The BUFFY CHALLENGE *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!*

 

 

 

Well people power has spoken, from the countless letters, the discussion on talk back radio and the numerous treats towards my own well being have finally been heard. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND (OF 2 PEOPLE!) THE BUFFY CHALLENGE IS BACK!!!!

And has a new home! You can now find all future challenge entrances at the new web address:

 http://buffychallenge.blogspot.com

as soon as I figure out how to transfer the older posts to the new address the previous posts will still be found at "I'm getting to old for this"

So what are you waiting for? click the link and lets get started!!!!!

-Mr. Sidhom

Tournament of Minds Australasian and Pacific Finals 2008

With the stunning victory in August in the State final of Tournament of Minds, the social science champions of Victoria were off to the Australasian and Pacific championships to represent their state proudly against the best from around the country last Friday and Saturday. The event started with the opening ceremony at the majestic town hall where the students of Lakeside were formally introduced as the Victorian representatives. The students were then off on the great Melbourne discovery where they were given a list of different challenges to complete around Melbourne racing against the clock. After an intense and tiring work the Lakeside crew completed the race in style with slurpees in hand.

On the Saturday, they found themselves back at the familiar surroundings of La Trobe University, where they were set another difficult social science challenge entitled Dream On. The students went on and demonstrated a highly intellectual solution to the problem which dramatized the world where there was no equality and the struggle we face to gain basic human rights. People were judged and classified by the letter their surnames began with. They highlighted the oppression and discrimination still found in the world by substituting race, creed, financial status or religious discrimination with the letter classification. The performance from all 7 members was outstanding. Jack Tran and Jess Johnson were magnificent and the oppressive "Z's" continually demoting Chris Lewis' character of "Aa". Chris' stunning performance was well supported by Jack Aqualina whose depiction of "Bb" highlighted the class system in work and that those who are a little better off still have a difficult life. Kathryn Norris-King's portal of the wife of "Aa" gave a real sense of the peril faced in the lives of the oppressed "Aa", she also was well supported by a rising star at lakeside in the form of Paige Fararas who as the sick daughter of "Aa" was able to fulfill the dream that her father had gave up his life for. This was all topped up by another entertaining performance from the very witty Jeffery Mann who represented the middle class as "K" showing how difficult it is for the middle class to support those less fortunate than them while trying to appease those who hold the power in society.

The completion of the presentations highlighted why out of 30,000 schools from around the country who participated in Tournament of Minds why these schools were the cream of the crop. Lakeside Secondary College may not have gained a medal in this competition but what they did do was make their school and their state proud. A special acknowledgement needs to go out to Mr. Paul McDonald for his tireless effort over the years in organizing the T.O.M participation from Lakeside.

From all of the Lakeside family we would like to congratulate the magnificent 7 T.O.M's on this herculean effort they took on the whole country and even though they didn't win they will forever be known as champions in the corridors of Lakeside Secondary College.