Magis Report 

Term 2 is set to be another exciting and BUSY time for Magis, with many competitions and events scheduled.

Magis Academic Challenges:

• College Chess Tournament
• College Public Speaking Competition (Heats)
• Homeroom Challenge – Humanities, Art, Languages & Literature

State Competitions:

• da Vinci Decathlon
• Senior Ethics Olympiad (Australasian division)
• WA Debating League Schools Debating Competition (Rounds 3-5; including MU Rounds)
• Mock Trials (Rounds 2 &3)
• World Scholars (Regionals)
• Other smaller individual competitions include: PESA etc.

Other Events:

• UN Youth State Conference
• Debate Development Days
• Astronomy Evening
• Academic Mentoring

We will also be forming teams for the following Term 3 competitions:

• Tournament of Minds (STEM, Languages & Literature, SOSE)
• Middle School Ethics Olympiad
• Junior Stretch & Challenge
• British Parliamentary Debating

Most competitions are team events, and so individual commitment to a group effort is vitally important. We ask our GATE students to uphold our College values, of being ‘people for others’. We also ask that students do their due diligence prior to signing up for a competition, as there is no dropping out partway through. As parents know, our GATE students receive a student newsletter every Monday (‘the Magis Memo’), which lists their meeting and training times for the week. Some of the skills our students learn as part of the Magis program include organisation, independence and multi-tasking. Full attendance at meetings and completion of required preparation are essential to our success.

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!

College Chess Tournament

Entries are now open for our annual College Chess Tournament. If you think you have what it takes to be our next College ‘Grandmaster’, or you simply want to have fun, then email your name, Year and House to magis@johnxxiii.edu.au. All participants will earn valuable points for their House, with trophies awarded to our finalists. Entries close Monday, 11 May (Term 2, Week 13).

What Matters? Writing Competition

Inspired by Gough Whitlam’s commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia’s future, the What Matters? Writing competition is currently open to school students in Years 5 to 12 from Australia. Responding to the simple question ‘what matters?’, entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about. Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, What Matters? is the perfect opportunity to empower students to raise their voices on issues that are important to them and know that their perspectives are valuable, no matter their age, background or viewpoint. Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of up to 600 words, and submitted online. Please visit the website Whitlam Institute What Matters for more information, including samples of past winners. Major cash prizes to be won! Submission deadline is Friday, 15 May (Term 2, Week 13).

College Public Speaking Competition 

Entries are now open for our annual College Public Speaking Competition. This is a prestigious event on our College Calendar, with the grand final attended by students, parents, staff, and alumni. Students can speak up to 3 minutes on a topic of their choice. Heats will be held in Weeks 16-18, with the top 3 students from each year group progressing to the Grand Final, which will be held on Wednesday 29 July (Term 3, Week 2). Trophies and medals will be awarded to the top and runner-up public speakers in each year group. These prizes will be awarded at our Magis Awards Breakfast in Term 4. Entries are due Friday, 22 May (Week 14). 

Political Perspectives Competition

Attention, budding artists, cartoonists, and political satirists. The Political & Legal Educators Association of Western Australia (PLEAWA) invites students in Years 7 to 10 to participate in the Political Perspectives Competition. Students are tasked with producing a creative piece that sheds light on a current issue relating to topics covered in Years 7 to 10 Civics & Citizenship. This creative piece can take the form of a poster, political cartoon, video, or other creative medium. Please visit the PLEAWA website for more information. Cash prizes to be won! Submission deadline Monday 1 June (Term 2, Week 16). 

Tournament of Minds 

Tournament of Minds (TOM) is an international problem-solving program for teams of students. TOM’s aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment. Teams will be required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Languages & Literature, or Society & Environment (HASS) disciplines. Regional and State Finals to be held at Edith Cowan University in September, with the International Final to be held in Darwin in November. For more information, please visit the competition website or speak with the Head of Magis. Expressions of interest are due Monday, 1 June (T2, W16).