Senior School

CAM

On Tuesday 8 October, the Churchie Awards in Media (CAM) dazzled audiences at Dendy Cinemas, Coorparoo, with a celebration of student creativity and cinematic magic. This year’s event, dubbed The A..CAM..edy Awards, paid tribute to all things Hollywood. Year 12 students Tom Crooke and Bill McCart hosted the evening with palpable energy. The night kicked off with a humorous intro film featuring guest appearances from A-list stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep, alongside a surprising cameo from iconic Churchie legend Mr John Collins, delighting the audience.

The event showcased a variety of student-produced films, from hilarious mockumentaries to beautifully crafted short films. The creativity, passion and dedication displayed by Churchie’s young filmmakers impressed not only the audience but also guest judge Richard Fabb from Griffith Film School. Mr Fabb highlighted the importance of students’ creative skills, noting how valuable such skills are across filmmaking and a range of industries. He praised the innovation and collaboration in the student projects, emphasising that these abilities will serve them well in future endeavours.

The ACAMedy Awards continue to spotlight CAM as a vital platform for nurturing Churchie’s future filmmakers, offering them the opportunity to showcase their work on the big screen and receive industry-level recognition. This year’s spectacular entries prove that the future of filmmaking at Churchie is brighter than ever.

Congratulations to all students involved! For those who wish to relive the magic or see more Churchie student films, subscribe to the Churchie Film and Media YouTube channel.

Following the 2024 Churchie Awards in Media, the CAM introduction film is now available to view. The background to the short film is this: with only 20 minutes until the 2024 Churchie Awards in Media and the Headmaster anxiously waiting, Year 12 CAM hosts Bill McCart and Tom Crooke embark on a frantic quest to find Dendy Cinema 1. Along the way, they encounter Hollywood A-listers and stumble through some of cinema’s most iconic moments. Will they make it in time for the big night?

Please find out at the following link: https://clickv.ie/w/9e3z or YouTube.

Stephen Taggart
Head of Faculty – The Arts

Year 11 IB Biology and ESS Moreton Bay excursion

Written by Milton Pyers (Year 11)

During Week 4, Year 11 IB Biology, Environmental Systems and Societies students and QCE Earth Science students participated in a biology excursion run by the Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre. The group began by learning data analysis techniques, calculations and predictions related to biodiversity and species richness, which they applied to the Moreton Bay ecosystem. After the classroom activity, they departed on a boat to apply their knowledge, taking measurements and collecting data on species and environmental conditions. Skills applied included using a Secchi disk, measuring wind speed and classifying biotic organisms. The group thoroughly enjoyed expanding their knowledge of Australia’s ecosystems’ complexity and variety.

Year 11IB History and Philosophy UQ Excursion

Written by Alex Ma (Year 11)

On 25 October, Year 11 IB History and Philosophy cohorts travelled to the University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus. The excursion provided a research opportunity for Internal Assessment tasks and an insight into a day in the life of a UQ humanities student. Highlights included a Q&A session with a current Ramsay Undergraduate Scholarship recipient, lunch under flowering jacarandas in the Great Court, and a tour of the Antiquities Museum focusing on Greek warfare. The most fascinating experience, agreed upon by all, was a guided tour of one of the campus’s six libraries, where the spacious design and endless book collection inspired the boys to immerse themselves in their studies. This rewarding experience was made possible by Mr Robertson and Mr Page, who organised and led the excursion.

Aquila news

Australian Maths Olympiad Committee Summer Olympiad Programme

Congratulations to Owen Yu (Year 9), Lucas Shan, Ben Wu and Daniel He (Year 8) and Lucas Xue and Yunfan Shu (Year 7) who have been selected for this highly selective programme. They will engage in a challenging range of problem-solving competitions and coaching. The School is the best-represented school within this elite programme, with a quarter of all invited students coming from Churchie.

Australian Intermediate Maths Olympiad

Congratulations to Owen Yu, who received a High Distinction (scoring 23 out of 24) on this challenging three-hour exam. The AIMO is open to students from Years 7 to 10. Jayden Ooi (Year 9) and Daniel He (Year 8) also achieved Distinctions. Congratulations also go to our highest achiever in Year 7, Tony Cao.

Junior Science Olympiad Spring School

Owen Yu (Year 9) recently attended this camp at ANU in Canberra. Owen was one of only 24 students selected from across the country, based on his outstanding performance in the Junior Science Olympiad. Owen completed a programme that allowed him to develop practical skills in science and study a range of advanced material in biology, chemistry and physics. Owen was then invited to complete the three-hour selection exam for the Australian Junior Science Olympiad Team.

Senior Science Olympiads

Congratulations to Felix Nano (Year 11) and Max Gao (Year 12), who received High Distinctions for the second year in a row in the Australian Chemistry Olympiad. Owen Yu (Year 9) received a Distinction. Distinctions were also received in the Australian Physics Olympiad by Felix Nano and Jeongmin Choi (Year 11) and Owen Yu and Marcus Chan (Year 9).

F1 in Schools State Finals

Three teams recently contested the F1 in Schools state finals at the CQU in Mackay. The competition requires students to design, manufacture and race prototype F1 cars as well as create marketing and promotion strategies for their particular brand. Churchie was represented by Team Alvarium (Alister Hillier, Henry Peters and Angus Peters), Team Hyperion (Jacob Seldon, Hugo Johnstone and Kevin Lu) and Team Velocitas (Charlie St Clair, Owen Yu, Jayden Ooi and Charles Chen). In their first state competition, the teams performed exceptionally well. Velocitas won the verbal presentation and innovation awards and was the overall champion team in the Development Division. In the Professional Division, the most senior competition, Alvarium placed second, with Hyperion finishing third. Alvarium received awards for Best Reaction Time, Best Portfolio and Best Graphic Design, while Hyperion was recognised as Knockout Round champion and Best Managed Enterprise. Given the relative inexperience of these teams, these were outstanding results. The boys should be commended for months of hard work and preparation.

Service news

Written by James Lee (Year 11)

The Tukka Project is a local charity addressing the critical issue of food insecurity among school children. In Australia, one in five primary school students attend school without a proper meal, leaving them unable to concentrate. This issue significantly impacts their ability to learn and achieve academically.

The Tukka Project collaborates with schools and communities to provide nutritious meals at no cost to schools, ensuring every child has access to healthy, balanced meals so they can focus on learning. By offering these meals, the project helps students maintain energy and improve concentration, enhancing academic outcomes and wellbeing.

Volunteering sessions, such as the one held at Norman Park Bowls Club every Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:45 pm, play a vital role in this initiative. During these sessions, volunteers prepare meals for distribution to schools throughout Brisbane. Boys who participated last Wednesday found the experience fulfilling and enjoyable as they contributed to a cause benefiting local children. The event highlighted the importance of community involvement in addressing food insecurity and gave boys a hands-on opportunity to make a positive impact.

For more information about the Tukka Project, visit www.thetukkaproject.org.

Pixevety reminder for Year 12 parents

If your son is in Year 12 this year, please ensure you visit our Pixevety photo platform and download any photos of him that you would like to keep by Thursday 30 November 2024. The parent guide to Pixevety at Churchie (available on myChurchie) has instructions on how to download your son’s photos. If you are another son at the school, parent access will continue.

For more information visit the Pixevety page on myChurchie or email news@churchie.com.au.

Rod Olsen
Head of Senior School