Phone: (03) 9794 8258Parent Testimonials
The following testimonials are from parents of gifted children:
Monique
I wanted to provide you with some well overdue positive feedback about Gracie’s experiences at Wise Ones. It is a great program that she gets very excited about each week and has done so since she started in grade 1. She finds it challenging and feels she is able to use her brain in a very creative and different way. It has been a great academic addition for her. Feel free to pass this onto Richard and Judy also. Below is her feedback:
“I love wise ones because your ideas and thoughts can be free, no matter how wacky. You can extend your brain and you can live up to your full potential. I would not stop Wise Ones. It is always my favourite part of the week. We make up silly ideas that can go with what we’re doing. I find this class free and fun. Claudine makes us think of things from a perspective you would never think of. Another perspective is very important to see things through. For example we had to look at pieces of writing about Ancient Chinese Masters, and had to try and work out what they did. By looking at this from a different perspective, we were able to work this out.
Claudine is always there at the class (even if she is not feeling completely well) and teaches us new things. , I rank (vvvvv) five smiles.10/10. ”
It is great that Malvern Primary has this program available to the children. Regards Monique Richardson
JEAN L
Hello Pat,
My daughter, Meredith, just did the shells unit at Lilydale West Primary and thoroughly enjoyed herself.
Many thanks! Jean
Tony Tsiaves 28/05/2010
Our son C…y now in year 6, has participated in the WiseOnes program since year 1. We are very grateful that his primary school ( Amsleigh Park- ed.) offered this program as part of it’s co-curricula activities. WiseOnes has provided our son with an opportunity to study many varied topics over the years such as Shakespeare, Advertising, De Bono’s CoRT Breadth and Organization, Electronics, Ancient Rome and Egypt and Geometry He has gained a rich general knowledge and skills which will help him reach his full potential. His WiseOnes teachers have always been very professional and passionate when teaching each subject. We would highly recommend all primary schools offer this program as part of their curriculum, so that they can assist and support the children in their schools who exhibit high potential. Thank-you WiseOnes. Keep up the good work.
JIM and EFFIE NIKOLAKOPOULOS
Dear Claudine
Our eldest son ,A.., started the “WiseOnes” program in 2003 when he was in grade 1. He followed it through to Grade 6 and never missed a term. He was always enthusiastic about attending and he always looked forward to the following term’s topics. The topics that you taught him were challenging, yet appropriate for his young and enquiring mind. He learned to link and associate concepts with other classes that he was being taught at primary school. As a year 7 student I can attest to excellent History grades simply because he had studied Ancient Egypt as part of his “WiseOnes’” program at primary school. He was positively reinforcing and building on what he had already been exposed to. This is just one example of how “”WiseOnes” helped A…
In 2007 we were fortunate to have our second son ,G.., take part in your “WiseOnes” program. He, too, thoroughly enjoyed being taught by you at this advanced level and found the whole experience thought provoking and stimulating. The last unit on the mechanics of Lego was one of his favourites, especially when he was faced with new ways of creating bridges and cantilevers. It made him think in a sophisticated was about the structure of different constructions.
Next year our daughter is starting at the school. We are so fortunate to have our children exposed to your excellent teaching and wisdom. You are a true professional who has a special way of educating young children at a totally different level. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your special “WiseOnes’” family.
The Arnolds
The WiseOnes program has provided a wonderful experience for my children’s education. WiseOnes has extended my children in areas of creativity, logic thought processes, and increased their general appetite for knowledge.
The teacher providing the educational guidance is fantastic and had a real passion for extending the children’s knowledge. I believe my children have benefited greatly from the experience of being involved with this program.
Thanks WiseOnes.
Janice
Hi Pat,
When I met you half way through 2004 I was almost convinced that we had it all wrong and a teacher’s assessment must be right. Thank you for encouraging me to believe in my child and to see some amazing results in changed attitudes.
When I asked what WiseOnes could do in 1 hour a week I was fairly skeptical that such a traumatic view of school could ever be turned around but I am so glad I took the risk (financially it was quite a risk but worth each cent). J… said only last week “you know Mum I am really enjoying school at the moment!” and it wasn’t even a Friday!
Though I am still horrified at his work output at school I do see an amazing transformation in him, his own acceptance and understanding of who he is and also of others. We were also dealing with many other issues but I do believe WiseOnes has given him a sense of identity and an acceptance to be a little different to others.
Thank You!
Jayshree
Dear Claudine
S….. has been coming home each week telling me how great his class with you was. He has been coming home talking about how “clever” Da Vinci was in mirror writing, where the equator is, what the continents are, and what man made wonders in the world are. Some of these snippets of information I already knew while others I learned from him. So, not only was he excited about Thursdays and WiseOnes, so was I…for I knew, every Thursday, I might learn something new from my 7 year old.
This year at WiseOnes has exposed my curious son to greater heights of curiosity and wonder. The year at WiseOnes has exposed my son to challenges that he will not normally encounter in his day to day classroom activities. The year at WiseOnes has exposed my son to the fact that the knowledge he has is only a fistful and that the world is such a huge reservoir of knowledge, if only he wants to be challenged, if only he wants to look outside the square. The year at WiseOnes has definitely helped my son look outside the square.
I thank you, Claudine, from the bottom of my heart, for this year. I thank you for your dedication and zest for pushing students like S….., to be constantly challenged and asking questions and letting them make mistakes and learning from them in a safe environment.
Rebecca
Just a quick email from one very impressed parent. My son has only just begun WiseOnes this term and absolutely loves it. He has always loved lego and puzzles and he now loves going to school on Tuesdays. Every Tuesday afternoon I can’t get him to stop talking about what he dId that day. He’s very excited about next term’s programs-Art
June 2006
Kerry
Hi Pat
Please include this on your website if you wish.
My son was always a mystery to me. He didn’t seem to quite fit in or seem quite happy at school. I worked with the teachers in my son’s class to help him with his social skills and behaviour, with some success. He still didn’t seem quite happy or fit in. My daughter was an obvious candidate to enroll in WiseOnes as she always excelled and had extension work.
I always believed in giving both children the same opportunities but didn’t think my son would be eligible. I asked for him to be assessed anyway, To my surprise my son’s results were higher than my daughter’s.
Since participating in WiseOnes my son’s whole attitude to school has changed. He is happy to go to school and his behaviour is completely different. He now has faith in his abilities, ideas and has confidence to make friends outside his safe circle. My son has chosen to play team sports after school as well as continue his karate.
I am so pleased that his abilities were identified in Grade Two as now he sees the world as opportunities. He has the confidence to “Have a Go” and now understands that it doesn’t matter if he goofs. As a parent it is so nice to see him happy and confident. I can’t believe how this has changed his life.
Anita
My son adores it, loves the interaction, finds the small group very beneficial and thoroughly enjoys the discussions and lateral thinking. He learns without feeling that he is being taught.
Rebecca
So far as I can tell the curriculum is interesting for my child, it is fun and not boring for her. She has made new friends, enjoys the learning and is very happy with it. It lets her use her own skills and imagination. The school and the teachers handle this program well, integrating it with the school timetable is great.
Marcia
Two of my children have attended the program, and it has provided a much enjoyed opportunity for both of them to extend themselves in a nurturing environment and explore interesting and unusual areas of education. The program offers the advantages of both operating on a thematic basis through a term, providing long term development as well as dealing with totally different subjects and ideas from one program to the next.
This benefits different interests, and enables the children to make totally new discoveries, provoking them to question and examine areas that they may not have previously encountered.
One of my children, while extremely bright, also has a social and learning disability. WiseOnes has provided her with a unique venue to grow. The small numbers have worked to her advantage, enabling her to interact in a non-threatening group and learn in a calm and positive environment.
Mrs B… has proved herself an outstanding teacher. I have been highly impressed with the warmth and encouragement she has provided, while at the same time guiding my child toward achieving her goals and needs.
I congratulate her on her outstanding ability and her provision of both a stimulating emotional and educational environment.
Caron
Our youngest son has been involved in WiseOnes for about one and a half years. He enjoys the varied lessons, on such topics as Electronics, Forensics, Lego, Cartooning etc considerably. These things, he could not learn in the general classroom.
C…. is his teacher at WiseOnes and has proven to be very caring, entertaining and skilled in urging the children to make their own discoveries in learning. We believe that group learning and partnerships are encouraged, as the children work together to solve problems, and not just on their own. My son’s best friends at school now are in WiseOnes. B is forming his own clubs at school now because he has become more confident in his peer relationships.
I believe the WiseOnes programme, not only stretches the children’s intellects, but also helps to deepen the friendships with like minded pupils. I feel privileged to be part of a primary school which allows these lessons to be conducted. Keep up the great work!!
Michele
Stephanie has enjoyed WiseOnes and this current unit on the ancient Egyptians she has especially enjoyed-mainly because it involves making something each week. She does look forward to her WiseOnes class each week and I know she is more challenged there than in the regular class room where she gets all her spelling and maths right every week.
The Siebens
My twins enjoyed WiseOnes through the year. The dinosaur module was their favourite module. My children felt really connected with the facilitators which made it easy for them to learn and more importantly, remember. Thank you for such a positive learning experience.
Caroline
My son has attended WiseOnes for only one term. However, he is enjoying it enormously. He finds the much extended content very stimulating.
I have also been very pleased with WiseOnes from our initial contact. Their care and patience in the assessment process was notable as they drew out from him observations and answers I did not know he possessed.
My son is looking forward to the upcoming term of Shakespeare after the first term of “Life Under the Microscope”.
Pamela
It has been a satisfying experience for me to watch my daughter Emily’s creative talents being nurtured and guided by your program. She is thoroughly enjoying the program and she clearly needed the extra mental stimulation that your program offers her. I am a sole parent on a parenting pension. The current cost of the program is very difficult for me but is met because I place such a high price on my daughter’s gifts and talents.
