Page 9 - 2022 - Altiora Vol 74

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T OURNAMENT OF MINDS | 9
TOURNAMENT OF MINDS

BMGS REACHES ToM STATE FINALS
BMGS REA CHES T oM ST A TE FINALS

In August, BMGS fielded six enthusiastic ToM teams won their discipline and qualified for the
teams at the Sydney West Regional Tournament State Final, which was held at the University of
of Minds. It was exciting to return to a face- NSW on 11th September.
to-face format after two years of participating At the State Final, the team had just three hours
online.
to devise a creative solution to a previously
Tournament of Minds is a demanding co- unseen Language Literature Challenge entirely
curricular program in which creativity, on their own. Additionally, they were visited by
collaborative skills and reliability are developed judges during this time to face a Spontaneous
and rewarded. Challenge. This year’s 3-hour Challenge involved
creating a nonsense poem inspired by Lewis
Teams of seven students had spent six intense
weeks collaborating on the development of a Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’, incorporating a range
of specific literary devices, and presenting it
creative solution to an open-ended Challenge
in their choice of discipline. A great deal of dramatically in a believable context that involved
the development of characters, as well as many
time and effort had gone into preparing ten-
minute dramatic presentations that thoroughly other elements!
addressed the scoring criteria, and team Following their presentation, our team members
members are to be congratulated on their confidently answered questions from the judges
commitment and determination. about aspects of their solution. Afterwards,
In addition to the Long-Term Challenge, teams they watched and learned from other teams’
contested a Spontaneous Challenge on the day, performances, and responded enthusiastically to
during which they had four minutes to generate the invitation to get on the microphone and share
clever, creative ideas to solve a previously unseen jokes with the room in between presentations!
problem. Teams were judged on their teamwork At the Awards Ceremony in the evening, it was
and thinking processes as well as the quality of absolutely thrilling that our team was awarded
their responses. Tournament Honours for Primary Language
Literature, meaning that they were one of the top
It was a hugely successful day for BMGS,
with all teams performing extremely well and three teams in the State in this discipline.
receiving positive feedback from the judges. Our We thank our ToM facilitators, Dr Elissa Drew
Secondary Language Literature and Secondary and Mrs Katie Walters, for continuing to provide
Arts teams were awarded Tournament Honours, this excellent, challenging opportunity for the
and one of our Primary Language Literature agile minds of our students.

Pictured clockwise from
Pictured clockwise from
owe, Simeon Gee,
left: Elise Lowe, Simeon Gee,
left: Elise L
Lorence Hampartzoumian,
L orence Hampartzoumian,
Clare Stewart, Mikhaela
Clare Stewart, Mikhaela
Sommerville, Eva Tilley,and
,and
y
Sommerville, Eva Tille
Diskin.
Carlia
Carlia Diskin.