Magis Report 

College Chess Tournament Grand Final

Over the past eight weeks, some 90-plus chess players, from Years 5 through to Year 12, have taken part in a series of knock-out rounds for our College Chess Tournament. Our Grand Final was held on Monday between James Sommerfield (Year 10) and Joshua Standen (Year 11). I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both players on a terrific achievement and recognise the wonderful spirit of fairness and camaraderie in which they conducted their game. James Sommerfield is our 2026 College Grandmaster. Both James and Joshua will be awarded their trophies at our Magis Awards Breakfast later this year.

College Public Speaking Grand Finalists

The heats of our College Public Speaking Competition have been running for the past month. Students have spoken passionately on a broad range of topics from Siri to Pink Flamingos and everything in between. Suffice to say, the standard was exceptionally high, so choosing the top public speakers was a difficult and unenviable task for staff. We would like to take this opportunity to commend all students who took part. Public Speaking is a valuable skill to have and to hone, and I would strongly encourage all participants to seek feedback on their performance.

We are excited to announce our 2026 Grand Finalists are:

The Grand Final of the College Public Speaking Competition will be held on Wednesday, 29 July (Week 2) at 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the Gonzaga Barry Lecture Theatre (GBLT). 

Invitations have been sent to the parents and guardians of our grand finalists, but we would like to extend the invitation to the wider College community. It is sure to be a wonderful evening with the extraordinary talents of our students on display. 

Course Complete

In true Magis spirit, our elective students continued striving for the more even in their final lessons this week. Students were tasked with a series of academic challenges which tested their problem-solving, teamwork and general knowledge. 

Over the course of the term, our Year 7 students:

• Have engaged in collaborative discussions on real-world ethical issues;
• Have completed an intense short course on ‘An introduction to philosophy’. Examining the life and work of the Ancient Greek Philosophers, and
• Have created their own inquiry question to research.

I would like to congratulate the following Semester One Year 7 Magis students whose work has been selected for our Magis Exhibition in Term 4:

High praise for our Year 9 cohort. This wonderful group of students created a safe forum for mature and intellectual discourse to thrive. Over the course of the Semester, they have:

• Learnt about psychology and the world of Sigmund Freud;
• Solved a Future Problem about invasive species;
• Delivered engaging TEDx Talks;
• Completed numerous academic challenges; and
• Most impressively, they selected an ATAR topic to base their inquiry on. With the help and guidance from their academic mentor (ATAR teacher), they have challenged and stretched themselves beyond their year level by exploring ATAR topics whilst still in Year 9. An outstanding achievement. Our Year 9 Inquiry (reports) will be on display at our Magis Exhibition in Term 4. Other opportunities for stretch will be offered to these students later in the year, including applying for the 2027 UWA or Curtin University Accelerated Programs (offered to Years 10 and 11 students). 

Connor Siegert said: 

The Magis Inquiry was such an amazing experience. It challenged me in so many ways but it also gave me a head start on my Year 11 Modern History ATAR studies. Thanks to the wonderful help, guidance, and wisdom of my Academic Mentor, Ms Mavromatis (Modern History ATAR teacher), and Ms Farley, I was able to accomplish a piece of work I will be forever proud of.

Juliet Cooney said: 

Studying neurons (Year 12 Human Biology ATAR) with my Academic Mentor, Mr Connellan, was a highly rewarding experience. I learned much about the communication of neurons and the effect which they have upon the functionality of the body. The mentoring sessions were very relevant and engaging and I feel so fortunate to have been presented with this experience.

We congratulate our Year 7 and 9 students on the successful completion of their Magis Elective Course. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of students next Semester. 

Debating Update

The WA Debating League have confirmed the locations for the DoubleOcto, Octo, and Quarter Finals of the Schools Debating Competition (SDC). Finals is played as knockout rounds, so at this stage we only know the teams progressing to the DoubleOcto Final: Novice JTC 3, 6 & 7; and Junior JTC 1, 2 & 3. Please note that the Novice division DoubleOcto Final will be held on Tuesday, 28 July at Shenton College, whilst the Junior division DoubleOcto Final will be held on Wednesday, 29 July at Perth Modern School. This change in date, for the Junior division, means that we have some Public Speaking Grand Finalists who will need to pre-tape their speeches as they will have to debate the same evening. I spoke with these students this morning, and a date/time has been arranged for filming. Further information regarding the DoubleOcto final can be found below. We wish all our debating finalists best of luck, for next term.

Lot's happening in Term 3. You can keep up to date with our schedule of competitions and events by viewing the Magis calendar, which can be accessed below.  

Daisy Farley

Head of Magis – Gifted and Talented

Magis: Opportunities to do more!

Note: All expressions of interest should be sent to the Magis Assistant: magis@johnxxiii.edu.au

Shakespeare Incursion

Next term, the Magis Program will host The Players from Bell Shakespeare for a wonderful afternoon of Shakespeare immersion. A key aspect of our GATE program is providing our students with opportunities to learn 'more'. It is important for our students to be exposed to a wide range of genres, styles, and topics. Learning about Shakespeare gives students a glimpse at another world, and helps improve their logical thinking processes, emotional intelligence, and cultural awareness. The incursion will be held on Friday, 21 August (Term 3, Week 5), during periods 5 and 6. 

Students will take part in a short activity, followed by a performance of Such Sweet Sorrow and then a Q&A with the actors. Our annual Shakespeare Incursion is compulsory for all Years 7 and 9 Semester 1 & 2 Magis Elective students. All other students must complete the incursion e-form on Magis Teams by Friday, 31 July (Term 3, Week 2).

Nature in Focus Photography Competition 

Celebrate Australian biodiversity with the Nature in Focus Photography Competition. Last year’s entries came from across Australia, showcasing the extraordinary nature, wildlife, and conservation efforts around our vast country. This competition is open to students in K-12, to show off their amazing photography skills. Categories for high school students include Oceans, Wetlands & Rivers; Sustainability; and Species and Habitats. Visit Conservation Volunteers Australia. Nature In Focus Photo Competition (2026) to learn more (including judging criteria). Competition closes at 5:00pm AEST, 7 September 2026. Great prizes to be won! 

The Global Voices Fellowship

Attention Year 12 students: Applications are 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 here or speak with the Head of Magis.