Strive on Challenges

Have Sum Fun

Have Sum Fun is a competition run by the Mathematical Association of WA (MAWA) where teams of six students race against the clock to solve four rounds of eight challenging mathematical problems. Two BCGS Primary teams, the Blue Comets and Gold Stars, competed against a number of local schools in this challenge, working together to tackle some very difficult problems. It was wonderful to see their hard work reflected in the Blue Comets being awarded third place and the Gold Stars team placed fourth overall. “The problems we were given at Have Sum Fun were quite hard. To solve them we needed to use lots of different methods and strategies and work together as a team.”

Discovery Day

The South West Science and Engineering Discovery Day is a national outreach program aimed at supporting students to engage with science and engineering concepts through interactive, hands-on learning experiences. During this year’s challenge, the students enjoyed activities including designing and constructing a model bridge, building an earthquake-proof tower, creating functional codes to send messages using pulses of light, and constructing a Mars buggy using basic suspension systems.

“It was a fun day because you got to learn new stuff about things you would not think about doing. I got to make a plane and test it out which was awesome fun, and working with my team I also did the technology challenge where you had to connect a town with electricity using electrical circuits.”

da Vinci Decathlon

The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. This year’s Junior da Vinci Decathlon took place in May at the University of Western Australia. Competing against schools from across WA, two teams of Year 5 and 6 students completed a variety of challenges across 10 disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics, Code-breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography, and Legacy.

“I found da Vinci to be inspiring because it challenged me to new extents that I would not have attempted before.”

Mrs Rachel Cook :: Primary Academic Talent Development Co-ordinator

da Vinci Decathlon

The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of students. Secondary students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines the same as the Junior competition. The Decathlon is designed to celebrate the academic gifts of Australian youth by providing a stimulating and challenging competition run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon.

We had two teams representing Years 7 and 8 and they won three categories on the day. Not only do students compete academically, but they also get to experience the beautiful Winthrop Hall at UWA and the surrounding grounds.

Have Sum Fun

Secondary students from Years 7 to 10 competed in the Annual Have Sum Fun Mathematics competition in Term 1. “There were some incredible feats of brainpower and problem-solving all around,” said Mr Tomlinson, Head of Mathematics Faculty.

Mrs Naomi Smith :: Academic Talent Development Co-ordinator

Have Sum Fun

Congratulations to the following students who received awards

YEAR 9/10 DIVISION

2nd Place

Conor, Oliver, Chris, Henry and James

YEAR 7/8 DIVISION

2nd Place

Jensen, Alex, Harrison, Joseph, Declan and Rosie

4th Place

Ian, Mitch, Liam, Max, Dean and Leighton

The VET office continues to be a hive of activity! The opportunities for all students are becoming endless, from Alternate Entry Pathways to University, Try a Trade Days and Work Experience, to Traineeships and Workplace Learning, there is always something happening.

Lachlan Smith

CLASS OF 2022

Lachy, or otherwise known to others as “Choc”, started on the VET pathway in Year 11 and completed two Certificate Courses; one in Auto Electrics and one in Automotive Servicing. He completed many workplace learning hours at several business and gained a wide range of skills, the most valuable being work-ready skills. With our Memorandum of Understanding with Piacentini & Son, Lachy was able to gain full-time employment at their business upon graduation and continues to learn new skills every day. We are very grateful for the support from Piacentini & Son and we have loved seeing the success Lachy has found transitioning into full-time work.

Josh Cussons

YEAR 12

Josh has successfully completed his School-Based Traineeship in Certificate II in Engineering. He started his journey in Year 10 where his Workplace Learning sparked an interest in this area. His practical background made him a great fit for this industry and after 18 months, he completed his Certificate. If you ask Josh, he will probably say he loved earning money whilst still being at school, but deep down he is grateful for the experience and skills he has gained juggling work and school.

Sophie Burns

CLASS OF 2021

Sophie was our VET Award winner in 2021, and a very welldeserved winner she was! Sophie completed several certificates while at school. After a gap year working locally and completing her university preparation course, she used her certificates, along with a hard work ethic to enrol into a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Edith Cowan University in Bunbury. The skills Sophie gained during her time at school enabled her to become work and university ready. It has been lovely to see to see Sophie succeed in her chosen pathway.

Year 10

Several students have had the opportunity to be involved in the Try a Trade excursions in 2023. These opportunities give students real-life, hands-on exposure to different roles and careers within several industries. The students love these opportunities, and they are invaluable in assisting them with future career decisions and opportunities.

Mrs Jenelle Commisso :: VET Co-ordinator

Phoebe Harris

Here are a few comments from the students who attended:

Campbell Leeson :: Good experience to learn about what options are out there. Being hands-on made it so much better and easier to learn. Kane was such a great teacher!

Lachlan Scott :: It was a fun experience. I learned a lot of new things that will help me when I am older. I would highly recommend it to people who are not sure what they want to do in the future.

Reuben Duyvestein :: It was a fun experience and I have learnt skills that I would not have learnt otherwise. The instructor was so good! Have a go if you get the chance.

Harry Burns :: It was a good experience. I learnt heaps of new skills.

For my work experience, I went to the Bunbury Forum Pharmacy and thoroughly enjoyed it. For me, wanting to be a nurse and working at a pharmacy really helped me understand the different medicines, how they can help people, and which types can affect other underlying problems, which was very interesting to me. I really enjoyed the working environment and the people I worked with were so amazing, helping me to understand the process of working in a pharmacy.

Daniel Bolto

Work experience is truly an insightful opportunity for people who may be a little hesitant about what to do in the future. It allowed me to experience and work in environments

I was not really interested in initially, but learnt to appreciate and consider as a pathway in the future.

Work Experience is offered to Year 10 students each semester. They are given the opportunity to attend a workplace in an industry of their choice to gain skills, knowledge, and an awareness of what different types of careers can offer them. It not only exposes the students to workplaces, but can spark an interest and assist in career and pathway planning. The feedback we receive from businesses and students is always positive. We are extremely grateful to all the businesses who host our students.