High Potential and Gifted Education at MFHS
Poster competition
The High Potential and Gifted Education Team held a poster competition in 2024 to inspire students to achieve their potential, regardless of their current level of achievement.
The 4 areas where students can strive for excellence are:
- Physical pursuits such as sport, and fitness
- Analytical problem solving, found in Maths, Science and STEM
- Creativity as expressed in Art, Music, Performance and Technology
- Empathy and an appreciation of our common humanity, found in English and HISE, and expressed in social action, advocacy and concern for the environment.
These can be summarised as Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Social/emotional domains.
Anyone who wants to achieve something great will face setbacks and challenges. It is the same at school. Achieving your potential involves overcoming obstacles that stand in your way, treating disappointments and setbacks as hurdles to jump over rather than reasons to give up.
We hope that these posters will inspire students to dream big, take risks to achieve excellence, not only sporting excellence but all forms of academic success, rather than taking the safe option and settling for less than your best.
This idea is sometimes called adopting a growth mindset, for example:
Success involves taking risks and accepting challenges to push yourself.
How coasting through your studies is never as rewarding as seeing how much you can achieve when you try.
Many entries were received, and 3 posters were shortlisted. Each of these posters were designed by students in year 8. These 3 winning posters will be displayed in the library for a limited time.
There were 3 standout posters submitted to the HPG Team. The first poster by Isabell S was the winner, however all three capture the intent of HPG Team and the focus of High Potential and Gifted Education at MFHS.
We asked each of these students to write a short description of what they hoped to convey through their design.
Isabella S
The meaning of this poster is to show that you can never achieve anything great if you don't put in the effort and hard work. You cannot cheat your way into success. There is no easy road to winning. “There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs" means that determination and hard work is the only way to achieve your dreams.
Please note: that these thumbnail graphics are not the high resolution scan available:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XC9JhZ0T2OtuCH7yMa3pY2DVrayCN3mF?usp=drive_link
Cheryl S
As young people, we all have our own unique talents, interests and passions that set us apart from one another. However, there are still many people who struggle to pursue our dreams, often held back by fear, doubt or uncertainty. This is the reason why I created a poster to encourage adolescents to achieve their dreams, starting from areas like sports, academics music and art.
By chasing out biggest dreams, we can develop our own skills, build confidence, and discover our actual purpose. When we engage in activities that we love, we will become more motivated, focused and driven. This, in turn, can lead to a sense of accomplishment and happiness that is really hard to find anywhere else.
Unfortunately, many young people give up on their dreams before they even get started. They may feel that their goals are too ambitious, or that they lack the necessary talent and skills. But I believe that everyone deserves to experience the joy and fulfilment that comes by pursuing their own passion.
That is why my poster encourages young people to take the first step towards making their dreams a reality. Whether it is joining a sports team, practising a musical instrument, or doing academics, I believe that everyone has the potential to achieve greatness.
By spreading this news, I hope to inspire others to be brave, work hard, and never give up on their passions and aspirations. I want young people to know that their dreams are worth chasing, and that the sense of accomplishment they will feel when they achieve their goals is unparalleled.
In conclusion, chasing our dreams is a vital part of living a happy life. By pursuing our passions and interests, we can develop our own skills, build confidence, and discover our true purposes. I hope that my poster will inspire others to take the first step towards making their own dreams become reality, and to never give up on their aspirations.
Chenaya W
In my hand-drawn artwork, I aimed to illustrate what drives me upward on life's staircase: a desire for fulfilment and wholeness and a readiness to confront our fears and discomfort. We problem-solve, innovate, cooperate, and persist physically and mentally to reach our potential.
My artwork depicts the connection between mindset and success. I found inspiration in a quote coming from Buddhist philosophy. I advocate for a positive mindset: the ability of the human mind to influence reality and fate, but I also illustrate, through my artwork, the ongoing struggle between adversity and victory in our pursuit of achievement.
The individual illustrations work in harmony to represent ambition, courage, perseverance and venturing beyond our comfort zones. I sought to convey the passion that motivates artistic expression and the vitality that comes from liberation. I also portray confinement and sorrow, but the release of negative emotions ultimately overcomes these. Language in all its forms plays a significant role in this process.