Nudgee wins second place in Future Problem Solving Program
October 17, 2007
Four Nudgee boys won second place in the national finals of the Macquarie Bank Future Problem Solving Program in Perth.
Year 10 students Sam Vollert, Curtis Skinner, Sam Jeffries and Alastair Carrigan travelled to Wesley College in Perth to compete on October 12-14, 2007.
They competed against other finalists:
- Blacktown Girls' High representing New South Wales
- St Peter's College from South Australia
- St Stephens Carramar from Western Australia
- Raffles Girls' School and Tan Hwee Mia Ma in Singapore.
The National Finals incorporates Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. Blacktown Girls' High won first place.
The four Nudgee students submitted a project in the Community Problem Solving Category and competed in the Middle Division against 8 teams.
The Macquarie Bank Future Problem Solving project centres on the skills of problem identification and positive solutions to those problems. It aims to give young people the skills to design and promote positive futures for the society in which they live.
The topic the Nudgee boys chose was Global Citizenship, an idea born of their recent trip to the Philippines. Twelve Year 10 boys, including the four competing students, took part in a programme supporting the work of the Christian Brothers in that country.
"We visited Manila and Kabankalan, with most of the trip being based around local convents and Catholic schools in Kabankalan," said Nudgee teacher and International Immersion Co-ordinator Matt Hawkins. Mr Hawkins accompanied the boys to the Philippines and will travel with them to Perth.
"The reason for the trip was to investigate opportunities for our College community and local Catholic school communities. We want to build relationships with students from those areas in order to communicate together as better global citizens," Mr Hawkins said.
Year 10 student and team member Sam Jeffries said the Philippines trip was the best thing he had ever done.
"It was such an eye opener. It was such a big thing experiencing the different culture and leaving our comfort zone," he said.
Over the September-October holidays, the four students worked on the 6,000 word report which outlined the problem, solutions, a plan of action, the implementation of that plan, and outcomes.
The boys managed to incorporate the project into classwork as well. Head of Enrichment Ms Toni Riordan is three of the boys' Personal Enrichment teacher and accompanied them to the Philippines.
"We have chosen Talk Justice as the theme for this year's Enrichment Week and it incorporates aspects of the Philippines immersion program," Ms Riordan said.
"Social justice is such a huge part of the Nudgee curriculum and the boys who take Personal Enrichment -- those traditionally called gifted and talented -- come up with the most wonderful projects. The academic, the practical and the creative aspects of these boys' great minds is integrated into a worthwhile project which has far reaching ramifications," she said.
Sam Jefferies said the project continues what the group set out to do -- to spread awareness of issues of a global nature and of the Philippines specifically.
"Before I went on the trip to the Philippines with the school, all I knew of the country was areas of destitution. What I saw was more than I expected," he said.
"Before I went I was focused on the physical aspects of the country, but while I was there, I shifted my focus to the people. They were so friendly and hospitable. I'd go as far as to say, they were the most hospitable people I have ever come across.
"If our project can get people to see other people, rather than other countries, we have done our job."