Sacred Heart College Science Technology winners performing their solution at the Perth regional event on 26th August. Photo: Supplied.
Students from several Catholic schools have once again outperformed and outdone themselves at the State Tournament of Minds held on 10 September at Edith Cowan University (ECU) Joondalup.
The students, who came from Whitfords Catholic Primary School, Sacred Heart College, Padbury Catholic Primary School, Our Lady of Grace North Beach, Mel Maria Catholic Primary School Myaree, John XXIII College and St Paul’s Mt Lawley were announced as winners of the tournament at the Awards Ceremony held at Sacred Heart College.
Five of the eight teams will now be heading to Adelaide to represent Western Australia at the Australasian Pacific Final 2017 Tournament of Minds competition at Flinders University on 28 October this year.
A creative problem-solving competition, Tournament of Minds is a competition for students from both primary and secondary schools, aged nine to 16 years.
Each team consists of seven students and the tournament attracts more than 20,000 students from across Australia and overseas each year.
Having run for some 30 years, this year’s WA State tournament saw 130 teams from 62 schools participate.
Sacred Heart College Social Sciences Secondary finalists before the State Final on 10th September. Photo: Supplied.
WA State Director for Tournament of Minds, Tanya Atherton, who is also Head of Gifted and Talented at Sacred Heart College, said that the tournament is an opportunity for students who have a passion for learning and problem-solving to demonstrate their skills in a creative and public way.
“The 21st century learning skills that employers’ value are the major benefits of the process,” Ms Atherton said.
“These include teamwork, problem solving, creative thinking, communication, time management, but all done in a fun way,” she said.
“This year, we were extremely grateful to Sacred Heart College for hosting the Awards Ceremony after the State finals that saw some 600 people attend,” Ms Atherton said.
Ms Atherton also added that while the competition is a huge one, there is proof that persistence and hard work pays off.
“This year, the State winners from Catholic Schools won in the following disciplines – Engineering Mathematics, Science Technology, both Primary and Secondary; Language Literature, Social Science and Social Technology, and we are proud to say that two teams will be representing Sacred Heart College at the International Finals.
“Additionally, long time State Champions, Our Lady of Grace have two teams representing the State at the International finals as well,” she added.
Whitford Catholic Primary School, Primary Language Literature winners, awaiting the announcement of results at the Award Ceremony. Photo: Supplied.
Whitford Primary Catholic School facilitator, Andrew De Maio, said that even though only one team entered the competition this year, they were thrilled and excited to have won the State Finals.
“The school has participated every year since the tournament started but has not reached the Australasian Pacific Finals before.
“It is amazing and a bit surreal at the same time. The students participated in the Language Literature category and were really excited to win. It was a wonderful reward for all the time and effort that they put in and ready to take on the challenge at the finals in Adelaide,” Mr De Maio said.
For more information about Tournament of Minds and to get involved, visit www.tom.edu.au/branch/wa/
Sacred Heart College Science Technology Secondary winners before the State final on 10th September. Photo: Supplied.
Sacred Heart College Engineering Mathematics winners at the State Final briefing on 10th September. Photo: Supplied.
Sacred Heart College Engineering Mathematics team announced as winners at the Awards Ceremony. Photo: Supplied.
Whitford Catholic Primary School Language Literature team announced as winners at the Awards Ceremony. Photo: Supplied.
Mel Maria Catholic Primary School, primary Science Technology finalists, at the Awards Ceremony. Photo: Supplied.
Our Lady of Grace School Science Technology team announced as winners at the Awards Ceremony. Photo: Supplied.
Our Lady of Grace School Social Sciences Primary winners before the State Final on 10th September. Photo: Supplied.