Brainy students complete mind-bending tasks

Hedland students competed in mind-bending challenges earlier this month for the right to be known as Opti-MINDS.

The university-backed program puts junior and senior students to work solving demanding problems in literature, engineering and social science.

With students taking part from Cassia, Baler, St Cecilia’s and South Hedland primary schools, as well as Hedland Senior High School, the challenges included building a shelter within 10 minutes from limited materials.

Hedland Senior High School access teacher Sara Pittman said the students’ creativity had shone through.

“(They) blew us all away with their on-the-spot creativity, ” she said.

“The judges from Perth were impressed by the high calibre of performances and solutions to the challenges.”

Now in its third year in Hedland, the Opti-MINDS competition would not have been possible without funding support from Fortescue Metals Group and the Pilbara Development Commission’s Community Chest Fund, Ms Pittman said.

The funding allowed expert judges to fly up from Perth and hold workshops with local students.

At the end of the half-day competition, three teams emerged triumphant.

St Cecilia’s Team 2 (Khayla Lomas, Merina Ndewere, Charlize Harris, Aparna Sunil, Shannon Wade, Kimberly Muzambwa and Megan Fitt), won the Division 1 Regional Title for their language literature performance.

Hedland Senior High School Team 2 (Dana Bell, Georgia Latham, Skye Stewart, Elsie Grossmith and Tara Melberg) won the Division 2 Regional Title for science and engineering.

South Hedland Primary School Team 1 (Betty Steer, Mary Steer, Nina Balango, Kimberly Morton, Jordan Colfer, Kaycee Monaghan and Nyera Cameron-Turland) won the Spirit of Opti-MINDS Award for their persistence and dedication.