Learning & Teaching News

APSMO Awards

We will be presenting certificates at next Monday's assembly (13/11) to all students in Years 5/6 for participating in the Maths Games or Maths Olympiad Competition as well as those Year 3/4 students who participated in the Maths Explorers Competition. These competitions are all run by The Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO). They are a not-for-profit, professional organisation established in 1987.  Their aim is to:

• promote and improve maths problem solving skills amongst all students in primary and secondary schools across Australia and New Zealand
• support teachers in developing their students to understand a variety of strategies to promote flexibility in their problem solving
• encourage creativity and collaboration in problem solving;
• stimulate enthusiasm for and enjoyment of mathematics.

House Debating

As part of their English learning in Term 4, all students in Year 5/6 participate in a House Debate. The benefits of debating are immense, and can be categorised into 4 areas:

Thinking and research skills

• Analytical thinking skills.
• The ability to think clearly under pressure.
• A strong sense of curiosity and a love of learning about issues and the world around them.
• An ability to gather and evaluate information from a range of sources.
• Informed exchange of ideas.
• Initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively.

Communication skills

• Coherent and confident expression of ideas in collaboration with teammates.
• The ability to coherently and convincingly argue a point of view for their team, which they may not personally support.
• Public speaking skills.
• Word power and strength of language.

Social skills

• Self-esteem and self-confidence.
• A sense of understanding, tolerance and acceptance of different views on issues.
• Respect of the right of others to hold differing and alternative ideas.

Sportsmanship

• Generosity of spirit between participants, across all school sectors.
• Teamwork and sportsmanship.
• Valuing participation more than the outcome.
• A sense of responsibility to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
• The ability to respond appropriately to constructive feedback.

Students in the other levels attend these debates in support of their house and this exposure is a valuable asset when it is their turn to debate for their house when they are older.

The final debate topic was, 'That Public Transport in Australia should be free'. The students in this debate were given only a few hours to prepare, so the challenge was well and truly set. After these two final high quality debates, the final ladder and points won towards the House Shield was as follows:

Nick  Byrne

Learning & Teaching Leader