Magis

Magis report

At Thursday’s Magis Debating breakfast,  2019 Debating and Public Speaking champions Rory Hewson and Charlie Richards delivered  wonderful keynote addresses on debating techniques to a group of 34 debaters spanning Years 7 to 12.  Rory and Charlie will coach our Year 12 and 11 teams respectively.  Preparation sessions continue this week on Monday or Tuesday mornings or Monday afternoons, or by arrangement with coaches or managers.  Our first debates are this Tuesday 17 March at Christchurch. Please note the new earlier times this year: Novices (Years 7/8) begin at 5:15pm, Juniors (Years 9/10) at 6:15pm and Seniors (11/12)  at 7:15pm.  All debaters must be at the venue 15 minutes before starting time, or 75 minutes in the case of impromptu debates which start in round 3 for Years 10, 11 and 12.  An updated John XXIII College Debating Handbook has now been distributed.  Please note that our Novice team 5 has a bye this week. Good luck to all teams.

Da Vinci Decathlon training is now in full swing with good numbers at the first practice sessions.  Warmest thanks to Ms Ball (cartography), Mrs Davies (coding),  Mr Cotter (science) and Mrs O’Loughlin for their valuable assistance to our Da Vinci teams.  Parents will receive Information and permission forms this week for Da Vinci Decathlon which is on Tuesday 7 April  for years 7-9 and Wednesday April 8  for our year 10 team.  These are full day events at Winthrop Hall at the University of Western Australia.

The Magis-run John House Public Speaking Championship begins this week with Years 11 and 12 on Tuesday and Wednesday at lunchtimes, Years 7 and 8 on Thursday and Friday, and Years 9 and 10 the following Monday and Tuesday.  Each homeroom has two competitors in the heats.  The top three from each year group will then compete in the John XXIII College Public Speaking Championship in the GBLT on Monday 30 March. Please see the link to the Public Speaking information flyer.

The Creative Edge Challenge scheduled to take place at Curtin University on Saturday 28 March has been cancelled because of the Covid-19 virus. 

Jim Miller

Magis Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator