Some of the best minds in the state
L to R: Sophie Howse, Georgie Gaspar, Tully Button, Hannah Campbell and Rosie Turnbull
Back row L to r: Maddie Swan, Alexi Baillie, Sophie Webster Front row L to R: Chiara Argelliez, Sienna Crockett, Kyle Yeo Nine teams of St Margaret’s primary girls competed against 281 Queensland schools in the Opti-MINDS Regional Challenge in August this year, communicating their knowledge of science and engineering in creative ways, with one team making it all the way to the state final. Each team worked collaboratively over six weeks to solve open-ended challenges from Language Literature, Science Engineering or Social Sciences, and then presented to the judges at the end of the competition. Our Year 4 Team 2 girls – Madeline Hignett, Maddie Swan, Alexi Baillie, Chiara Argelliez, Sophie Webster, Sienna Crockett and Kyle Yeo – won a prestigious Spirit of OptiMINDS Award, given to the teams who display the values and aims of Opti-MINDS (to think, create and communicate). St Margaret’s Team 9, comprising Year 6 students Sophie Howse, Tully Button, Georgie Gaspar, Hannah Campbell and Rosie Turnbull, won first prize in Science and Engineering, thus making the state final held at The University
of Queensland across one weekend in October. Here, they voiced their opinion on Sustainable Energy at a forum on the Saturday, then spent the Sunday representing St Margaret's and Brisbane North in the Division 1 section of the Science Engineering Challenge. Following a three hour preparation session, the girls presented their solution to the judges. They were awarded Honours for their long term and spontaneous solutions: a fantastic effort against competition from the leading regional teams in the state. Head of Primary Angela Drysdale said she was impressed to see each of the girls present with such confidence and enthusiasm for their challenge. “So many of the careers of the future will require a background a science, technology, engineering and maths – known as STEM. Early opportunities for engagement in these fields for our young enquiring minds will provide them with a good platform for the future, as will exposure to problem solving: a key 21st century skill for both learning and living,” Mrs Drysdale said
Why do we cry when cutting an onion? A chef has made a complaint and identified the culprit in a police line-up. The two detectives investigate the crime, review the evidence and draw conclusions about the onion’s guilt and M.O. Find out the onion’s fate and how we can stop similar crimes in the future.
Sleek geeks' success Out of hundreds of entrants, Year 5 students Georgia (Gigi) Souyave-Murphy and Ella Woods won the University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize – Primary this year, with their creative short film, ‘Cry Stoppers’, which investigated the unpleasant effect that onions have on our eyes. The prize recognises excellence in communicating scientific ideas in an engaging way that helps people to Photo Brendon Thorne/Getty Images understand and learn about the concept without even realising! Kim McKay AO, Executive Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, said that Gigi and Ella’s short film was not only a lot of fun, but also informative. “Passionate, engaged schoolkids like these will form the next generation of Australian scientists,” she said. Principal Ros Curtis said the school is very active in encouraging students to pursue the study of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) disciplines that will feature heavily in future jobs growth. “We are very proud of the girls and know their video will spark the interest of young would-be scientists everywhere,” said Ms Curtis. Scan this QR code to view the award winning video.
Issue 11 Spring/Summer 2015 St Margaret’s Flyer 11