iServi News | 7 June 2019 | Term 2, Week 6
Curtin Innovative Learning ‘Global Goals Challenge’
This week Servite proudly hosted the Curtin University Innovative Learning ‘Global Goals Challenge’ which saw selected Year 7 to 10 students from invited schools explore possible solutions to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The event forms part of our developing iCurious Gifted and Talented programme, supported through our connection to the Curtin University Innovation Consortium.
The Challenge provided students with the opportunity to be creative, to communicate and collaborate with others and to develop findings to design solutions to real world problems. These are core skills that we look to implement across our curriculum in support of students fulfilling our learning vision of becoming “researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs”. We believe these are the lifelong learning skills that our young people need for growing, working and participating in a constantly changing global society. These skills are the foundation for engaging in every learning area across the College, and are encouraged, modeled and explored across all year levels.
Another important skill aligned with our learning vision, and very much present in this initiative, is that of critical thinking. In thinking critically students are challenged to consider alternatives, evaluate evidence and justify a decision or stance on an issue. They become adept at using evidence, reasoning and logic to plan pathways and predict future events and scenarios. We want students to learn to carefully examine the views of others and become discerning, critical analysers of information and ideas. We want them to develop as agile thinkers, finding solutions that are beyond what is rote or rule based. This important skill will stand them in very good stead for whatever future pathway that they choose and is consequently of important focus for us at Servite.
We are very excited to be a part of the Curtin University Innovation Consortium as it offers “unique programs to talented young people through Achievement Centred Engagement for Students (ACES), including workshops, seminars, academies and summer camps that build skills and strengths in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship”. We look forward to providing further opportunities for students to be involved in innovative and contemporary real-life research projects as part of our ongoing connection to the Consortium.
We are most grateful to Curtin University for their generosity and support in running the Challenge this week and look forward to further deepening this exciting partnership. We also congratulate our iCurious (GATE) Coordinator Mr Kris Hailes for his organisation of this three-day event and recognise the efforts of the students from all schools involved who contributed very strongly to the Challenge. Mr Hailes will provide further details on this exciting initiative in a later edition of iServi.
Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM)
In keeping with the theme of innovation, we were pleased to recently announce the launch of an exciting new Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) initiative which invites students from local primary schools to spend a day at the College exploring the topic of sustainability. Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Apollo lunar landing, students will “launch a mission to develop creative solutions for a sustainable future”.
In true Servite hospitality, we look forward to large groups of students joining us for a day in Week 8 of this term. This activity will be the launch pad for future exciting STEM related activities for incoming students that will utilise the amazing skills of College students and staff and encourage rich collaboration between Servite and surrounding primary schools. We acknowledge the work of STEM Coordinator Mr Ericius Tan in organising the event. For your interest, further details are available here.
LifeLink
The LifeLink organisation was “established by the Archdiocese of Perth in 1994 to provide for the ongoing financial and promotional support of agencies established or assisted by the Church”. LifeLink’s “agencies deliver professional services and caring support to thousands of people in need throughout Western Australia each year.”
Servite has been a strong supporter of LifeLink agencies for many years through fundraising, advocacy and service. Our College was well represented by students at the recent annual LifeLink Day forum which promotes the organisation and also allows students to connect directly key Western Australian Catholic leaders. The event was reported in this week’s edition of The Record, available here
You will note in the report reference to Servite’s involvement in Archbishop Timothy Costelloe’s newly formed Special Project Committee. We are very excited for our students to be invited to be a part of this special project and know that they will engage in a positive and enthusiastic manner.
Servite Career Expo
The annual Servite College Career Expo is scheduled for Thursday 13 June from 2.00pm to 5.00pm in the Alexis Research Centre. This important event brings together many tertiary educational agencies and vocational and workplace providers to offer families and students support and information on future pathways.
The Careers Expo is an important part of our Career Development programme at the College. We understand the importance of effectively setting up our students for success and providing them with the skill sets to make good decisions about their future pathway. We encourage all students from Years 10-12 and their families to take up the opportunity to access the information and advice available at the Expo. Further details are available here
Mr Jeff Allen
Principal