Magis
There have been three wonderful highlights for the Magis program over the past week. The first was the Academy Conferences Gifted Student program at St Hilda’s last Friday. Attended by ten top senior Magis students, the program presented fascinating insights into a variety of philosophical topics and was attended by gifted students from many colleges and schools.
Magis also ran the John XXIII Public Speaking Competition Grand Final on Tuesday evening. The standard was extremely high in most divisions, and congratulations go to all grand finalists. Warmest thanks to John XXIII College Principal Rob Henderson who presented awards at the end of the evening, Cullen Binet who efficiently chaired proceedings, and our three outstanding judges, Magis Captains from 2017 and 2018 Tom Paparo and Bella Spiro-Harrison, and 2018 Year 12 Public speaking winner Kinia O’Brien. All three are outstanding speakers and debaters who represented the College at the Jesuit National Debating Championships.
Public Speaking Award Winners 2019
| Year 12 | Year 11 | Year 10 | Year 9 | Year 8 | Years 7 |
1. Rory Hewson 2. Charlie Richards 3. Xavier Carr | 1. Lorian Marshall 2. Nick Brennan 3. Ben Linsten | =1. Cailtin Green Alex Somlyay 3. | =1. Genevieve Fergusson-Allen =1. Alice O’Sullivan
| 1. Yvette Rigg 2. Mia Dowdall 3. James Mitchell Daniel Doran | 1.Massimo Torre 2. Maya Mintz 3. Joe Stephens |
On Thursday morning the fifth Magis Academic Seminar Breakfast was held and was attended by about 40 people. World Scholar’s Cup was the topic and our outstanding performers from 2018, the Tournament of Champions (Yale) team, (Emily Tyson, Ben Linsten and Alex panther) and the Debating team (Skye MacMillan, McKenzie Richardson and Gabriel Kaye) which finished third among over 50 countries at the Global round gave some superb advice to younger students on how to succeed in this complex program. Special thanks to Ms Kirralee Dawson and Mr Christian Thompson for their support with the record number of teams in 2019. Permission forms have now been distributed and should be returned by Friday May 24.
Week 4 sees round 3 of the WADL Interschool Debating at Christchurch on Tuesday May 21. Good luck to all teams and warmest thanks to the teachers supporting them. Also, this week is the Magis Mental Maths Challenge which will be held on Wednesday at recess for students in Years 10 to 12, and on Thursday at recess for those in Years 7 to 9.
Jim Miller
Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Magis & Altiora Calendar
Term Two
- 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