Tournament of Minds success

We can be very proud of the 84 students who represented us at Tournament of Minds on Saturday 25 August. MLMC hosted one of the regional finals, featuring 49 teams from 19 primary and secondary schools.

MLMC’s students showed great teamwork and commitment, working hard on many nights after school to prepare themselves. We received Honours in all four challenges — STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), Language Literature, Social Sciences and The Arts — which shows the diversity of skills and talents we foster at the College. STEM and The Arts were new disciplines for 2018.

One of our teams in The Arts section has been offered a wildcard entry into the State Final in recognition of their high score. The seven students in the team (pictured) will go on to contest the State Final on Sunday 9 September at La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus. Congratulations to Kaitlyn Crymble (Year 10 Gold), Michael Douthwaite (Year 7 Silver), Ella Preston (Year 8 Bronze), Emma Di Paolo (Year 9 White), Jelinna Santiago (Year 10 Red), Molly Bollaart (Year 10 Jade) and Madeline Onley (Year 7 Bronze).

TOM comprises two challenges — one is a long-term Challenge. Teams of seven students spent six weeks preparing their solution/presentation, which they performed before the judges on competition day. Teams were marked on their unique and creative solutions to various aspects of the challenge as well as their presentation skills. In the Spontaneous Challenge, the students heard, solved and presented all in less than seven minutes on the day. The scoring of this challenge was mainly related to the teamwork shown and the creativity of the solution.

Teams have a mix of Year 7-10 students but must include two Year 7s. There is an emphasis on sustainability too, only allowing students to use recyclable materials for the challenge (including any costumes and props), and they are limited to a budget of $75 for materials.

Each team has a facilitator. Teachers Miss Natasha McKenzie, Mr Stuart Thornhill, Mr Michael Modini, Miss Rebecca Doyle, Mr Tom Warren and Miss Christeen Fernando were facilitators this year and spent plenty of time polishing performances and asking important questions that make teams think. Mrs Helen Lewis judged on our behalf.

At MLMC, senior students acted as mentors, but they could only ask questions of the team. The solution had to be entirely the team’s own work and ideas. Special thanks to our Year 11 and 12 mentors who, in the middle of their own studies, encouraged and supported the MLMC teams. Well done Ethan Cornish (Year 11 Jade), Ethan Preston (Year 11 Red), Benito Di Battista (Year 12 White), Tristan Mifsud, Jamie Marshall, Harry Stolzenhain and Ashlee Sumner (all Year 11 Bronze).

Thanks also to the Parents and Friends' Association who ran the barbecue and welcomed visitors.

Our Honours recipients this year are: Kaitlyn Crymble, Michael Douthwaite, Ella Preston, Emma Di Paolo, Jelinna Santiago, Molly Bollaart, Madeline Onley, Samantha Badgery, Zelie Zmegac, Ashtyn Crabtree, Millie Barker, Charlotte Lorbek, Hannah Bainbridge, Rebecca Bullen, Jamieson Manger, Tara Vanstan, Cheyenne Moore, Brianna Moore, Melinda Virgona, Sarah Janssen, Jasmine Ryan, Sebastien Stevens, Ryan Finette, Stephen Cameron, Malindu Chandrasekara, Ben Renouf, Jack Thompson and Jess Herrod.

This year’s Challenges:

STEM
Students had to design a new species that was a hybrid of three known Phyla, build a model of the creature that showed how it moved, ate and vocalised, and create a three-minute film showing the discovery of the creature.

The Arts
Students were required to write a musical around the theme of freedom. It had to include reference to a painting from the 1940s, a dance from the 1920s, fashion from the 1980s and a song from the 1960s.

Language Literature
Students had to make a pitch to convince a group of investors to make a movie from a book (chosen from a supplied list). They had to include a short scene from the proposed movie and the social impact of making the selected book into a movie.

Social Sciences
Students were asked to research and explain how fences can be used in society to isolate or strengthen society and use an example to illustrate their understandings.

MLMC 2018 Tournament of Minds teams: