Magis

The Magis Awards Breakfast and Personal Project Opening was held this week and was attended by just over 100 people.  There were many superb, creative and varied projects, and it was pleasing to see the great support from parents. Six Years 11 and 12  Magis leaders and two staff members judged the projects individually, and names of award winners will be announced in the next newsletter, but all students can be justifiably proud of their achievements. Warmest thanks to Mr Rob Henderson, Ms Jess Bouwman and Ms Dawson who presented or announced awards, to Magis Captain Rory Hewson who gave the opening address, and to the many teachers and students who visited the Exhibition which remained opened through to the end of lunchtime.  Colourful Personal Project Display catalogues highlighted the great diversity and excellence of the student work.

The Magis Awards were presented to students who represented the College this semester in external team competitions Da Vinci Decathlon, Creative Edge Thinking, and World Scholar’s Cup, and to placegetters in the Magis Academic Spelling and Mental Maths Challenges, and the John XXIII Public Speaking and Creative Writing competitions both run by Magis. Another major competition, the interschool debating, is still in progress and awards will be presented later in the year along with the major semester two competitions.

A new set of awards was introduced to Magis students who have given dedicated service to the program this year, and these were presented to the following senior students who all gave superb keynote addresses either on public Speaking or World Scholar’s Cup at Magis Breakfasts this semester. The recipients were Rory Hewson, Charlie Richards, Ben Linsten, Emily Tyson, Alex Panther and Skye MacMillan.  The Award report will be published next week.

Many of the awards presented were publicised as they occurred throughout the semester, but Creative Writing results were announced for the first time and the placegetters were:

The make-up rounds of WADL Interschool debating were held at Shenton College on Thursday, and we now await news of whether any other teams will join the undefeated Year 7 team in the finals.  Congratulations and thanks to all students who represented the College, and special thanks to the teachers Ms Kirralee Dawson, Deacon Aaron Peter, Ms Mary-Anne Lumley, Ms Bonita Devanand and Ms Debra Needham for their great assistance to the teams.

Final preparations are now being completed for the Jesuit Debating Championships in Melbourne at the start of the holidays, and the World Scholar’s Global Round in Sydney next term, and we look forward to the finals in debating and Mock Trials next term, along with the great range of semester two gifted and talented competitions at both the College and interschool  level.

Jim Miller

Gifted and Talented Coordinator