During the September school holidays, a group of Year 6 students from Matthew Flinders Anglican College spent an extraordinary four days competing in the World Scholar’s Cup Global Round in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Guided by Year 6 teacher Mrs Jacqui Quin and parents, the students formed two teams to represent Flinders with passion, confidence and character on the international stage.
They competed against 170 scholars from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, the UK, South Africa and the USA.
The challenge was fierce, with the Year 6s competing against students up to three years older than them across Team Debates, Collaborative Writing and the Scholar’s Challenge.
Flinders highlights included:
Yale Qualification: Both Flinders teams qualified for the prestigious Tournament of Champions at Yale University.
Top Debater: Congratulations to Will S, who placed 2nd overall as Top Individual Debater and was chosen by adjudicators as one of the four panellists for the Showcase Debate.
Debate Success: Both teams won two of their three debates, including an impressive victory over a Year 9 team.
Medal Haul: Every student returned home with multiple medals, alongside a team trophy for debating.
Representing Flinders with Pride and Kindness
Beyond the trophies, our students truly embodied the Flinders spirit.
The Cultural Fair was an opportunity for our students to proudly share their Australian culture. They handed out fairy bread and Vegemite, and ran an Aussie slang quiz they had created, with Australian souvenirs as prizes. Year 6 student Hantha O also performed Advance Australia Fair on his viola, which was a special addition to the display.
The Scavenger Hunt through the beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens enabled the students to form mixed teams and get to know students from other schools and countries. They worked together to complete challenges and solve problems, enjoying the opportunity to connect with international peers.
Teachers from other schools also praised the Flinders students for their exceptional kindness, integrity and sportsmanship.
Ms Quin explained: “During one debate, our students took the time to help an opposition team understand the motion. Several teachers later praised their generosity and support. It was an excellent example of our students representing Flinders proudly.”
Student Reflections
Year 6 students Will S and Leo H shared some reflections.
"My favourite part was the Team Debate, which let me bond with my teammates while brainstorming techniques to build our arguments. It was an amazing experience that truly shaped my outlook on the future and the world." – Will S
"My favourite part was the Cultural Fair where we made a stand about our culture, then visited stands from a variety of countries. We made friends from America, New Zealand and from Australia in New South Wales!" – Leo H
