Neurodiversity in Education Project

🚀 It's here — Clubs Activation Week starts TODAY!

Kia ora whānau! Starting at 10am this morning, tamariki from across Aotearoa can come together online and share what sparks their curiosity! 🌟

Today's sessions:
🌟 10.00am – Welcome: Share your sparks!
⭐ 11.00am – Clubs Kids: Abby – Lifecycle of stars
✍️ 1.00pm – Ancient writing & pre-writing – with Madelaine
💬 2.00pm – Clubhouse Chat: Readers & writers book jam
🎨 7.00pm – Draw along with Amy

Join any session at: https://meet.google.com/dvi-saeq-ihw

"Connecting with other kids and teens all across New Zealand is one of the coolest things I have ever done." — Clubs student

Not in Clubs yet? Jump in — it's FREE! 👉 https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/clubs

📅 THE SCHEDULE IS HERE — and it is PACKED!

Clubs Activation Week runs Monday 23 – Friday 27 March with 20+ free live sessions across the week. Here's what's coming up 👇

Monday 23 Mar
🌟 10.00am – Welcome to Clubs Activation Week: Share your sparks!
⭐ 11.00am – Clubs Kids: Abby – Lifecycle of stars
✍️ 1.00pm – Ancient writing and pre-writing – with Madelaine
💬 2.00pm – Clubhouse Chat: Readers & writers book jam
🎨 7.00pm – Draw along with Amy (bring things to draw!)

Tuesday 24 Mar
🎁 11.00am – Collecting – with Grace
⭐ 1.00pm – Clubs Kids: Bayley – The true side of history
🏺 2.00pm – Greekery – with Grace
💬 7.00pm – Clubhouse Chat: Big ideas to chew on

Wednesday 25 Mar
⭐ 11.00am – Clubs Kids: Harry & Jacob – Minecraft, Redstone, Binary & Hexadecimal
⭐ 1.00pm – Clubs Kids: Bianca – The skills of drawing
🌿 2.00pm – Closed biospheres – with Orion
⭐ 7.00pm – Clubs Kids: Pearl – Crows

Thursday 26 Mar
🎮 11.00am – Game design – with Dean
🧶 1.00pm – Amigurumi – tiny cute creations – with Madelaine
💬 2.00pm – Clubhouse Chat: What if… exploring counterfactuals
💬 7.00pm – Clubhouse Chat: Makers and do-ers inspiration jam

Friday 27 Mar
🧠 11.00am – Your brain toolkit – with Grace
💬 1.00pm – Clubhouse Chat: What makes your brain spark?
⭐ 2.00pm – Clubs Kids: Misha – draw along session (bring things to draw!)
💬 7.00pm – Clubhouse Chat: Changemakers – Let's set up a group project!

⭐ = Student-led sessions | 💬 = Clubhouse Chats

Not in Clubs yet? Sign up FREE at 👉 https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/clubs

All sessions join at: https://meet.google.com/dvi-saeq-ihw
(You can join any session, even outside your own Club!)

Something big is coming THIS MONDAY — and tamariki all over Aotearoa are going to love it! 🎉🪝

Clubs Activation Week kicks off 23–27 March with 20+ FREE live online sessions packed with fascinating speakers, student-led talks and Clubhouse Chats — all designed to get curious minds totally hooked!

This term's theme? "Gets Me Hooked" 🍄🔭🪐

A taste of what's coming this week:
🌟 Lifecycle of stars
📜 Ancient writing and pre-writing
🌿 Closed biospheres
🏺 Greekery — all things Ancient Greek
🎮 Game design
🖥️ Minecraft, Redstone, Binary & Hexadecimal
🦅 Crows — with Clubs Kids Pearl
🧶 Amigurumi — tiny cute creations
🧠 Your brain toolkit
🔁 Counterfactuals in science and history

Plus Clubhouse Chats, draw-along sessions and a changemakers project to kick off together!

"Every single Clubs chat has someone interesting to listen to and gets me hooked." — Clubs student

Clubs is FREE for Y2–10 students across Aotearoa. Find out more and sign up 👇
👉 https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/clubs

💜 When student voice meets professional learning, magic happens!

Young Neurodiversity Champion Holly recently spoke at Ellesmere College, sharing her lived experience as a neurodivergent learner with 30 educators.

The response was beautiful:

"Holly provided the student voice/perspective... Her voice touched a number of kaiako and the feedback received was so encouraging as they truly paused to listen to Holly. Her voice as a recent Secondary learner graduate is often what is missed... the language Holly used was an instant connection with staff - yippee!" - Julz Smith, RTLB Liaison

THIS is what happens when we make space for youth voice in education. When teachers truly listen to the experiences of neurodivergent rangatahi, understanding deepens, empathy grows, and schools become more inclusive.

Our Young Neurodiversity Champions are available to present at schools, professional learning sessions, conferences, and community events across Aotearoa.

Want to bring their powerful voices to your organisation? Get in touch: https://form.jotform.com/hellonzcge/abqs-with-the-yncs-event-inquiry | [email protected] | 0800 769 243

"My student Sam was always getting in trouble for being 'disruptive'... until I started seeing his energy as a strength." - Sarah, Year 5 teacher

This is exactly the kind of mindset shift that Spotlight on Strengths helps create!

Our new FREE course shows you how to:
🌈 See past the sticking points to the amazing abilities underneath
🌈 Use practical tools that work in real classrooms with real kids
🌈 Create learning experiences that let every brain shine
🌈 Build confidence in both you AND your students

Four short lessons. Lifetime impact.

Whether you're supporting curious learners, neurodivergent tamariki, or just want every child to feel valued - this course is for you.

Join our Building A Neuroinclusive School community (completely free!) and transform how you see student potential: https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/bns

What strengths have you noticed in your learners lately? Share in the comments! 👇

Kia ora teachers and whānau! 🌈

Ready to make 2026 your most inclusive year yet? We've got you covered with our FREE Neuroinclusive Year Planner—your month-by-month guide to creating a classroom where every brain can thrive.

No complicated strategies or extra prep time needed. Just practical, easy-to-implement tips that make a real difference for your neurodivergent learners.

📅 Download your planner and let's make this year amazing together:
https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/post/your-neuroinclusive-classroom-year-planner

Your Neuroinclusive Classroom Year Planner We’ve created a FREE, FUN, & PRACTICAL planner to help you make your classroom more neuroinclusive.

“What is something about you that you're really passionate about? There's probably a club for that…you connect with everybody.” - Student, Patumāhoe

Whether solo or with friends, there’s something for every curious mind.

Clubs is a FREE online platform where Y2-10 tamariki and rangatahi connect with like minds across Aotearoa! Whether they love science, art, writing, reading, coding, history, or making a difference in the world, there's a club for them.

Kids can explore tasters, build skills, earn badges, create projects, and connect with others who share their interests. All this in a safe, moderated environment they can access anytime, anywhere!

Sign up today at http://neurodiversity.org.nz/clubs and watch your curious learner thrive! ✨

🌟 Applications are open for MindPlus 2026!

Does your curious learner need more? MindPlus offers specialist support for Y2-10 tamariki whose brains thrive on challenge and new ideas.

✨ Three ways to join MindPlus:

MindPlus OurSchool - Join other curious learners at our Auckland or Christchurch units for one day a week during school hours: https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/mindplus-ourschool

MindPlus Online - Connect with like-minded peers from anywhere in Aotearoa for weekly online sessions: https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/mindplus-online

MindPlus YourSchool - Bring world-class specialist education to your school with our train-the-teacher programme: https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/mindplus-yourschool

Our specialist teachers understand what makes neurodivergent learners tick. With small class sizes and strength-based learning, we focus on each child's unique potential.

💙 98% of students and their whānau enjoy the MindPlus experience
💙 95% of parents say MindPlus makes a positive impact

Learn more and apply: https://www.neurodiversity.org.nz/mindplus

We want to say a huge THANK YOU to our incredible community 💜
To the whānau navigating the education system with grace and determination... To the teachers creating neuroinclusive spaces every single day... To the tamariki and rangatahi showing us what’s possible when you’re supported to be authentically you... To the leading the change they want to see...
You inspire us every day.
Wishing you all a peaceful, joyful Christmas and New Year. See you in 2026! 🌟

Kia ora whānau! 🌟

The school holidays are here – and so are endless possibilities for your curious learners!

Clubs keeps passionate Y2-10 tamariki connected and exploring their interests all summer long. Whether it's coding, creative writing, astronomy, or ancient civilizations – there's a Club for every passion.

✨ FREE access
✨ Connect with like-minded peers across Aotearoa
✨ No pressure, just pure exploration
✨ Perfect for those "I'm bored" moments!

Sign up today and let their curiosity lead the way this summer! 🚀

www.neurodiversity.org.nz/clubs

🌟 Big welcome to our newest MindPlus YourSchool partners! 🌟

Kia ora Wi******er School (Palmerston North), Mangapikopiko School (South Auckland), and Te Oraka Shirley Intermediate (Christchurch)!

We're so excited that your curious learners will be experiencing MindPlus right at their own kura in 2026! 🎉

What does this mean?

These tamariki will get to:
💡 Dive deep into their passions and interests
💡 Build their thinking and creative problem-solving skills
💡 Connect with like-minded peers who "get them"
💡 Learn about themselves as learners
💡 Develop the executive functioning and social-emotional skills they need to thrive

All while staying at their own school, with their own teacher being trained as a specialist MindPlus educator!

From Tāmaki Makaurau to Ōtautahi and everywhere in between - MindPlus YourSchool is reaching curious learners right across Aotearoa! 🇳🇿

Is it too late for YOUR child's school? Absolutely not! You can change the game for neurodivergent learners in 2026 with our ready-to-go programme starting in Term One. Get in touch today!

Want to see MindPlus at your child’s school in 2026? Share this opportunity with them now!

👉 www.neurodiversity.org.nz/mindplus-yourschool