Riley et al, (2004)

Gifted and talented students at Arahoe School demonstrate exceptional levels of performance and/or potential in one or more areas when compared with others of similar age, culture, experience or environment. As a multi-cultural school we recognise that giftedness and talent varies from culture to culture and is shaped by each group’s beliefs, values, attitudes and customs.

These areas may include the following six broad areas of giftedness and talent:

• Intellectual/Academic - refers to students with exceptional abilities in one or more of the learning areas (i.e., English, the arts, health and physical education, learning languages, mathematics and statistics, science, social sciences, and technology).

• Creativity - refers to students with general creative abilities as evidenced in their abilities to problem-find and problem-solve, and their innovative thinking and productivity.

• Expression - through the visual and performing arts refers to music, dance, drama, and visual arts.

• Social/Leadership - refers to students with interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities and qualities which enable them to act in leadership roles.

• Culture-specific abilities and qualities - refers to those valued by the student’s cultural or ethnic group, including traditional arts and crafts, pride in cultural identity, language ability, and service to the culture.

• Expression through physical/sport - refers to students with excellent physical abilities and skills, as evidenced through sport and physical education programmes.

Mahaki & Mahaki (2007)

Acknowledging that a percentage of our students are Maori, the school values its gifted and talented Maori students and recognises that additional to the above areas, gifted and talented Maori students may demonstrate or show potential in any one or more of the following qualities:

• Manaakitanga - generosity - honouring, caring and giving mana to people thus maintaining your own, community service, food

• Whanaungatanga - family values/relationships, connecting with and supporting each other

• Wairuatanga - balance, harmony, spirituality, being grounded, calm, knowledge of whakapapa, legends and myths, karakia

• Kaitiakitanga - care taker/guardianship of knowledge, environment and resources

• Rangatiratanga - ranga – to weave, tira – a company – leadership that inspires unity, role model, courage, pepeha

• Matauranga - knowledge, intellect, thinking skills, wisdom, education, learned, studious

• Te Mahi Rehia - Recreational Pursuits - physical and artistic performance, reo, ngā tākaro

• Tikanga - approved etiquette – correct behaviour, truthful, proper, respectful, karakia

Faaea-Semeatu (2011)

Also acknowledging that a percentage of our students are Pasifika, the school values its gifted and talented Pasifika students and recognises that additional to the above areas, gifted and talented Pasifika students may demonstrate or show potential in any one or more of the following qualities:

• Adaptability

• Memory

• Church Affiliation

• Commitment to Excellence

• Relationships

• Resilience

• Lineage/Birthright

• Language fluency

• Leadership

• Representation