Magis report 

It was wonderful for Magis students to come together this morning – to meet as a Years 7 to 12 cohort. Our 2024 Magis Captain, Thomas Syminton, gave an inspiring welcome address which set the tone for the assembly. There was a lot of important information that was discussed, chiefly the launch of our 2024 Gifted and Talented competitions and events program. Students heard from our College Drama Captain, and fellow Magis student, Felix Frichot, about the importance of balancing co-curricular activities with academic studies. Students were reminded about reading our weekly student newsletter, the Magis Memo, checking out the Magis Noticeboard, and having Teams notifications turned on. We offer so many wonderful opportunities for our GATE students to do more, to expand their learning beyond the classroom, so it’s important that they don’t miss out on what is offered throughout the year. An example of this, is Monday’s special presentation with Evan Laske, a NASA Robotics Engineer. Once we received the invitation, we posted to Magis Teams, for students interested in the STEM industry to get in touch. We have a group of students who were quick to reserve tickets and we look forward to sharing news of this experience in next week’s newsletter. The assembly concluded with a conversation on commitment and resilience. We have had an unprecedented number of students sign up for the da Vinci Decathlon and the WA Debating League. It’s important that when students are placed in a Team, they attend all meetings and development seminars and share the workload with their teammates. As is the case with some competitions, we only have a limited number of positions available per year group. It is important that students commit wholeheartedly if placed in a team. On the other hand, if you miss out on a placement, don’t let rejection set you back. A copy of the Magis Assembly presentation can be found on Magis Teams. 

Our Semester 1, Years 7 and 8 Magis Elective students have confirmed their topics for their Personal Projects, and what an exciting range of topics we have this year. 14 STEM based, 21 projects covering the humanities, and four projects examining sport. One of the major components of our Gifted and Talented Elective Course is the Personal Project. This program is based on the International Baccalaureate but modified to suit younger students and the timeframe within which the College Elective program is run. Students are challenged to choose a project related to a major interest or passion of theirs, and they work on this over the course of the Semester. Parents are encouraged to discuss these projects with their children.  Personal Projects will be displayed in an Exhibition for staff, parents, and students to view at the end of the Semester – with special awards to be presented at the Magis Awards Breakfast for the most outstanding projects. Pictured below are some of our Year 7 exhibits from last year’s exhibition.

MAGIS: OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MORE!

Magis Student Committee

Nominations for the Magis Student Committee are now open. The Committee, which consists of 18 to 20 students from Years 8 to 12, will be led by our 2024 Magis Captain. Committee members will provide leadership and support to our Magis students, as well as assistance with the overall development of the program. This is a great opportunity to provide a student voice to our GATE program and learn valuable leadership skills. Expressions of Interest must be made in writing (email) and are due by Monday 26 February (Week 5).

Senior Ethics Olympiad

The Ethics Olympiad provides students with a unique opportunity to develop skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. It is designed to get students thinking, talking, and ultimately working together on some of the tough moral issues of our time. Its objective is to do more than just help students think through ethical issues: It is to teach students how to think through ethical issues together, as fellow citizens in a complex moral and political community. The Senior Ethics Olympiad is open to students in Years 10-12 – with nominations closing Friday 1 March. Please note: There will be a Middle School Ethics Olympiad held later in the year – which is open for students in Years 7-9.

Ethics Olympiad Case Writing Awards 

Ethics Olympiad are holding a case writing competition with prize money to be won. Submissions should follow the general format for Ethics Olympiad cases: a scenario, between 400 and 800 words long, which highlights a clear moral issue and is appropriate for middle or high-school students and is written in a way that encourages civil discourse. The scenario should be framed so the central issue is clearly moral and not simply or primarily legal or professional. Knowledge of the structure of the Ethics Olympiad competition is important. If you haven’t taken part previously, I would encourage you to either speak to a student who has competed or contact the Head of Magis for more information (copies of past cases can be provided). Entries must be submitted by email to the Head of Magis by Friday, 19 April (Week 10). 

What Matters? Writing Competition

Inspired by Gough Whitlam’s commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia’s future, the What Matters? Writing competition is currently open to school students in Years 5 to 12 from Australia. Responding to the simple question ‘what matters?’, entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about. Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, What Matters? Is the perfect opportunity to empower students to raise their voices on issues that are important to them and know that their perspectives are valuable, no matter their age, background or viewpoint. Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of up to 600 words, and submitted online. Please click here for more information, or speak with the Head of Magis.

Term 1 Calendar

You can keep up to date with Magis events by following the Term 1 calendar, which can be accessed by clicking on the link below. Please note that some competition dates are still tentative, whilst registration is ongoing.

Daisy Farley

Head of Magis - Gifted & Talented Program