Pūmanawa Gifted Education

St Mark’s School welcomes pūmanawa giftedness as a neurodivergence of exceptional aptitude and asynchronous development. We affirm that pūmanawa giftedness occurs in all societal groups, including all cultures, ethnicities, genders, socio-economic strata, and disabilities. We partner with whānau to encourage God given gifts and talents, as seen through our St Mark’s School values:

Huatau | Grace Ethical Awareness and Compassionate Service Manaakitanga, Kaitiakitanga
Hiranga | Excellence Aptitude in any Curriculum Area/s  Mātauranga, Te Mahi Rēhia
Māiatanga | Courage Leadership and Creativity  Rangatiratanga
Piriponotanga | Faithfulness Spiritual or Cultural Commitment Whanaungatanga, Tikanga

 

🧠 Neurodiversity Kanorau Ā-Roro 

Neurodiversity is the idea that all brains and minds are different. Pūmanawa gifted minds thrive on advanced challenges and crave depth and complexity beyond the regular curriculum. We are a neurodiversity affirming school, where difference does not mean deficit. 

 

📈 Exceptional Aptitude

Exceptional aptitude is the core trait of pūmanawa giftedness. Pūmanawa gifted learners have the potential to significantly exceed age-level expectations in their area/s of strength. Exceptional aptitude does not require and is not limited to academic achievement.     

 

🎂 Asynchronous Development

Pūmanawa gifted learners tend to be out-of-sync with their age peers. Development is advanced in their area/s of strength. Development may be delayed in other areas.

 

🔥 Intensity

Pūmanawa gifted learners tend to be intense. One or more of these intensities (intellectual, imaginational, emotional, sensory, and psychomotor) create a unique lived experience, bringing different opportunities and challenges: 

Intensity Personal Opportunities Personal Challenges
Intellectual insatiable curiosity, rage to learn overthinking, impatience with peers
Imaginational       rich inner world, creativity worries, distractibility 
Emotional depth of feeling,  empathy, compassion difficulty self-regulating, social isolation
Sensory heightened appreciation of sensory experiences     sensory overload, being ‘picky’
Psychomotor  extra energy impulsivity

Our provisional definition of pūmanawa giftedness is based on community consultation, research, and evidence from our pilot programmes. We welcome your feedback on our provisional definition and nomination process.

 

If you are interested in learning more,

Please check out our Pūmanawa Gifted Education FAQ and Tukuna Kia Rere Gifted Learners Hui.