Students from across the Glen Innes community jumped at the opportunity to challenge themselves and get a foretaste of the Glen Innes High School’s new extension program through the school hosting a LEGO challenge.

Principal Natalie Hill said the school’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) offerings now included a HPGE Extension Class in Year 7 next year.

“We’ve been delighted at the response to our call for expressions of interest from parents, carers and primary schools for students showing high potential in the intellectual and creative domains of the program,” Ms Hill said.

“We’ve been working through the applications and students’ work samples so we can let families know about the make-up of the class.”

The class will complete the mandatory curriculum but also use additional school and external resources to challenge the students.

“The program will extend students’ creativity, capacity to innovate, collaborate and solve problems, which is exactly what we explored hosting a LEGO Challenge,” Ms Hill said.

“The challenge was a great opportunity to celebrate student talent, inspire curiosity and showcase the collaboration between our schools that benefits all students.”

The event brought Year 5 and 6 students from partner primary schools together with high school students. They worked in mixed-school teams on LEGO-based challenges that encouraged critical thinking, teamwork and creative design while new friendships and connections were made.