TOM offers students the opportunity to solve authentic, open-ended challenges that foster creative and divergent thinking, whilst developing collaborative enterprise, excellence and teamwork.
Challenges are set in the disciplines of the Arts, Language Literature, Social Sciences and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Teams compete in two challenges – a long-term challenge, which is prepared at school over the course of six weeks in a discipline of their choosing and a spontaneous challenge that the students complete on the day.
With around 85 teams competing on the day from across the state, our schools achieved some wonderful results, with St Paul's Primary School, Gateshead coming first in the primary STEM division.
“It taught me a lot of things including teamwork, the importance of time and leadership skills,” said Dylan Dunkley, a member of the St Paul’s team.
St Joseph's Primary School, Kilaben Bay and St Benedict’s Primary School, Edgeworth both received honours in primary Arts and St Paul's Primary School, Rutherford received honours in Language Literature.
In the secondary division, St Joseph’s College, Lochinvar were the winners of the STEM division and received honours in the Arts division, while All Saints’ College, Maitland won the secondary Arts division and the Language Literature division.
“It been a great experience for all involved, students, teachers and the school community,” said Shanell Tregidgo, a teacher from St Paul’s who supported the students during their competitions.
“Students have shown so much growth in a range of areas including overcoming fears, learning to work cooperatively in a team and finding different ways to approach and solve a difficult challenge.”