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.

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.

Program Details

Coordinator: Kim Tran
Places Available: Open to all interested students
Day and 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 5 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.

Program Details

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Places Available: At the discretion of the coordinator
Day and Time: To be determined by coordinators
Location: Year 6 Studio
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.

Program Details

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Places Available: 16 places (eight per Year group)
Day and Time: Thursday 7.30am–8.15am, Term 1 and Term 2
Location: Year 6 Studio
Enrolment: Complete the student nomination form provided at the end of squad training

 

da Vinci Decathlon (Year 7 to Year 11)

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 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.

Program Details

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Places Available: 40 places (8 per Year group)
Day and Time: Training and preparation: One lunchtime a week, negotiated between staff and students, most of Term 1
Competition: Term 2, Week 5 (approx.)
Location: To be advised
Enrolment: Complete the student nomination form provided at the end of squad training
Website: davincidecathlon.com 

 

Tournament of Minds (Year 5 to Year 10)

Junior: Year 5 to Year 6
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.

Program Details

Coordinator: Jan Falls
Places Available: 28 places (7 per team)
Day and Time: Training and preparation – Junior: Thursday 7.30am–8.10am, second half of Term 2 and first 6 weeks of Term 3
Training and preparation – Senior: One lunchtime per week, negotiated between staff and students, second half of Term 2 and first 6 weeks of Term 3
Competition: Sunday Term 3, Week6
Location: To be advised
Enrolment: Contact the coordinator