Bullocky Point Team wins Tournament of Minds NT Regional Final
On Saturday 2 September the Tournament of Minds (ToM) NT Regional Finals were held at Charles Darwin University. Darwin High School combined with Darwin Middle School to enter two teams in the competition.
ToM is a problem solving program for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. They are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges in Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Social Sciences and Language and Literature. ToM gives students with a passion for learning, problem solving and the performing arts an opportunity to demonstrate their skills by presenting them with challenges on the above disciplines.
Each year Darwin High School Year 10 students team up with Year 7-9 students from DMS to represent the Bullocky Point Education Precinct. This year three Year 10 students joined two teams in the disciplines of Language Literature and Science and Technology.
The teams are required to work together on a Longer Term Challenge for six weeks without assistance from teachers, parents or peers. Students then present the product of their ideas - their challenge solution - to a panel of judges and an audience. The Darwin Middle School/ Darwin High School (DMS/ DHS), Bullocky Point Team competed at the NT Regional Final against teams from other NT Secondary Schools. They were given just ten minutes and a 3 metre by 3 metre performance area to deliver their presentation. The teams must also participate in a Spontaneous Challenge on Tournament Day. This challenge requires rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think creatively and well developed group cooperation skills.
Darwin Middle School teacher and DHS/DMS Coordinator, Tegan Burness said
They have been working really hard throughout the term, meeting to practise three afternoons a week and both teams did really well at the NT Regional Finals.
The Language Literature team came first, with Darwin High Year 10 Students, Alanah Hardy and Andre Price-Quintner part of the winning team. The Science Technology team with Darwin High Year 10 student Chloe Shoyer, putting on a great performance in their Long Term Challenge but edged out by Essington for the top spots.
The winning Language Literature team now has the opportunity to travel to Adelaide in October for the Australasian Pacific ToM Finals.
Darwin High School also had a number of Year 11 students involved as judges. Some of them have been involved in ToM since primary school and competed last year as Year 10 students and now that they are ineligible because of age to compete they have continued their involvement as judges and MCs. Congratulations to the following students for their continued contribution and involvement, Morgan Gurry and Damon Rowston (judge and MC), Kate Hinchcliffe, Michael Niell and Daniel Youn.
You can support the DMS/DHS Bullocky Point Team in their efforts to fundraise for their trip to Adelaide by attending a Trivia Night for Friday 22 September at the Trailer Boat Club. For event information clicking here.
