Magis

Congratulations to our six senior students (three teams) who competed in the WADL British Parliamentary debating competition at Hale School on Sunday. Amelia MacMillan, Roberto Vitali, Rory Hewson, Charlie Richards, Cullen Binet and Xavier Cass represented the College impressively.  Congratulations also to the Magis students who excelled in the Tournament of Minds Finals on the weekend, with the Science team under the guidance of Mr Connellan winning the WA title and qualifying for the national titles in Darwin and Ms Farley’s Social Sciences team also performing extremely well.

The Magis John XXIII Chess Championship is drawing to a close, with finals being held this week and next, and some fascinating contests taking place.  This week has also been the final week for students to complete catch-up rounds in the four Magis Academic Challenges that have been held during the year, and all final awards for these and the interschool gifted and talented competitions, plus the overall Magis Award for each year group will be held at the final Magis Breakfast on Wednesday, 31 October  (week 3 of next term). This will be combined with the Opening of the Years 7 and 8 Personal Project display for Semester Two.

Arrangements have been progressing well for our first John XXIII College team to compete at the World Scholars Tournament of Champions at Yale University in Connecticut, U.S.A. This senior team, consisting of Ben Linsten, Alex Panther and Emily Tyson, was our most successful team at the Global round in Melbourne. The team departs in mid-November and highlights will also include visits to Boston and New York. 

I will be participating in the India Pilgrimage and not at school in the final week of term, and I would like to congratulate and thank the Magis and Altiora students for their excellent participation and range of outstanding successes this term, which included significant highlights such as the national Jesuit Debating in Sydney, Bell Shakespeare, the World Scholars Global round in Melbourne, our guest speakers and the first Magis Camp, held at Point Walter.  Special thanks also to Bella Spiro Harrison and the Magis committee and to the many staff and parents who have contributed so vitally to the success of the program.

Jim Miller

Gifted and Talented Coordinator