Wairarapa Schools Shine at Global Tournament of Minds Finale

Students from three Wairarapa schools showcased their problem-solving skills at the Tournament of Minds (TOM) global final held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Competing against teams from Oceania, Asia, and the Middle East, these young minds demonstrated their creativity and teamwork in a weekend filled with challenges and camaraderie.

The TOM competition invites students aged 9 to 15 to engage in an international team problem-solving championship across four disciplines: arts, social sciences, language and literature, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Teams are tasked with addressing complex, open-ended challenges in a three-hour time frame, culminating in a ten-minute presentation to a panel of judges.

Wairarapa’s Remarkable Achievement

The three schools—Hadlow Preparatory School, Rathkeale College, and Wairarapa College—were part of eight New Zealand teams that advanced to the international final after excelling in the national TOM championship held in September 2023. This marked a significant achievement, as it was the highest number of teams from a single region to qualify in many years.

Among these teams, the Hadlow Preparatory School team distinguished itself by securing a top-three finish in the social sciences category for primary schools. They received an honours award and silver medals for their innovative solution: a television pilot episode promoting self-expression through affordable fashion. Team member Caia Knauf-Gray, reflecting on their unexpected success, stated, “It was a massive surprise when they called our name. I was so happy.”

Fellow team member Katie Olds expressed pride in representing their school and country, saying, “We smashed it. It was an unforgettable experience.”

Innovative Solutions and Creative Presentations

At the international competition, teams were isolated in separate rooms where they received prompts for their challenges, along with materials to help develop their solutions. The Hadlow team faced the task of designing a TV show to educate viewers about diversity. After brainstorming numerous ideas, they settled on a reality TV show concept where diverse communities receive wardrobe makeovers on a budget.

“We had coloured paper, Sellotape, a stapler, tinfoil, and felt pens which kept drying out on us,” said student Aisling Marara, highlighting the resourcefulness required to create their presentation. Their creative use of materials, combined with an engaging storyline and lively characters, earned them high praise from the judges.

The Rathkeale College team, competing in the language and literature discipline, crafted a humorous narrative that anthropomorphized two landmarks: the Sydney Opera House and the Statue of Liberty. They cleverly addressed themes of environmental concerns through a comedic television news report format, complete with exaggerated accents and puns. Year 9 student Oscar Brider noted the challenge of their prompt was daunting initially, but they ultimately found it to be “loads of fun.”

The Wairarapa College team tackled a STEM challenge that involved creating a maze using refracting light sources. Their performance combined a captivating storyline with scientific principles, which garnered commendations for creativity and technical execution. “Three hours may seem long, but when there’s five minutes left and something goes missing, all you can think is, ‘Where did the time go?’” remarked Isabelle Bulmer, a Year 9 student.

The weekend was described as chaotic yet exhilarating, with over 1,000 participants from 79 teams. Wairarapa students not only demonstrated their skills but also formed bonds with peers from around the world. The camaraderie culminated in a lively bus trip following the competition, filled with sing-alongs and shared laughter.

The TOM global final provided a unique platform for young learners to showcase their talents, build friendships, and gain invaluable experience in collaborative problem-solving. As these students return home, they carry with them not only medals and accolades but also cherished memories from an unforgettable journey into creativity and teamwork.