Magis Report 

Our Years 7 and 8 students met in the Collaborative Hub during the week, for their academic mentoring sessions. This program aims to promote positive peer cooperation by providing a forum for our GATE students to exchange tips and share advice as it pertains to their academic studies and co-curricular. Special thanks to our student leaders who led these sessions: Sienna D’Allessandro, Oliver French, Niamh Jennings and Jennifer Ong (led the Year 7 session), and Luke Nicol, Jenna Romano and Zachary Sartorello (led the Year 8 session). It will be our Year 9 and 10 students turn on Monday and Friday next week. Magis students are reminded to view the Magis Memo (GATE student newsletter) for notice of when and where their year group is meeting.

WA Debating League Update

Round 1 of 2025 WA Debating League (WADL) Schools Debating Competition (SDC) began on Tuesday night at Shenton College – and the atmosphere was electric! There was great energy and a wonderful sense of camaraderie amongst the students. Our teams debated contemporary topics centred on the theme of education: 

• This house prefers online learning to in-person learning; and
• This house would give teachers bonuses for increased student performance.

For some of our debating students, it was their first time competing. Year 7 student Amelia Morton said: 'I was very nervous as it was my first debate ever, but it was super fun and I can’t wait to do it again.' Year 9 student Isaac McCready said: 'I’ve always enjoyed deliberating topics in class or with my family and friends, but to do so in a formal, competitive setting was certainly invigorating.'

Whilst four of our teams received last-minute postponements to the Make Up Round, it was overall an outstanding start to the 2025 season! Special thanks to Ms Lumley for her assistance on the night. Our debating students are now preparing for Round 2, which will be held on Tuesday, 25 March (Week 8). We will be providing an afterschool debate tutoring session on Thursday. Details will be communicated to students through their Teams channel.

What’s happening next week?

Years 9 to 10 academic mentoring sessions will be held in the Collaborative Hub of the Ignatius Centre. We also begin our first Magis Academic Challenge for the year, which will test students on ‘Spelling’. There will also be meetings for the following competitions: WADL SDC; Senior Ethics; Mock Trials; da Vinci and World Scholars. A busy week indeed!

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.  

Magis: Opportunities to do more!

Plain English Speaking Award 

The Plain English Speaking Award (PESA) is a public speaking competition open to senior secondary school students (Years 11 & 12). It was created to encourage the best use of English language in Australian schools. Taking part has been recognised by thousands of young people as a valuable experience and, for the participants and winners, a worthy mention in their resume. We will be selecting two students to represent our College in the state semi-final next term. If selected, students will need to prepare an eight-minute speech on a topic of their choice. At the competition, students will also deliver a three-minute impromptu speech. The topic to be given by the adjudicator on the day. The winner of the state final will represent the state and their school at the national final in Sydney, with the winner of the national final to represent Australia in an international competition conducted by the English-Speaking Union in London. Expressions of interest are to be emailed to the Head of Magis by Monday, 24 March (Week 8)

Ethics Olympiad Case Writing Awards

Please note: This competition is suited to students who have completed or are familiar with an Ethics Olympiad. Students in Years 7 to12 are invited to submit a case which, if chosen, would be used internationally for both the Middle School and Senior Ethics Olympiads. Information can be found on the attached flyer and/or on the competition's website. Prize money and prestige to be won! Cases are to be submitted directly to Ethics Olympiad by 25 April (Term 1 school holidays).

STEM Design Competition

Catholic Education WA (CEWA) have launched this STEM design competition, with the aim to get student perspectives. Put your innovation into action and design a digital logo or graphic that visually depicts what CEWA STEM is all about. This competition is open to all CEWA students. Winning designs will be displayed and celebrated at the 2025 CEWA STEM Showcases. To submit an entry, email the Head of Magis, your design by Monday, 12 May (Term 2, Week 13). Please note: Digital tools could include (but are not limited to) canva, seesaw, sketches, pages, word, keynote etc.

Tournament of Minds 

Tournament of Minds (TOM) is an international problem-solving program for teams of students. TOM aims 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 are to be held at Edith Cowan University in September, with the International final to be held in Sydney in November. For more information, please visit the competition website or speak with the Head of Magis. Expressions of interest are due Monday, 12 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! Entries close Friday, 16 May (Week 13).

Astronomy Club

Calling all stargazers and astronomy lovers! Join our College’s Astronomy Club, where you’ll learn more about the night sky and the history behind constellations, gain confidence with telescopes, and discover tips to make stargazing more enjoyable. It is a great social club where you’ll meet like-minded people of all ages, who share a passion for learning and stargazing. The Astronomy Club meets on the College Oval on various evenings throughout the year – and has a few events booked with the Perth Observatory. For more information, please email the Club Coordinator, Mr Peter Mazur (Mathematics Learning Area), or the Head of Magis. 

Daisy Farley

Head of Magis