Magis report 

Forty-three of our interschool debaters attended an outstanding Debating Seminar Breakfast on Thursday. Keynote speakers and presenters were Charles Fedor and Darcy Austin. Charles is the Executive Officer for the WA Debating League and a member of the Australian Youth Council. After the introductory address the debaters broke into a novices’ section for our six Years 7-8 teams, and an advanced section for the seniors. Students were really focused and learned a lot from two great presenters.

The Intergenerational Research  program will see a major highlight on Monday when both classes will be guests at a special morning tea at Mercy Village between recess and  lunch. The face-to-face interviews should be fascinating, and both residents and students will provide some special entertainment for each other, as well as continuing the interview process.

We now have full teams (plus reserves) for the Da Vinci Decathlon which will be held at Winthrop Hall on Monday 29 March for Years 9 and 10 and Tuesday 30 March for Years 7 and 8.  Teams have a  great variety of preparation sessions with specialist teachers in preparation for this prestigious event.

The next section of the Magis House Academic Challenge Series, Mental Mathematics, will be held in this coming week. The House Spelling championship saw a record 303 entries from Years 7-12, with Loreto victorious ahead of St Louis and Koolyangarra, but Campion, Ward and St Louis all won one year level.  Most of the mental mathematics questions are not particularly hard, but this house event  is a test of concentration and speed.

Because of the short term and the loss of week one as a result of Covid restrictions, the John XXIII College Public Speaking heats have been moved to the start of Term Two. However nominations will close in the final week of this term, with two representatives allowed from each homeroom from Years 7-12.

Jim Miller

Magis Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator