Magis report 

State Final: Plain English Speaking Awards

Last Saturday, Year 12 Magis students Asha Paton and Thomas Syminton represented our College at the State Final of the Plain English-Speaking Awards. The primary aim of the Award is to encourage and maintain the best use of clear and effective English. Our students delivered an eight-minute speech on a topic of their choice. Thomas spoke on the feasibility of nuclear power, whilst Asha addressed the influences on Australian lawmaking. These speeches were followed by a three-minute impromptu speech on the topic ‘ignorance is bliss’. Both students are to be congratulated for their exceptional performances.

Thomas Syminton, Magis Captain, said: 

'Participating in PESA was a wonderful experience. It not only gave me the opportunity to write a speech about something I am passionate about, but also allowed me to further develop my public speaking skills. It was great meeting students from other schools with similar interests and spending the day learning about a variety of topics. I am very grateful for the opportunities our Magis Program provides.'

International Final: Ethics Olympiad

Whilst there is still one more sleep till the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, you don’t have to wait to find out the results of the International Ethics Olympiad Final. Our Senior Ethics Team competed in the International Final on Wednesday against 46 teams from across Canada, the US, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong and Australia. These were the top-performing teams from their respective divisions, with our Team having qualified (and won gold) at the Australasian division last term. Ethics Olympiad provides eth-letes (students) with a creative vehicle for developing skills in communication, critical thinking and respectful discourse while dealing with important and interesting ethical issues. The competition is held over the Zoom platform and is adjudicated by a panel of international academics and ethics professors. The results of the International Final were announced on Wednesday evening:

• The gold medal was awarded to Canada – Marc Garneau Collegiate
• The silver medal was awarded to New Zealand – Papanui High School…and
• The bronze medal was awarded to Australia – John XXIII College!

What an outstanding achievement! We are extremely proud of our Senior Ethics team:

• Gemma Bailey
• Meg Cleary
• Meg Derbyshire
• Asha Paton
• Sky Pineda Beasley

Finishing this year’s competition was bittersweet for our Year 12s, as they have competed together since Year 7. They are an award-winning team, having won numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals at both the junior and senior Australasian and International levels. When it was time to log out of the zoom call, the team paused and looked at each other, before clicking the ‘end call button’. They are now passing the baton to our junior ethics team, who they will help mentor ahead of their respective competition in Term 4. 

Asha Paton said: 

'Ethics Olympiad is one of the best competitions I’ve taken part in during my time at the College and as a member of the Magis Program. Not only does it complement the curriculum we study at school, particularly in Religious Education, but moreover, it furthers your knowledge on the application of different ethical frameworks and social issues facing the world today. The format of the competition as a discussion rather than a debate provides this optimal space for learning without becoming too adversarial, which is a unique feature of the Ethics Olympiad. I want to thank Ms Farley, our coach, and my fellow teammates for being the best Ethics Olympiad Team in Australia in 2024!'

Update: WA Debating League Finals

Communication has been sent to students and parents regarding the WA Debating League Schools Debating Competition Finals. We are excited to have three teams in this year’s finals: JTC 4, JTC 5 and JTC 7. Please note that the Preliminary Final will be held on Tuesday, 6 August at Perth Modern School.

What’s happening next week?

Our Creative Edge and Tournament of Minds Teams (pictured below) are well into the planning stages of their respective challenges. Please note that the Regional Finals for Creative Edge will be held at Curtin University on Saturday, 24 August, and the Tournament of Minds will be held at Edith Cowan University (Joondalup) on Saturday, 31 August.

MAGIS: OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MORE!

LAST CHANCE: College Creative Writing Competition

Don’t miss out on submitting an entry in the 2024 College Creative Writing Competition. Students from Years 7 to 12 are invited to submit an original poem or short story. Students can submit work created earlier this year in English class or create an entry especially for the competition. The College Creative Writing Competition encourages imagination, innovation, and creativity. There are great book prizes and trophies to be won. Further details can be found by on our flyer below. Entries are due THIS Monday 29 July 2024 (Week 3).

Harvard Crimson

The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition provides a platform for young, ambitious high school students to exercise their writing skills and compete with students from all over the world. This competition encourages students to challenge themselves and explore different writing styles to ultimately strengthen their writing skills. The competition features two key rounds, the regional qualifiers held throughout five regions, followed by the global finals. To compete in the global round, participants must go head-to-head with local participants and place in the top 15 of the regional qualifiers. The top 12 submissions of the final 75, will be recognised in the global final and will win awesome prizes. As Harvard registration opens 1 October 2024 and closes 31 January 2025, we asked that students (aged 13-18) submit their expression of interest to the Head of Magis by Monday, 9 September 2024. This will be followed by a series of meetings and training seminars in preparation for the competition. Regional qualifiers will be held in February 2025, with Globals held in March 2025. For more information, please click the link below or speak with the Head of Magis. 

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 to 10 across Australia, New Zealand and Asia and will be conducting two divisions; Junior (Years 7 and 8), and Senior (Years 9 and 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 Friday 2 August (Term 3, Week 3).

Junior Gifted Stretch

We are in the process of selecting 12 students across Years 7 to 9 to take part in the 2024 Junior Stretch and Challenge Conference, in conjunction with Academy Learning and Thriving Minds. This transformative event is crafted to unleash the full potential of gifted minds, with a specific focus on STEM-related themes. 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 Friday 30 August (Term 3, Week 7).

Shakespeare Club 

 Are you a fan of the Bard? Or interested in extending your literature knowledge further? Why not join our College Shakespeare Club? The Club's mission is to foster enjoyment in reading and encourage academic discussion of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. For further details or registration, please email the Head of Magis. 

Daisy Farley

Head of Learning Areas – HASS & Magis