Bowen Team Triumphs at Tournament of Minds

Bowen State High School pupils spelling out T-O-M for Tournament of Minds. Photo supplied: Bowen State High School

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Contributed with thanks to Bowen State High School.

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Bowen State High School is celebrating the efforts of the students who competed in the Tournament of Minds (TOM) State Finals held at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane over the weekend.

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Tournament of Minds is an international problem-solving program that challenges students to work collaboratively in teams to solve demanding, open-ended challenges.  

The competition encourages creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and communication across disciplines including Language, Literature, STEM, Social Sciences and The Arts. Students are required to think on their feet, respond to spontaneous challenges, and present innovative solutions, making TOM a valuable learning experience both inside and outside the classroom.

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This year, three teams from Bowen State High School represented the school at the State Finals.  

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“Congratulations to all students involved on their commitment, teamwork and excellent efforts in reaching this level of competition,” said Bowen State High School Principal Robert Harris.  

A special congratulations goes to Bowen State High School’s winning Language Literature team, consisting of Isaiah Howell, Sienna Davies, Frankie Brown, Justin Davidson and Hayley Hickey.

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Their success at the State Finals means the team has now qualified for the International Finals in Darwin in October — an outstanding achievement for both the students and the school community.

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Year 10 student Isaiah Howell reflected positively on his Tournament of Minds experience.

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“Thinking creatively and including different team members’ ideas and perspectives not only creates a bond between team members but also helps us think on the spot and adapt to different situations. This has been helpful when I am learning new subjects,” Isaiah said.

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Fellow team member Hayley Hickey said the experience had helped her develop important personal and academic skills.

“It has helped improve my teamwork and resilience when dealing with challenges. TOM provides an opportunity for students to interact with peers, strengthen relationships and connect with other like-minded students across the state and the world,” Hayley said.

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Hayley also said the upcoming International Finals would be a valuable opportunity for learning and growth.

“The International Finals will provide us with an amazing opportunity to learn from students from around the world and how they think and consider topics in different ways based on their culture and values,” she said.

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Bowen State High School would also like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the local businesses that generously sponsored the students’ attendance at the State Finals.

Community support will again play an important role as the team prepares to travel to Darwin for the International Finals. If you are interested in sponsoring the team, please contact Bowen State High School on 4786 9888.

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