YEAR 11 student Madeleine Smit, who dreams of becoming a doctor, has won a major Queensland maths competition.
The West Moreton Anglican College student won the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers Journal problem solving challenge, which attracted entries from around the State.
Madeleine said she was determined and enjoyed the challenge, going over all of her class notes from the last couple of years analysing the problem from a few different angles.
“I have been at WestMAC since Prep and the teachers have helped me to explore what areas of learning I love the best,” she said.
“I would like to become a doctor because I want to help people, like my grandpa and great grandpa, who were both doctors.’’
Madeleine is not the only student who has been kicking academic goals.
The work of three Year 10 students was selected for presentation at the National Constitutional Conference in Canberra in March.
More than 50 schools entered from around the State attracting mainly Year 11 and 12 students.
The team of Alexandra Hurst, Raven Baker and Anna Ikin were named State finalists after defeating seven other schools to become Metropolitan West region representatives at the Queensland Schools Constitutional Online Convention.
In the State final the team’s constitutional preamble, which the students were given only 20 minutes to write, was one of only two recognised for national honours.
Anna Ikin said that Social Science teacher Donna Googe was very enthusiastic about the subject.
“We really enjoyed learning about our constitution through her passionate teaching.”
In addition, Alexandra has been peer-voted as one of only 23 State delegates to attend the National Conference in Canberra in March, after successfully presenting her speech on why and how the constitutional preamble should change.
Alexandra said that she is really excited about going to the convention.
“I have written the speech and researched the topic after being inspired by Mrs Googe.
“I feel more informed about how the Australian convention works and our whole political system,.”
Mrs Googe said she was impressed with the dedication of all of the students because she wanted to see today’s young people become active, aware and engaged citizens.
WestMAC Principal Geoff McLay said the students had displayed impressive work and he was proud of the commitment from the teachers such as Phil Trezise, who is the leader of learning, mathematics and Mrs Googe, who had instilled a love of learning into students.
“Before the constitution project, the students did not have any knowledge about the constitution, but under Mrs Googe the students progressed very quickly to expertly grapple with complex issues of law, Australian identity and history, all the while having fun doing it,’’ McLay said.
“It is also thrilling to see Madeleine’s success.”
