Gifted Education Program News

Ms Majella Stevens, Gifted Education Program Coordinator

2022 Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention

Tuesday 26 July 2022 – Seventeen students from Years 7 to 11 gathered to consider whether or not Australia needs a Bill of Rights. Having done some prereading in the weeks leading up to the event, the boys were aware of other common law countries that have adopted a Bill or Charter of Rights in the last 30+ years. These countries include Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Students spent the day listening to speakers and discussing various questions relating to Australia’s Constitution, Human Rights and the relevance of a Bill of Rights for Australia. We were fortunate to hear presentations from the Australian Human Rights Commissioner (Ms Lorraine Finlay), a First Nations public lawyer and researcher (Mr Eddie Synot) and the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner (Mr Scott McDougall).

During the lead-in time to the Convention, each school was asked to nominate one student to give a speech, providing argument for or against Australia’s need for a Bill of Rights. Each speech was recorded and students participating in QSCC were invited to review some of the speeches prior to the event on the 26th. Our representative, Joseph Lewis 11F, prepared and delivered a well-researched and structured response to the question. Joe’s effort has been rewarded with his selection as one of fourteen students to represent Queensland at the 2023 National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra.

Congratulations to all who attended on the day, for their participation in the workshops and their attention to the speakers. Congratulations to Joseph and we wish him well in his representation of the state in 2023.

English Speaking Union – Senior Public Speaking Competition

"The duty of a newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Anon

This was the quote that challenged Year 11 and 12 students who participated in the first round of the 2022 English Speaking Union’s Senior Competition on Thursday 28 July. With twenty-two students across two heats, the standard was very high, with no two students taking the same approach to the topic. Three students from each heat progressed to the final, and while none of our students were included in the final six, each of them spoke very well, earning individual praise from the adjudicators. It has been pleasing to watch the progress of each of these young men over the years. Congratulations to Sam Allpass 12F, Joseph Lewis 11F and Isaac Lynn 11G.

Maths/Science Club News

Science Club was certainly a popular place to be last Thursday afternoon. Our Year 11 leaders – Alem, Oliver, Ben and Matt firstly introduced the topic of exothermic and endothermic reactions, explaining the difference between the two for the younger boys. Miss Deckers, one of the senior Chemistry teachers, then assisted the students in conducting experiments that clearly demonstrated the change of temperature of liquids.

Once the boys had experienced those reactions, we moved on to the main attraction – fire in the hand. Always a popular activity, the boys were queuing up for their turn.

Next Thursday 4 August, Maths Club will again be on in Room 401 from 3:20pm-4:30pm.