On Friday 31 August, a group of 16 Year 7 and 8 Stellatus students attended the Junior Stretch and Challenge Day held at Aranmore Catholic College. This day was about stretching the minds of Gifted and Talented students and was led by Julie Arliss, an international educator of gifted students with a gift for making the complex simple and the simple complex.

The day consisted of 4 sessions:

Session 1: Genetics, Epigenetics Transhumanism

This session students listened to Julie talk about the future of genetical engineering and the ethical issues that surround it.

Session 2: Interactive Guided Community of Inquiry

This session saw student go out of their comfort zones to work in groups with students from other schools to have a guided discussion on a very well-known philosophical problem – The Ring of Gyges Challenge.

Session 3: Unlocking Virtue – A Journey into Aristotle’s Philosophy

For this session students looked back in history and learnt about Aristotle and his contribution to philosophy and how it has shaped the world we live in and know today.

Session 4: Debate

Students had the opportunity to participate in a philosophical debate

“This House Believes that the Finely Tuned Design of the Universe Points to the Existence of God.”

Overall, this day challenged the students thinking and gave them many valuable skills and knowledge to take forward in their future years.

Mrs Kylie Underwood
Coordinator – Gifted and Talented Programme