Mind Challenges

Mind Challenges

Pre-Kindergarten to Year 11

Young women have the ability and the need to think laterally and critically in many different situations.

The basic premise of Mind Challenges at MLC School is to allow interested girls to explore and develop these thinking skills in fun and creative ways. In teams, girls have the opportunity take part in a number of competitions from Year 4 onwards.

Programs
Chess Program (Kindergarten to Year 5)

Topics will be presented such as specific openings (e.g. Italian Opening, Fried Liver Attack, King’s Gambit) and how to spot blunders from your opponent and take advantage of them. Endgame technique will be studied, which will make it easier for players to simplify and to convert a winning position.

 

Each student enrolled in any of the chess programs will be also given access to Chess Squad Academy, a safe online playing platform, and contains many features such as practicing drills, solving puzzles, playing the computer on increasing difficulty levels, and playing live timed matches against other students.

Coordinator: Ryan Naylor
Places available: Open to all interested students
Time: Monday 12.45pm–1.25pm
Location: Junior School STEM Lab
Cost: $12 per child per lesson (Term by term commitment, parents invoiced directly by Sydney Academy of Chess)
Enrolment: Contact Sydney Academy of Chess or call 02 9745 1170 

da Vinci Club (Year 4 to Year 6)

da Vinci Club is an academic activity in which students engage in challenging questions and activities linked to a variety of disciplines including Drama, Art, Mathematics, Coding and Poetry. The Club also acts as preparation and training for those students who are interested in participating in the da Vinci Decathlon.

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Time: Year 5 and Year 6: Term 1 
Location: Year 6 Studio
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: By invitation

da Vinci Decathlon (Year 5 and Year 6)

The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in Year groups in teams of eight across 10 disciplines including Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science and English. The competition places a particular emphasis on higher order thinking skills, problem solving and creativity. The competition is hosted in Sydney and takes place over three days in May.

Selection

Students who have been invited to be involved in da Vinci Club are asked to complete a student nomination form. The da Vinci Decathlon coordinator will select final team members. Selection will be based on their responses in this form, their team building skills, commitment to training and strengths in da Vinci Decathlon disciplines.

Expectations

Girls who are selected to take part in the da Vinci Decathlon must attend the weekly training sessions and the NSW competition day in May. Should their team be successful at this day they must also be prepared to attend the National Competition day on a weekend in June.

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Places available: 16 (eight per year group)
Time: Friday 7.30am–8.15am
Location: Year 6 Studio
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Complete a student nomination form

da Vinci Decathlon (Year 7 to Year 11)

Selection

Students are invited to attend the training and preparation sessions during Term 1 and then complete a student nomination form. Final team members will be selected based on their responses in this form, their commitment to attending the training and preparation sessions, their team building skills and strengths in da Vinci Decathlon disciplines.

Expectations

Girls who are selected to take part in the da Vinci Decathlon must attend the weekly training sessions and the NSW competition day in May. Should their team be successful at this day they must also be prepared to attend the National competition day on a weekend in June.

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Places available: 40 (eight per Year group)
Time: Training and preparation: One lunchtime a week, negotiated between staff and students
Training: Most of Term 1.
Competition: Approximately Term 2, Week 5
Location: To be advised
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Contact the coordinator
Website: davincidecathlon.com

RoboCup Junior Australia (Year 5 and Year 6)

A select team will compete in the RoboCup Junior Australia (RCJA) OnStage Challenge. RCJA OnStage engages girls in researching, designing, building, programming and decorating one or more robots to perform a dance to music.

Participation in, and preparation for, RCJA OnStage provides opportunities for collaborative activities including group problem-solving, investigating and decision-making. The selection for the team will be conducted via a written application. Girls applying for the team must commit to regular attendance to afternoon team meetings, a holiday workshop in the Term 2 break, attendance at the competition held in August/September, and additional practice sessions in the lead up to the competition.

Coordinators: Marie Cassar and Bede Schofield

Places available: 5 girls per Year group
Time: Term 1 to Term 3
Year 5: Times to be advised
Year 6: Times to be advised
Location: Junior School STEM Lab
Enrolment: Selected team. Contact the coordinator for details
Web: robocupjunior.org.au

Junior Robotics (Year 1 and Year 2)

Our Year 1 and Year 2 Junior Robotics program provides an introduction to robotics for young aspiring engineers and problem solvers. The hands on program is designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through fun and engaging learning experiences.

Students will learn the basics of robot construction and programming using a variety of robotic systems including Blue Bots and LEGO WeDo 2.0.

Coordinators: Bede Schofield and Marie Cassar

Places available: 16 places
Time: Monday 3.15pm-4pm
Location: Junior School STEM Lab
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Register via the MLC School Payments page below:
Junior Robotics Year 1
Junior Robotics Year 2

Junior Robotics (Year 3 and Year 4)

Our Junior Robotics program offers an exciting learning experience for aspiring engineers and innovators. This program is suitable for students with all levels of experience who are interested in learning about robotics construction, coding and problem-solving. Through hands-on projects and challenges students will work collaboratively, gaining insights into engineering and automation using the Lego SPIKE Prime robotics system.

Coordinators: Bede Schofield and Marie Cassar

Places available: 16 places
Time: Thursday 3.30pm-4.30pm
Location: Junior School STEM Lab
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Register via the MLC School Payments page here.

Junior Robotics (Year 5)

Our Junior Robotics program offers an exciting learning experience for aspiring engineers and innovators. This program is suitable for students with all levels of experience who are interested in learning about robotics construction, coding and problem-solving. Through hands-on projects and challenges students will work collaboratively, gaining insights into engineering and automation using the Lego SPIKE Prime robotics system.

Coordinators: Bede Schofield and Marie Cassar
Places available: 12 places
Time: Monday 3.30pm-4.30pm
Location: Junior School STEM Lab
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Register via the MLC School Payments Page here

Junior Robotics (Year 6)

Our Junior Robotics program offers an exciting learning experience for aspiring engineers and innovators. This program is suitable for students with all levels of experience who are interested in learning about robotics construction, coding and problem-solving. Through hands-on projects and challenges students will work collaboratively, gaining insights into engineering and automation using the Lego SPIKE Prime robotics system.

Coordinators: Bede Schofield and Marie Cassar
Places available: 12 places
Time: Thursday 3.30pm-4.30pm
Location: Junior School STEM Lab
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Register via the MLC School payments page here

Senior Robotics (Year 7 to Year 12)

Our Senior Robotics program offers an exciting learning experience for aspiring engineers and innovators. This program is suitable for students with all levels of experience who are interested in learning about robotics construction, coding and problem-solving. Through hands-on projects and challenges students will work collaboratively, gaining insights into engineering and automation using the Lego SPIKE Prime robotics system.

Coordinators: Bede Schofield and Marie Cassar
Places available:
Tuesday – 12 places
Friday – 12 places
Time: Tuesday 3.30pm-5pm OR Friday 3.30pm-5pm
Location: Junior School STEM Lab
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Register via the MLC School Payment page here.

Tournament of Minds (Junior Year 5 to Year 6) and (Senior Year 7 to Year 10)

Tournament of Minds (ToM) is a team problem-solving program that requires students to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines:

    • STEM
    • Language Literature
    • The Arts
    • Social Sciences

Teams work together for six weeks (without assistance), developing a creative solution to a Long Term Challenge, which they then present to a panel of judges on Tournament Day. The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on Tournament Day. At training sessions students will learn skills to assist with the Spontaneous Challenge that is required for the competition day.

ToM looks beyond academic achievement and understands that the pursuit of excellence knows no boundaries. It offers students a unique, total experience, providing challenge and growth through its six-week problem solving structure. The Tournament process provides a platform for excellence and equips participants with strategies and skills which will support future success.

SELECTION

Interested students will be invited to submit a self-nomination form and teams will be selected based on their responses to this form.

EXPECTATIONS

Team members must be available to commit to the team for the entire challenge and to attend every practice, as well as the tournament event, which takes place on a Sunday.

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Places available: 28 (seven per team)
Time and Location: Training and preparation:
Junior School – One morning per week
Senior School – One lunchtime a week, negotiated between staff and students
Training: Second half of Term 2 and first six weeks of Term 3
Competition: Approx. Term 3, Week 6
Location: To be advised
There is a cost associated with this activity
Enrolment: Contact the coordinator
Web: www.tom.edu.au/NSW/NSW-Home.aspx