Magis

The past few weeks have been busy organising Magis events for gifted students in primary as well as secondary. On Friday this week 80 Year 5 and 6 students from fourteen different schools, including a group from Geographe Primary School, met for the 2014 Primary Philosothon. Students were organised in ten mixed groups and led by a facilitator who is either a Philosophy teacher or a Gallery Guide. The groups were led in very structured discussion around two different artworks before heading into the Animal Ark Exhibition with a mystery question. There the students, in their groups, enjoyed the exciting exhibition and discussed complex ideas that they shared with the entire student body before the afternoon finished at 2.30pm. An event for this number of students, running from 9.30 am to 2.30pm, takes some coordination and we have been very fortunate to be supported by our Library staff as well as the Education Officer from the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Newman College will coordinate a Year 7 Philosothon later in the year.

While organising this event we have also been finishing work on the first Magis Carnival taking place on 26 June. This is for gifted Year 11 and 12 students. Our students will be joined by students from Sacred Heart College, Newman College, Seton Catholic College and Mater Dei College. Forty students will attend this after school from 4.30pm to 7pm. They have been given philosophical questions to prepare for the afternoon. They will discuss some of the questions they have been given and be given an introduction to Astronomy. We hope this will become an annual event for our senior students.

Our Year 11/12 Magis debating team has been working with 2013 Magis Scholar William Paparo preparing for their debates at Xavier College at the beginning of the July holidays. The topics will be drawn from:

  • contemporary culture

  • social justice

  • environment

  • sport

The team are billeted with Xavier College families and will have an intense two days working on debates.

Library

Library hours are back to normal following the end of the examination period. Should senior students find they still require the Library until 6pm they need to speak with me. I am happy to open for them if it enables their study.

The City of Subiaco has a new initiative for young people interested in books. They can join Papermates, Subiaco Library's online young adult book club. Students who would like to start reading and discussing can create a Goodreads account at www.goodreads.com and request to join Papermates via the Groups link.