allowing them to feel safe, known and loved.

The Ignite and Enrichment program was designed to extend and challenge high-potential learners while nurturing their gifts. Ms Hildreth (Learning Enhancement Teacher) and Ms Reed (Head of Learning Enhancement) share their insights below.

Prioritising the Extension of Young Minds

Our boys with high potential and giftedness are provided with opportunities to thrive academically, in and out of the classroom. With the ability to capitalise on Senior School facilities, along with Senior School teaching staff, the extra resources are at our disposal for the Ignite and Enrichment Programs from Year 5 through to their completion of Secondary School.

From Years 5 and 6, gifted students are invited to take part in weekly withdrawal classes, which include:

• Extension Mathematics – students manipulate abstract ideas and apply learned concepts to solve mathematical problems, including the Maths Olympiad;

• Extension Literacy – students analyse others’ stories and compose their own imaginative stories, submitting them to various young writers’ competitions;

• IGNITE – in this ethics and research-based conceptual course, students apply their learning to an area of personal interest, producing a piece of work that demonstrates their creative and critical thinking abilities.

There are also opportunities via the Extension Music band for our gifted Primary School musicians.

The IGNITE Enrichment Program then continues for identified gifted students from Year 7 onwards. This goes beyond just classroom extensions, with external enrichment opportunities like the da Vinci Decathlon, Ethics Olympiad, Brain Bee, Write a Book in a Day, Future Problem Solvers and the Australian Museum’s Sleek Geeks Science Film Competition.

We are proud and passionate about supporting and challenging all our students, ensuring they have the opportunities to meet their academic potential.