On Thursday 14 May, Kolbe Catholic College officially welcomed the parents and guardians of our new Year 7 Gifted and Talented students at our annual GATE Welcome Breakfast.
The morning was filled with knowledge, inspiration and excitement as families gained insight into the learning journey ahead. Parents and guardians had the opportunity to learn more about the program and what their children will experience throughout their time in GATE, while our Year 7 students began exploring the many opportunities that await them. It was also a wonderful opportunity for me to meet the parents and guardians of our future leaders.
Alongside introducing myself and speaking about the program, several of our current Year 9 GATE students shared reflections on their experiences so far. Marcus spoke about the challenge and excitement of academic competitions, explaining how “OzCLO pushed our minds to their limits and helped us decode languages only a few thousand people in the world speak.”
We were also fortunate to welcome several of our Year 10 and 11 students involved in the Rising Scholar Program (RSP), who shared valuable insights into life beyond GATE and the pathways available to students as they progress through their senior years.
Year 11 student Luis reflected on the event, saying, “The GATE Welcome Breakfast was a wonderful opportunity to inform the newly inducted Year 7 students about the many opportunities the GATE program has to offer. Sharing my personal experience of the RSP (Curtin Rising Scholars Program) was incredibly rewarding, and I hope it will benefit them in their future endeavours both within and beyond the program, nurturing them into innovative problem-solvers of the future.”
I am incredibly proud of the confidence shown by our Year 9, 10 and 11 students as they spoke about their journeys within GATE, the experiences they have embraced, and the opportunities they continue to enjoy.
If the enthusiasm and energy from parents, guardians and students throughout the breakfast is anything to go by, it is clear this will be an incredible year with a bright future ahead for our GATE community.
