Tourney of Minds win on first go

Wakari School pupils (from left) Ella Cone (10), Tom Rasmussen (11), Adam Dunlop (10), Bram Casey (10), Amber McPhee (10), Evie Dangerfield (10) and Liliya Ushakova-Colling (9) will represent the South Island in the New Zealand Tournament of Minds final i
Wakari School pupils (from left) Ella Cone (10), Tom Rasmussen (11), Adam Dunlop (10), Bram Casey (10), Amber McPhee (10), Evie Dangerfield (10) and Liliya Ushakova-Colling (9) will represent the South Island in the New Zealand Tournament of Minds final in Wellington this weekend. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Some might say it is beginner's luck, but the group of Wakari School pupils who have just won the South Island Tournament of Minds on their first attempt disagree.

Ella Cone, Tom Rasmussen, Adam Dunlop, Bram Casey, Amber McPhee, Evie Dangerfield and Liliya Ushakova-Colling won the competition in Christchurch last weekend and are now preparing to represent the region in the national final in Wellington this weekend.

It is there that they hope to prove it was not just a fluke they had made it this far.

Tournament of Minds is a problem-solving competition for multi-aged teams of pupils working together to solve a demanding, open-ended long-term challenge.

The team can choose one of four disciplines to compete in - applied technology, language and literature, maths engineering and social sciences.

The Wakari School team chose language and literature. It had six weeks to formulate a solution to the challenge, and 10 minutes to present its solution to an audience and a panel of judges on tournament day.

On tournament day, there was also a Spontaneous Challenge in which the team was judged on teamwork, creativity of responses and thinking skills.

The tournament aims to enhance the potential of young people by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management and the discipline of working collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.

Wakari School teacher Stacey Gribben said the pupils were ecstatic they had come so far in the tournament.

''None of us have been in the competition before, so it's all very new.

''I just heard about [Tournament of Minds] when I attended a workshop, and I thought it would make a really good education extension activity.

''It's very exciting for us,'' Mrs Gribben said.

The national final would be another step up for the years 5 and 6 pupils, because they would be competing against years 7 and 8 pupils, she said.

''They have to compete against years 7 and 8 pupils at the nationals because the next step up after that is the Australasian final, and it only has pupils in years 7 and 8.

''It will be interesting to see how well they go.''

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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