QUICKLINKS

What is One Day School (ODS)?
How does it work?
How will my child benefit from ODS?
What do children do at ODS?
Why is the ODS effective?
Who can enrol?
How many children in a class?
How does it fit in with regular school?
Can homeschooled children enrol?
How do I know if the programme will suit my child/pupil?
What does it cost?
Where can I find a ODS?
How do we start the enrolment process?

One Day School is about a sense of adventure - keeping alive the joy and excitement of learning
One Day School is about challenge and satisfaction - stretching mind and imagination as far as they will go
One Day School is about acceptance - discovering that it's okay to be gifted, and finding that there are others like you
One Day School is about partnership - teachers, parents and Centre staff working together to find satisfying solutions for the needs of gifted children
One Day School is a research-based programme specially developed by leading New Zealand practitioners to provide for the diverse needs of the gifted learner.

Children enrolled in One Day School spend one full school day every week at one of our venues, working with other children of about the same age and high ability level, under the guidance of one of our specially trained teaching staff.

All One Day School children benefit by:
being accepted and understood by peers
having genuine intellectual and creative challenge
doing work matched to the child's level of ability and interest
having time to explore topics in greater depths and from many different perspectives
having an opportunity to learn, practise and consolidate advanced learning skills
having an opportunity to study related and complementary subject areas together - not restricted to a narrow one-subject focus

Learning activities at One Day School are based on the REACH model, and draw on strategies like Philosophy for Children and the Conceptual Curriculum.

Unlike a normal classroom programme, One Day School is not divided into specific curriculum areas. Instead, children work in depth throughout the day, and sometimes across several days, on a specific theme.

A theme is a way of looking at a topic which ranges across a number of curriculum areas. showing how different areas of knowledge relate to each other. It also helps children to think in depth about the topic, discovering the underlying concepts and discussing important questions and issues related to the topic.

In other words, themes support gifted children in exploring those "why" and "what if" questions that so intrigue and fascinate them.
Lessons built around themes are designed to:
involve very advanced high-interest challenges to children's thinking and imagination
offer lots of choices across research, experiment, construction, design, problem-solving and creative and artistic production and invention
encourage the development of independent learning skills and nurture confidence, self esteem and the building of friendships
provide for a range of different individual interests and areas of ability
and ... they are fun!

Examples of themes explored at One Day School......
The nature of time;  black holes;  career opportunities in Ancient Egypt;  knot theory;  Whalerider;  designing a street;  making a bicycle with square wheels that works; understanding DNA;  building your own country ... and then what?

Researchers in gifted education recommend a thematic approach with gifted children, because it:
allows them to work in real depth and without interruption
provides for children with different areas of interest and exceptional ability
helps them integrate different realms of knowledge and understanding, and see how these support each other
creates opportunities for them to explore issues of significance
creates opportunities for cooperative working, and allows them to experience a genuine partnership in learning
encourages decision-making and other independent learning skills.

One Day School works because it is based on a real understanding of the gifted child as a whole person - it cares for the child's emotional and social development as well as for his or her intellectual development.

One Day School staff base their approach on the best of research and experience in this field; many are themselves parents of gifted children and bring this extra insight to their work at One Day School.

Children who have exceptional ability in at least one area of learning, thinking or doing.

Broadly speaking, this means a child who has the potential to perform in at least the top 5% in his or her area of ability, although he or she may not currently be performing at that level at school.

Children can start at One Day School when they are six, and can continue until the end of Year 8 (Form II). The sooner we can identify and place a child, the more we can help that child have a smooth passage through school.

Junior classes (that is, our six and seven year olds) are limited to 12 children. Older classes have a maximum of 15 children. These limits are strictly observed.

One Day School is designed to work in partnership with schools. Many schools actually initiate referrals themselves. Classroom teachers as well as parents receive a weekly information sheet, a newsletter at least once a semester, and an end-of-semester report. Children attending One Day School are, on Ministry advice, marked "present" at school.

Yes.

Every child applying for One Day School goes through a gentle but comprehensive assessment process to ensure that this is the right option for them. Our Enrolment Pack gives you full information about this. As a starting point, read How do I know if my child/pupil is gifted? in our Parents section.

The Centre is a non-profit Charitable Trust and sets fees at a cost recovery level only. The fee is $600 per term, however some funding may be available for partial fee subsidies. Centre staff continually apply for funding grants to provide as many fee subsidies as possible.

Some schools are willing to part subsidise this cost. The Centre also actively seeks scholarship funding and currently has just over ten percent of its students on full scholarships. It supports applications by individual parents to service clubs and other agencies for funding assistance.

We will do everything we can to make One Day School affordable for you. Although fees are due in full at the beginning of each semester, please do not hesitate to talk about alternative payment arrangements.

There is also an initial assessment fee of $255.00, due on the day of assessment. This does not have to be paid all at once if this is difficult for you.

See our contacts page for details of current venues in different parts of New Zealand.

New venues are added each year. We welcome enquiries from parents and schools about our future plans or with an interest in assisting us reach your area.

See our contacts page and email or phone one of our offices or your nearest coordinator to ask for an Enrolment Pack.