Enrichment News
Things that have happened:
Interschool Chess Tournament
24 students, 8 for the first time, were among the 506 FNQ students who participated in the Term 2 Interschool tournament on June 5th. It was a great day with some pleasing results:
OLHOC 1 - Premier 4th (8 teams)
Finn, Charlie, Lucas & Logan
OLHOC 2 - A Grade 7th (11 teams)
Malcolm, Zavier, Taichi, Avery
OLHOC 3 -B Grade 9th (16 teams)
Lynn, Hannah, Tina, Willow
OLHOC 4 - C Grade 8th (24 teams)
Akain, Dylan, Patrick, Rory
OLHOC 5 - D Grade 3rd (23 teams)
Johnathan, Aiden, Max, Oliver
OLHOC 6 - D Grade 9th (23 teams)
Xavier, Luke, Tenasi, Cindy
Special congratulations to Aiden for achieving 1st place in D Grade with a score of 6.5/7. A fantastic result for his first tournament.
Readers Cup
Year 6 students, Ruby, Alice, Dylan & Jayveer participated in the FNQ Readers Cup event on 12th June with 40 other schools. Reading five books in ten weeks and being able to answer detailed questions was quite a challenge, so our team should be proud of their efforts which resulted in 25th place!
IEU Literary Competition
Five students from Enrichment Writing (Year 5 & 6) managed to complete an entry into this competition. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for any narrative entries to be completed.
Arcade games are fun to play
Pew! Pew! Pew! you hear all day
When it's time to say goodbye
You’ll want to ask for one more try
“No” and “go” is all you hear
But all you want is to just stay here
Having fun is all you need
But as much as you try to beg and plead
You’ll know you have to finally leave.
By Finn R
The Moon
A bright shimmering stone, of wonder, and light.
Lighting everywhere whenever it is dark.
From colours white to blue
It can even change to red.
The moon's face is round yet flat,
at most seen,
sometimes all black.
The moon is larger than the largest sea…
But it can hide behind a tree.
You may not see the moon in the day,
But it never really goes away.
The moon.
By Lynn
The Library
The library is filled with marvellous books
Where people read in its little nooks
It is a quiet space to stay
While children come to quietly play
The clatter of chess pieces fills the air
Then the librarian starts to stare
“Boys and girls come here to borrow
I hope to see you back tomorrow”
By Abigail
Friends
Friends will always be there for you
During the hard times and the good,
And even on the darkest days
They always make you laugh and giggle
To make it seem brighter
Even if the problem hasn’t gone away
Friends will always be there for you
Most till the day you die
And even in the toughest times
You’ll always find a way out
With the help of a friend
Who’s always by your side.
Friends will always be there for you
Although you may get in arguments
They won’t last long
Because when they’re by your side
The bond you share
Will always last for a lifetime
Friends will always be there for you
They’re like sunshine after rain
Like warm blankets on cold days
Like the way music makes everything okay
There's nothing like a friend who understands you
Who knows your favourite colour
Or your favourite snack
Who listens when you talk about random stuff
And still cares, no matter what
Friends will always be there for you
They’re like stars in the sky
You might not always see them
But you always know they’re there
Friendships can last for a lifetime
The good times may never
And even when you’ve grown up
You’ll still remember they’re your best friend
Sometimes friends come when you least expect it
You might be feeling alone
But then someone shows up
And suddenly makes everything feel a little bit easier
They don’t have to be perfect
They just have to be real
The kind of friend who stays
Even when things get hard
Friends will always be there for you
Not just for a moment
But for all the moments that really matter
And that’s something
You’ll never forget
Forever and ever
By Ruby A
The Green Tree
In the heart of a quiet field,
Where golden light and silence yield,
There stands a tree of emerald hue,
Bathed in breath of morning dew.
Sturdy oak with branches wide,
Standing tall with timeless pride.
Roots run deep beneath the Earth,
Ancient symbols of rebirth.
In the field’s deep embrace,
Leaves whisper secrets with grace.
Branches sway in gentle breeze,
Nature's song among the trees.
Leaves rustle, soft and bright,
Catch the breeze and dance with light.
Each branch, a story stretching wide,
A home where birds and dreams abide.
A witness to the seasons’ flow,
To summer’s blaze and winter’s snow.
To autumn’s gold and springtime’s birth,
It guards the rhythm of the Earth.
Children play beneath its shade,
Lovers rest while dreams are laid.
The sun goes down behind the hill
The green tree watches, wise and still.
So if you pass it on your way,
Take a breath and gently stay.
For in its calm, you might see,
A piece of peace, in one green tree.
By Avery
Things still to come:
IEU Art Design Awards
Theme: FRIENDS
If your child has an artistic talent and would like to prepare a piece of artwork at home, Mrs Williams will submit it into this competition. Due date is 18th July.
- Each entry must be that of an individual (no joint work) and the original work of the entrant.
- Name of the artist must NOT be visible on the piece of artwork.
- Artwork must be in keeping with the theme.
- Artworks may be painted, drawn, collage work or photographic work and must be suitable for exhibition purposes. Sculptures are not permitted.
- Artwork must be easily transportable by post but no larger than 60cm x 100cm. Sizes A4, A3, A2, A1 are acceptable.
A number of students have already registered to participate in these assessments which are designed for students wishing to extend themselves academically.
They are available for students in Years 3-6 and will be conducted in Weeks 4-7 of Term 3 as indicated below. Exact dates and times will be determined once we know how many students have registered. The cost per test is $20.95 including GST.
ICAS Digital Technologies (Week 4) 4 Aug –8 Aug 2025
ICAS English (Week 5) 11 Aug – 15 Aug 2025
ICAS Science (Week 6) 18 Aug – 22 Aug 2025
ICAS Spelling Bee (Week 6) 18 Aug – 22 Aug 2025
ICAS Mathematics (Week 7) 25 Aug – 29 Aug 2025
Please indicate your interest in purchasing one or more of these assessments by emailing Mrs Williams (awilliams2@cns.catholic.edu.au) and she will provide you with further information for accessing the Parent Payment System. Closing date is 28th July.
The Opti-MINDS Creative Sustainability Challenge is a creative problem solving event for students from Years 3-6 which EMPOWERS them to THINK, CREATE & COMMUNICATE.
They are required to solve open-ended Challenges from one of the following categories:
| Language Literature | Media Communication | Science Engineering | Social Sciences |
The Opti-MINDS Challenge is an opportunity for all those with a passion for learning & problem solving to showcase their skills & talents in an exciting, vibrant & public way.
THE CHALLENGE…
- Teams are required to work together on a Long Term Challenge for up to six weeks without assistance from anyone outside the team. Participants are encouraged to explore possibilities & experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution.
- They develop creative & original ways to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex Challenge criteria & the deadlines of The Challenge Day.
- Students present the product of their ideas – their Challenge solution – to a panel of judges & an audience on Challenge Day. They have 10 minutes in which to present & must do so in a 3 x 3 metre performance area.
- The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on Opti-MINDS Day. This Challenge requires rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think effectively, creatively, & well-developed group cooperation skills.
Opti-MINDS will commence on Monday 14th July and conclude with the Challenge presentation at JCU on Sunday, 31st August. Students in Years 3-6 who wish to participate or would like to know more, should register their interest by completing the google form. Students do not need to commit until they have seen the challenges in Week 1, Term 3.
Please contact Mrs Williams if you are unable to access the google form or would like any further information.
Alison Williams
Enrichment Teacher