It’s been an exciting few months in the Aspire Program, with our students participating in a range of enriching academic events and excursions. From linguistic puzzles to historical artefacts, the Aspire students have been thinking critically, collaborating effectively, and representing our school with pride. 

OzCLO Linguistics Competition 

This year, students across Years 7–12 took part in the Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad (OzCLO). Our Year 12 team (Sofia, Emma, Robyn, and Sean) performed brilliantly and named the WA State Champions for 2025! They were invited to the national finals at UWA. We spent the day on campus, where students not only competed at a high level but also enjoyed a university tour. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore future pathways and experience a day in the life of a UWA student.

Future Problem Solving - Curtin Excursion

As part of our preparation for the upcoming international finals in the USA, Cara, Sam, Lucas, Tayte, Abigail, and Chantal, our FPS team attended an incredible full-day excursion to Curtin University. The day began with a fascinating session on the historical significance of sport as a tool for social change. This was followed by a tour of the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, where students examined rare artefacts dating back to the 1500s and learnt about digital and physical preservation methods. The day concluded with a powerful visit to the Carrolup Centre for Truth-Telling, where we explored First Nations artwork and the vital role it plays in cultural preservation and storytelling. It was a deeply inspiring and informative day that has added depth to our students’ understanding of the real-world relevance of historical preservation, an important theme in this year’s competition. We can't wait to see them shine in the US in just two weeks' time!

WADL School's Debating League

This week, our Year 9 Debating team went up against Perth Modern in an impromptu debate about the importance of privately funded hospitals. Our team, consisting of Katie, Harry, Stefan, and Lily was so impressive that the adjudicator called their speeches "almost faultless". This incredible feedback is testament to the students' problem solving and teamwork skills as they had just one hour to prepare for the debate with no access to teacher support or the internet. Congratulations, Year 9s!

da Vinci Decathlon 

Students in Years 5-10 represented our school at the da Vinci Decathlon, hosted at UWA over three action-packed days this week. This academic challenge tested their abilities across ten disciplines including engineering, philosophy, science, code breaking, and more. Our students demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and resilience as they tackled complex tasks and worked under pressure! We are incredibly proud of their efforts and enthusiasm. In addition to the learning and experience, we also came away with some awesome results!

Year 5:
Creative Producers - first place
Cartography - second place
Engineering - third place

Year 7:
Legacy - first place
Cartography - second place

Year 8:
Art and Poetry - third place

Year 9:
Mathematics - second place
Engineering - second place

Year 10:
Art and Poetry - first place
Ideation - third place
Legacy - third place

Congratulations to all students involved!

Ashleigh Cartledge
Aspire Academic Enrichment Coordinator