Phone: (03) 9794 8258Archive for December, 2009
To all teachers, students and parents associated with WiseOnes in all of the schools in Victoria and New South Wales, we say thanks for your commitments during 2009. All WiseOnes Education Managers and teachers as well as the Directors wish you time of peace, solidarity and fun with your families.
We had a lovely weekend in Ballarat with our 5 children, 5 sons and daughters-in-law and 14 grandchildren as well as the first “boyfriend” of the next generation. We have reduced the commercial links with the feast of Christmas to a large extent and emphazize the love we all have for each other. We threw hoops, played mini golf and jumped on a huge inflated “pillow’” as well as talking a lot. We had two birthdays as well. The distance that stops us all getting together for most birthdays does not stop us at Christmas. All 5 children and their families have sponsored children overseas and we give scholarships in WiseOnes programs at schools, so giving is a normal part of all our lives. Interestingly our children value this family link over higher order promotions overseas. I am wondering about this as an intellectual exercize. Are we, collectively, stunting them in reaching their potential or are we helping them be the happiest people. They seem very happy and have great family relationships themselves. From our senior point of view it is interesting watching what happens as gifted children grown into gifted adults and then have gifted children themselves and so on.
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and a great year to come in 2010.
Pat & Bernard Slattery, Directors
Many thanks to those who sent information about Mel Levine. I have contacted ACEL and given them the link to the New York Times article. Probably the information does not invalidate his expertise in the field of learning but we would not associated with him again, in case. Pat
ACEL says the Victorian Education Department had checked and provided ACEL access to Dr Levine for the 2 sessions he gave. Feedback from participants was very positive and I found the learning to be good. See the overview on the website.
When we started WiseOnes there was nothing like it anywhere. We did not know how it would work out. All we knew was that there was a big need for specialist gifted programs as many children were not totally enthusiastic about school. Having many grandchildren in all different systems and independent schools showed us that it was a general need everywhere. Learning at the World Gifted Conferences showed us that it was a world wide problem. Having been a creative problem solving Principal, I knew that there were so many hindrances in the way of schools being able to do enough, that a support program that took no money, no special teacher time, no resources and was a parent choice program could work. After 12 years I have set a new aim so that all the gifted children can have access to the program in spite of family finances.
Bernie and I and our Education Managers, most of us “retired” teachers have been financially supporting families for the whole 12 years but one per school is not enough. If you know any business that would pay the fees for one family for a year we would only need $800 per year( 4×200) each from 1000 businesses in each state to make a huge difference.. WiseOnes is not a big business. It has no employees. It is a differentiated business with self-responsibility for leadership at all three levels of commitment- directors, educators and teachers. Then, I think that micro and small businesses that will one day depend on these children for leaders may like to support one child each. I think that professional people and self employed tradespeople could do it- sponsor a child. What about it? If the funds went to each school directly it would probably be tax deductible but I am not an accountant. Someone may like to comment on that for us.
I wish all those who are in contact with WiseOnes a very Happy Christmas and a time of rest and recreation after a hard working and challenging year.
Pat Slattery, Principal