Magis Report 

Welcome back

Term 3 is set to be another exciting and busy time for Magis with competitions and events galore. With so much happening it is important that students are diligent in reading their Monday GATE student newsletter (the ‘Magis Memo’), Teams notices, and attend all practice sessions, development seminars and team meetings. Most competitions are team events, and so individual commitment to a group effort is vitally important. We warmly welcome a new cohort of students to our Magis elective classes and look forward to hearing about their endeavours over the course of the semester.

Important Debating Update

Please note that WADL have made some new changes to the debate dates/times for the upcoming Double Octo Final. Our Novice division finalists will be debating on Tuesday 28 July at Shenton College, whilst our Junior division finalists will debate on Wednesday 29 July at Perth Modern School. Debate times, positions, and rooming allocations are all listed in the round information below. We ask that all team members to pay particular attention to this document. Finals are played as knockout rounds, with a debate held each week, till the Grand Final in Week 6. We congratulate our debating teams (Novice JTC 3, 6 & 7; and Junior JTC 1, 2 & 3) for making the finals and wish them the best of luck with their debates.

Reminder: College Public Speaking Grand Final

A reminder that this Wednesday 29 July (Week 2) at 6:00 to 7:00pm in the Gonzaga Barry Lecture Theatre (GBLT), we will be holding our annual College Public Speaking Competition Grand Final. We welcome all members of our John XXIII community. It is always a thoroughly entertaining evening, with diverse topics and the extraordinary talents of our students on display. Hope to see you there!

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!

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

The Evatt Competition: Model UN

The Evatt Model United Nations Competition immerses young people into the world of peace and security on the international stage. It’s debating meets diplomacy, negotiation, and strategy.

In the WA State Round, participants will engage with three MUNs/Resolutions, including two prepared resolutions and one impromptu resolution. Successful participants will progress to the Semi-Finals and then through to the WA State Finals, with the top teams from WA State Finals invited to compete and represent WA at Evatt National Finals (ENF). For more information, including competition dates, please see the website: The Evatt Competition – UN Youth Australia. Students should consider signing up in pairs (team of two). Competition is open to students in Years 9-12. Expressions of Interest are due Tuesday, 28 July (T3, W2).

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.