G.A.T.E.ways
Apollo hosted a EUREKA program in April 2021
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. Both short and longer term programs in most areas of the curriculum are offered in host schools in Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, as well as ‘On Location’. Over the last 25 years G.A.T.E.ways has gained considerable recognition with teachers, parents and children in Australia for its high quality programs.
Parent paid fees cover the costs of program development, administration and presentation. G.A.T.E.ways is widely supported by schools in all education sectors – state, independent, catholic – as well as by many parents who home-school their children. Most programs operate during regular school hours so that gifted and talented children are not penalised by having to complete their extension programs ‘on top of’ rather than ’instead of’ regular schoolwork. In any given week during the school term between 750 and 1200 primary aged children attend workshops.
G.A.T.E.ways engages presenters who are expert in a given field or fields; passionate about their field and able to convey this enthusiasm to children; excellent communicators who love children; knowledgeable about the special needs of gifted children and how they learn; creative, flexible and skilled in terms of curriculum development and delivery. Their programs are inquiry based, with hands-on activities, problem solving and higher order thinking skills.
G.A.T.E.ways Programs for Highly Able Students
Journeys
Journeys are a teacher nominated program. Invited students attend once a week for four half days and explore a topic in depth. A variety of primary schools host this program. Subject matter is wide ranging and is often in areas not always taught in the primary school curriculum. Upon being nominated, parents receive an email (invitation link) from G.A.T.E.ways to enrol their child and pay for their attendance.
Brainwaves
Parents can nominate their own children to attend these programs. The Brainwaves Club is based on the philosophy that gifted children need opportunities to form rewarding friendships that further foster their interests, social skills and self-esteem with others of similar abilities and interests. G.A.T.E.ways aims to facilitate this positive social interaction in a non-threatening club atmosphere.
Eureka
Eureka is a teacher nominated program. Invited students attend a single day event where invited students participate in three hands-on workshops based on a theme. Each term the theme changes to focus on a different curriculum area. Upon being nominated, parents receive an email (invitation link) from G.A.T.E.ways to enrol their child and pay for their attendance.
Festivals
Parents can nominate their own children to attend Festivals. Festivals are special programs offering a large range of workshops running concurrently over two days, with the emphasis on challenge and fun. Students studying chemistry might make bath bombs or the easily broken glass from a Hollywood movie set; those for a passion for language might solve cryptic crosswords or participate in a feisty Slam Poetry competition.
On Location
On Location are teacher nominated programs that are unique and held, on location! They take students out of the classroom and into different learning environments relevant to the theme. Locations include National Gallery of Victoria, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Montsalvat Eltham etc. Parents receive an email (invitation link) from G.A.T.E.ways to enrol their child and pay for their attendance.
Team Challenge
Each year, our Pegasus Coordinator selects a team of students in Term 3 to participate in the G.A.T.E.ways Team Challenge. Selected students in grade 3 to 6 come together weekly in Pegasus to prepare for the inter-school event which takes place in Term 4. The focus is on teamwork over individual performance. Each child has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in one of the challenges. Strong emphasis is placed on creativity, lateral thinking and problem solving skills.