Quick minds
PROBLEM solving is no problem at all for a group of quick thinking students at Middle Park State School.
A team of Year 6 and 7 students from the school have put their minds to the test and were found to be the sharpest in the state.
Taking part in the Opti-Minds Creative Sustainability Challenge, the team placed first in the state finals for the second year in a row.
The annual contest provides an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills in an exciting, vibrant, and public way.
Teams are to solve demanding, open-ended challenges centred on one of several disciplines: language literature, social science and science engineering.
The Middle Park team bested other schools this year to take out the state division 1 title for language literature.
Team facilitator Annette Smith said students were given three hours to solve a challenge and then present their answer as a play in front of a panel of judges and an auditorium full of spectators.
"In the midst of these preparations students were also asked to respond creatively to a five minute spontaneous challenge," she said.
As winners of last year's competition, Ms Smith said the team had maintained the same level of commitment, motivation, teamwork and enjoyment.
The two-day event was held at the University of Queensland this month.
The team's latest challenge is to now try and raise about $9000 to participate in the International round of competition to be held in New Zealand on November 23.
If you would like to assist to help the Middle Park Opti-Minds team get to New Zealand, phone 3712 9888 for details.
