Magis

Magis report

Welcome back to Term 2! Obviously with COVID-19 the Magis program has had to be revised.  Here is a summary of what is happening:

  • The House Academic Challenges will recommence with the Mental Maths Challenge on next Wednesday for Years 11/12 students  (Teams of four per homeroom).  Other years will complete when all return.
  • The Creative Writing Competition date due is now Monday of Week 3 (11 May). Students are asked to email in their entries as Microsoft Word document preferably, otherwise submit them at the Magis office.  Remember – this is a HOUSE event.
  • The John XXIII Public Speaking Competition will now be held in the second half of this term.
  • Great opportunities exist for students to participate in gifted student competitions outside the school that are still running. These include Creative Writing, STEAM, Media and Journalism.  A link to these opportunities is attached, and students are reminded also to check their Magis Australian Gifted and Talented Competitions handbook for further ideas.  Entry in any of these contributes to Magis champion scholar points.

At this stage major team competition such as World Scholar’s Cup, Ethics Olympiad and  WADL Debating are cancelled for this term.  The Term 2 Magis Personal Project Opening will go ahead as planned at this stage,  but the 2020 Magis Awards Presentation will be combined into one final event at the start of Term 4 because of the cancellation of so many semester one events.

 

It is  hoped and expected that the following competitions will run in Terms 3 or 4 in addition to our Magis House events and Academic Challenges:

  • Tournament of Minds
  • Opti-MINDS
  • British Parliamentary Debating
  • Quest

Opti-MINDS and Tournament of Minds may have different formats in 2020. World Scholar’s Cup are hoping to offer regional and global rounds later in the year, whilst Da Vinci  Decathlon organisers have indicated that they will attempt to reschedule this event, but both will depend on the ongoing situation with COVID-19.

 

In these difficult times students are encouraged to support this updated program and show the initiative to make the most of the revised range of opportunities office. Carpe Diem!

 

Jim Miller

Magis Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator