Magis
Students who have not yet submitted their Magis or Altiora nomination forms for 2019 are asked to do so quickly now so that organisation can be completed. Interested students who are not Magis students but have performed well in their academic studies are invited to join the program via the Altiora strand, and all are reminded that you need to join as an active member to compete in a number of the major competitions including Da Vinci decathlon and World Scholar’s Cup, as well as the Magis breakfasts, camps and tours.
Next week sees the first of the competitive Magis/Altiora challenges – Academic Spelling, which will be held at recess on different days next week. It involves spelling of 30 words taken from all the different learning areas, and this challenges takes less than 10 minutes to complete. It counts for points for the Magis champion in each year.
Interschool debating teams are being finalised for the 2019 season and we appear to have 10 teams in this excellent competitive program. We will nominate to again participate at Christchurch on Tuesday evenings. Coaching and team arrangements will be distributed next week, and the Debating Handbook will be published once we receive the 2019 fixtures. A reminder also that U.S.A. Space Camp Nominations must be submitted by next Friday, February 22.
Week four sees our first Magis Breakfast Seminars. The first, on Tuesday February 26 will be for all Magis and Altiora students and will see a presentation from Alpha Motivation, an impressive educational and motivational group which did a superb workshop at last year’s Magis Camp. This breakfast presentation will be a different program aimed at inspiring gifted students to academic excellence and achieving their full potential. In the same week on Thursday morning there will be a Magis Breakfast for all Year 12 Religion and life ATAR and General students (not just Magis in this case), with the outstanding Philosopher and theologian Fr Michael McMahon delivering the keynote address on Secularism. Both Breakfasts will be held in the library commencing at 7:30am and concluding at about 8:30am. These Magis breakfasts are free, but students must return the nomination forms for catering and organisational purposes.
Once students have submitted their Magis or Altiora nomination forms, you may collect your badge from the Magis office. Three Handbooks are also available – the Magis 201 Handbook, the Academic Resources Handbook, and the Gifted and Talented Competitions Handbook which gives details of most of these competitions available in Australia.
Jim Miller
Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Magis & Altiora Calendar
Term One
- February 18 - Goal-Setting Strategic Plan due
- February 20 - Academic Spelling Challenge
- February 26 - Magis Breakfast Alpha Motivation
- February 28 - Space Camp 2020 Meeting
- March 8 - Debating Seminar
- March 12 - WADL Debating begins
- March 15-16 - Creative Writing Camp
- March 30 - Creative Edge at Curtin Uni
- April 2-3 - Da Vinci Decathlon at UWA
- April 9 - Short Story Entries due
Term Two
May 1 - Magis Public Speaking Breakfast
May 6 - Magis Public Speaking Heats
May 10 - Julie Arliss G/T at St Hilda’s
May 14 - Magis Public Speaking Final (GBLT)
May 17-18 - World Scholar’s Cup Camp
May 23 - Mental Maths Challenge
May 31 - J1 World Scholar’s regionals SHC
June 12 - Magis Academic Knowledge
June 26 - Magis Awards & Personal Project Breakfast