John XXIII College Newsletter

Magis report 

Tournament of Minds State Final

Congratulations to our STEM Team who competed in the State Finals of Tournament of Minds (TOM) at Edith Cowan University last Saturday. TOM is a program for primary and secondary students providing the opportunity to solve authentic, open-ended challenges that foster creative, divergent thinking whilst developing collaborative enterprise, excellence, and teamwork. On the day of the competition, our students received a challenge which they completed in a three-hour closed session and presented their solution to judges and an audience in the afternoon. During the morning preparation time, they also participated in a spontaneous challenge. 

 

We would like to recognise the extraordinary achievement of our STEM Team. Not only did they beat numerous schools to be selected as one of the top three teams in the State, but moreover, they were the youngest team competing in the Secondary Schools STEM Division, competing against Years 10 to 12 students and they were awarded second place!

 

Congratulations to our brilliant STEM minds:

  • William Clarke - Year 7
  • Luke Nicol - Year 7
  • Nicolas Orugun - Year 7
  • Charles O’Toole - Year 7
  • James Sommerfield - Year 7
  • Jonah Liew - Year 8
  • Tyler Shan - Year 8

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Joyner and Ms Plummer for tutoring the students in spontaneous challenge solutions. Special thanks to Ms O’Connor and Ms O’Toole (parent), who supervised our STEM Team at the State Final, and lastly to all our wonderful parents and friends who came to support our students.

Creative Edge State Final

Also competing last Saturday was our wonderful SOSE Team who competed in the State Final of Creative Edge at Curtin University. The Creative Edge Competition provides students with the opportunity to develop both critical and creative thinking skills and encourage them to experiment with original ways to communicate their challenge solution to an audience. Similar to our TOM STEM Team, our Creative Edge students were the youngest team competing in the Secondary Schools SOSE Division – and we congratulate them on an outstanding performance at the State Final. Many thanks to all the families who came in support – was a terrific day!

 

Congratulations to our Creative Thinkers:

  • Lily King – Year 7
  • Rose McLoughlin – Year 7
  • Ewa Krolik – Year 8
  • Leilani McDonnell – Year 8
  • Freya Svendsen – Year 8

 

Magis Music Challenge Results

 

Our final Academic Challenge for the term was held last week. This challenge tested students’ knowledge of Music: theory; classical music; musicals; retro music and current billboard hits. Was great to see students getting into House spirit! Pictured below is Ms Lane’s Homeroom, Year 9 Ward, celebrating their win as the top performing Homeroom in Year 9.

 

Congratulations to our Year group winners:

  • Year 7: Rose McLoughlin (Ward)
  • Year 8: Alyssa Mignacca (St. Louis)
  • Year 9: Lauren McLernon (Ward)
  • Year 10: Mikaela Ross (Koolyangarra)
  • Year 11: Billie Rowsthorn (St. Louis)
  • Year 12: Ann Cullity (Campion) and Yvette Rigg (Koolyangarra)

 

Our final Academic Challenge for the year will be held next term in Week 14. This challenge will test student knowledge on Theology. We look forward to announcing the 2023 Academic Challenge Cup winning House at our Awards Breakfast next term.

Save the date

Please note: The WA Debating League (WADL) Schools Debating Competition (SDC) Grand Final has been postponed to Tuesday 17 October at UWA’s University Club. This will be a public event with guest speeches, and all are welcome. For further details please contact the Magis Coordinator. 

 

World Scholars Cup – Global Round

It’s almost alpaca time! Our World Scholars Team will be departing tomorrow morning for the Gold Coast, to take part in the Global Round of the World Scholars Cup. The World Scholars Cup (WSC) is an annual international academic program, with more than 15,000 students from over 65 countries participating each year. The competition will be held at The Southport School (TSS), one of the most prestigious schools in Australia. In addition to the competition, our students will be visiting the Jellurgul Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as an artist-led guided tour through the Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize Exhibition at HOTA (Home of the Arts). The theme for our tour is: A celebration of learning – and it is sure to be an enriching experience for all involved. We wish all our World Scholars the very best of luck.

 

Our World Scholars Global Team:

  • Chloe Bell – Year 9
  • Catherine Gazia – Year 9
  • Charlie Pronk – Year 9
  • Jennifer Ong – Year 10
  • Janelle Raman – Year 10
  • Amelia Watts – Year 10
  • Hunter Giles-Shanley – Year 11
  • Sarah Macfarlane – Year 11
  • Asha Paton – Year 11
  • Mr Webber – Assisting Staff
  • Ms Farley – Tour Leader

What’s instore in Term 4?

  • World Scholars Wrap Up
  • Shakespeare Incursion – Tuesday 10 October
  • British Parliamentary Debating State Semi Final – Tuesday 10 October
  • WA Debating League Grand Final – Tuesday 17 October
  • International Debating Championship – begins Friday 20 October
  • Magis Awards Breakfast – Thursday 26 October
  • Magis Camp – Friday 27 October to Saturday 28 October
  • Academic Challenge: Theology – begins Tuesday 31 October
  • Middle School Ethics Olympiad – Friday 10 November
  • Magis Personal Project Exhibition – Thursday 23 November
  • Intergenerational Program
  • Shakespeare Club
  • Tournament of Champions

A reminder that on the first day back next term, Tuesday 10 October, the Magis Program will be hosting The Players, from the Bell Shakespeare Company, for a wonderful afternoon of Shakespeare immersion. A key aspect of our GATE program is providing opportunities for our students 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 it helps improve their logical thinking processes, emotional intelligence, and cultural awareness. The incursion will be held during Periods 5 and 6. Students will participate in a short activity prepared by our Shakespeare Club students. This will be followed by a performance of ‘Such Sweet Sorrow’ and then a Q&A session with the actors. Magis students were provided the option of signing up for the excursion, and we have also offered places for our high-achieving English students. Parents will receive an incursion e-form, which we ask is completed before the beginning of next term.

 

The term break is a wonderful time for us to rest and recharge (energy and mindfulness), but it also affords us a terrific opportunity to get ahead and prepare. Term 4 will be a busy term for all, with competitions, events, and Senior School Exams. All Magis classes and competitions have a Teams file with case documents, handbooks, past papers, and/or other useful preparation materials. Our Magis Elective students are reminded that their Semester-long Personal Projects will be exhibited in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre in Week 17. Ideally, students want to have completed 50-60% of their project by the start of Term 4.

MAGIS: OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MORE!

Magis Camp

Please note that we have extended the due date for Magis Camp Expression of Interest Forms. Final date for submission will be Wednesday 11 October (Week 11). Please submit your form to either to Student Administration or the Magis Office.

 

A highlight of the Magis calendar is our annual camp to Point Walter, for Years 7 to 10 Magis students, which will be held on Friday 27 October to Saturday 28 October (Term 4, Week 3). We have some terrific activities planned which will prove an enriching experience for students. There will be a number of opportunities for our younger year students to work alongside and learn from our senior school students. Many thanks to our Magis Committee who have provided student voice to the program this year. 

 

2023 Magis Camp Expression of Interest Form

Stargirls STEM Camp

Are you interested in pursuing astronomy, engineering, or data science as a career path? Join high school girls and other underrepresented genders for a free Astronomy Day Camp from 23 to 25 January 2024, hosted by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). This camp is open to all high school students in Years 9 to 12 whose gender identities are underrepresented in astronomy, engineering, or data science.

Highlights include:

  • Meet and talk with women who have made their careers in astrophysics, engineering and data science;
  • Use research-grade telescopes to take and process your own deep space images and take part in a night-time stargazing event; and
  • Visit leading space research centres, including Curtin and UWA ICRAR campuses, along with a visit to the Pawsey Supercomputer Research Centre.

Positions are limited, so early applications are essential. See the flyer below for further details. Please notify the Magis Coordinator (Ms Farley) and Head of Science (Mr Carrello) if you choose to apply.

 

Lastly, thank you to all students and staff for another outstanding Term. Wishing everyone a happy and restful term break. Best wishes to our Year 12 students as they begin their trial WACE exams.

 

Daisy Farley

Magis Coordinator – Gifted and Talented