Magis Report 

Snapshot: Year 7 Magis Elective Course

Over the last week or so, our Year 7 Magis Elective students have been delivering creative and engaging TEDx Talks on a range of topics (see list below). This assessment tested students' public speaking skills and proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the audience members. Later this year, we will provide the opportunity for Magis students to attend the 2025 TEDx Kings Park event, held at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. This is where young thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs, campaigners and changemakers from Perth and the state come together to celebrate ideas worth spreading and strive for a better future. 

WA Debating League Update

The first of the Make Up Rounds (MUR) for the WA Debating League (WADL) Schools Debating Competition (SDC) was held on Tuesday evening at Shenton College. We have three teams that debated, following postponements in Rounds 1 and 2. We have one final MUR debate this Tuesday, 24 June (please see below). Communication has been sent to the respective students and their families. Please note, the list of teams progressing to finals won’t be released until after the MUR’s have been completed and are likely to be held at the start of Term 3.

College Chess Tournament

It’s been a big week for chess players! The preliminary final of the College Chess Tournament was held on Monday, and some quarter-final games were held earlier today. We look forward to finalising the semi-final fixtures early next week. Stay tuned!

We wish all our chess players the best of luck. 

What’s happening next week?

Next week is going to be VERY busy indeed for Magis students. We have our final heats for the College Public Speaking Competition and the semi-final of the College Chess Tournament. We have our final postponed WADL SDC debate scheduled for Tuesday evening. Our Years 7 and 8 Magis Elective students will be displaying their Personal Projects in an exhibition in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre on Thursday morning, and our Mock Trials Team has a civil trial scheduled on Thursday evening at the WA Supreme Court. On top of this, there are meetings scheduled for a number of Term 3 competitions, so we encourage Magis students to be organised, and check Monday’s Magis Memo (GATE student newsletter) to ensure nothing is missed.

Save the date

Our Years 7 and 8 Magis elective students will be displaying their Personal Projects in an exhibition held at the Thomas More Exhibition Centre on Thursday, 26 June (Week 19) between 7:30am and 8:45am. This will mark the culmination of many months of hard work and planning, and we very much look forward to sharing with students, staff, and parents in the celebration of our talented students. 

The Grand Final of the 2025 College Public Speaking Competition will be held on Wednesday, 30 July (Term 3, Week 2) at 6:30pm in the Gonzaga Barry Lecture Theatre (GBLT). Invitations will be sent to the parents and guardians of our grand finalists in due course. However, we would like to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to the wider College Community. It is sure to be a wonderful evening with the extraordinary talents of our students on display. We are excited to have a panel of esteemed Magis Alumni, who will have the difficult task of deciding the top public speaker from each year group. 

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.  

Daisy Farley

Head of Magis – Gifted and Talented

Magis: Opportunities to do more!

Middle School Ethics Olympiad

Last opportunity for students to apply! The Ethics Olympiad offers students a unique opportunity to develop skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. It is designed to encourage students to think, discuss, and ultimately work together on some of the challenging 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. This international competition is open to students in Years 7 to 9. Team positions are highly coveted, with only 10 spots available. Expressions of interest are due Monday, 23 June (Week 19). A training clinic will be held in Term 3, with the competition scheduled for Term 4.

Junior Gifted Stretch

We are in the process of selecting twelve Year 8 students to take part in the 2025 Junior Stretch and Challenge Conference, in conjunction with Oxford University and Thriving Minds. This transformative event is crafted to unleash the full potential of gifted minds, with a specific focus on philosophy, science and ethics. Nurturing self-discovery, innovation, and intellectual growth, the conference is designed to inspire ambition. By attending, students will be inspired to think deeply, gain valuable insights, and develop skills essential for future success. The conference will be held on Tuesday, 2 September (Term 3, Week 7).

International Debating Championships

International Debating Championships provide quality debating teaching and tournaments for Australian and international schools, continuing to develop students’ public speaking skills, analytical ability, and general knowledge. The tournament will be held entirely online via Zoom on Friday nights during Term 4 of the NSW school term. It is open to students in Years 7-10 across Australia, New Zealand and Asia and will be conducting two divisions; Junior (Years 7-8), and Senior (Years 9-10). The tournament will be adjudicated by qualified and experienced university debating adjudicators. We will be holding debate development training seminars in Term 3, in the lead up to the Term 4 competition. Expressions of interest are to be emailed to the Head of Magis by Monday, 4 August (Term 3, Week 3).

The Global Voices Fellowship

Attention Year 12 students: Applications are now open for the Global Voices Fellowship. This life-changing program aims to upskill and develop the next generation of Australian leaders to contribute to domestic and global decision-making. This is a fully funded scholarship, with all domestic and international flights, accommodations, breakfasts, visas, insurance, and registration fees covered. For more information, please click the link below or speak with the Head of Magis.

Further information is available here. 

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.