Gifted Education Program News

OzCLO

The Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad is a language-based, problem-solving competition for secondary students in Years 9-12. Students in Years 11 and 12 participate in the Senior Division, and students in Years 9 and 10 compete in the Junior Division. Working in teams of four, students attempt to unravel the patterns within languages in an effort to translate between English and the unknown language. Some of the languages used in previous competitions include Kiswahili, Dutch, Ligurian, Kolyma Yukaghir – all of which are generally unfamiliar to the students. Teams have two hours in which to complete the questions and submit their answers via an online platform. 

Round 1 is always held in Term 1 and this year we had two senior and two junior teams competing. Both divisions complete the same set of questions, under exactly the same conditions. Both of our senior teams scored 83.5%, placing them in the top 15 teams in the state. They received Gold Certificates for their achievement. Our two junior teams achieved Bronze Certificates – a good effort for their first foray into OzCLO. 

Senior team members are Will Curr 12G, Eamon Madden 12G, Aiden Ortiz 12R and Hugh Torpie 12R; Zac Apelt 11D, Jacob Hazel 12H, Michael McClure 12R, Michael Nolan 11H. 

Junior team members are Jack Barton 10E, Oliver Lee 10D, Matthew O’Keeffe 10G, Darcey Salter 10D; Alex Apelt 9D, Max Bathersby 9R, Daniel Cusack 9G, Harrison Dyer 9D.

OzCLO questions are developed by linguists and students at universities across Australia. As a measure of a student’s ability to solve problems, think critically and work within a team, OzCLO is highly regarded by tertiary institutions. You will only improve your skills by practising them, so consider taking on some of the programs offered at the College that will improve your ability in these areas. 

Australian Brain Bee Challenge

Open to students in Year 10, the ABBC is a division of the International Brain Bee Challenge. Since it began in Australia as a Queensland competition in 2006, we have had students representing the College each year. Under the stewardship of Professor Linda Richards, the competition has grown to now incorporate all Australian states as well as New Zealand. 

With the assistance of a tutor and online tutorials, eight of our Year 10 students this year accepted the challenge to learn about the human brain – the different parts of the brain and the functions they control, the central nervous system, and neurological and mental illnesses. They then tested their knowledge through an online quiz, with the goal of scoring highly enough to qualify for the State Final to be held later in the year. This is always a tough competition, but the feedback this year is that the standard was particularly high and students required a score higher than 80% to qualify for Round 2. Congratulations to all of the boys who participated, but particularly to Oliver Gordon 10E who will represent Marist College Ashgrove at Round 2, the State Final.

In 2020, the pandemic forced the competition to close after Round 1, and has impacted the organisation of the Challenge again in 2021. Generally, students participating in Round 2 would spend a day at the Queensland Brain Institute at UQ, competing in individual and/or team competitions, touring the research labs, speaking with graduate and undergraduate students, and listening to presentations from leaders in their fields of scientific research. This year, Olly will have to complete the individual quiz online, and we are hopeful that he will have the opportunity to spend a day at QBI. 

Congratulations to all participating students for their commitment to the program and for their effort with the course – Roman Ah Loy 10H, Jenan Ancheta 10H, Patrick Hooper 10F, Oliver Lee 10D, Matthew O’Keeffe 10G, Joshua Spanevello 10I, Charlie Weaver 10R. On behalf of the students, I would also like to thank Tom Magee (2019) who has been helping the group better understand the intricacies of the human brain and nervous system. We certainly wish Olly Gordon every good wish for Round 2.