Magis Report
Term 2 is set to be another exciting and BUSY time for Magis, with many competitions and events scheduled.
Magis Academic Challenges:
- College Chess Tournament
- College Public Speaking Competition
- Homeroom Challenge – Humanities, Art, Languages & Literature
State Competitions:
- da Vinci Decathlon
- Senior Ethics Olympiad (Australasian division)
- WADL Debating Schools Debating Competition
- Mock Trials
- World Scholars (Regionals)
- Other smaller individual competitions include: PESA etc.
Other Events:
- Magis Personal Projects Exhibition
- High Achievers Breakfast
- Astronomy Evenings
- Academic Mentoring
- Debate Tutoring Sessions
- Model UN Talk
We will also be forming teams for the following Term 3 competitions:
- Tournament of Minds (STEM, Languages & Literature, SOSE)
- Middle School Ethics Olympiad
- Junior Stretch & Challenge
- British Parliamentary Debating
Most competitions are team events, and so individual commitment to a group effort is vitally important. We ask our GATE students to uphold our College values, of being ‘people for others’. We also ask that students do their due diligence prior to signing up for a competition, as there is no dropping out partway through. As parents know, our GATE students receive a student newsletter every Monday (‘the Magis Memo’), which lists their meeting and training times for the week. Some of the skills our students learn as part of the Magis program include organisation, independence and multi-tasking. Going forward, parents will receive notifications through SEQTA (attendance concern) if their child has missed a co-curricular meeting without sending apologies ahead of time. Full attendance at meetings and completing required preparation is essential to our success.
You can keep up to date with our schedule of competitions and events by viewing the Magis calendar, which can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
Magis: Opportunities to do more!
College Chess Tournament
Entries are now open for our annual College Chess Tournament. If you think you have what it takes to be our next College ‘Grandmaster’, or you simply want to have fun, then email your name, Year and House to the Head of Magis. All participants will win their House valuable points – with trophies to be awarded to our finalists. Pictured below is a photo taken at our Grand Final last year. See the attached flyer for further information. Entries close Monday, 9 May (Week 12).
STEM Design Competition
Catholic Education WA (CEWA) have launched this STEM design competition, with the aim of getting student perspectives. Put your innovation into action and design a digital logo or graphic that visually depicts what CEWA STEM is all about. This competition is open to all CEWA students. Winning designs will be displayed and celebrated at the 2025 CEWA STEM Showcases. To submit an entry, email the Head of Magis, your design by Monday, 12 May (Term 2, Week 13). Please note: Digital tools could include (but are not limited to) Canva, Seesaw, Sketches, Pages, Word, Keynote, etc.
Tournament of Minds
Tournament of Minds (TOM) is an international problem-solving program for teams of students. TOM aims to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment. Teams will be required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Languages & Literature, or Society & Environment (HASS) disciplines. Regional and state finals are to be held at Edith Cowan University in September, with the International final to be held in Sydney in November. For more information, please visit the competition website or speak with the Head of Magis. Expressions of interest are due Monday, 12 May (Term 2, Week 13).
College Public Speaking Competition
Entries are now open for our annual College Public Speaking Competition. This is a prestigious event on our College Calendar, with the grand final attended by students, parents, staff, and alumni. Students can speak up to three minutes on a topic of their choice. Heats will be held in Weeks 14 and 15, with the top three students from each year group progressing to the Grand Final. Trophies and medals will be awarded to the top public speaker and the runner-up public speaker in each year group. These prizes will be awarded at our Magis Awards Breakfast in Term 4. Please see the flyer for further information. Entries are due Friday, 16 May (Week 13).
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 visit the website Whitlam Institute What Matters for more information, including samples of past winners. Major cash prizes to be won! Entries close Friday, 16 May (Week 13).
Astronomy Club
Calling all stargazers and astronomy lovers! Join our College’s Astronomy Club, where you’ll learn more about the night sky and the history behind constellations, gain confidence with telescopes, and discover tips to make stargazing more enjoyable. It is a great social club where you’ll meet like-minded people of all ages, who share a passion for learning and stargazing. The Astronomy Club meets on the College Oval on various evenings throughout the year – and has a few events booked with the Perth Observatory. For more information, please email the Club Coordinator, Mr Peter Mazur (Mathematics Learning Area), or the Head of Magis.
Daisy Farley
Head of Magis