Private Members’ Statement
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) [5.25 p.m.]: Bernard Edmonds wrote:
To dream anything you want to dream, that is the beauty of the human mind.
To do anything you want to do, that is the strength of the human will.
To trust yourself, to test your limits, that is the courage to succeed.
And so the wonderful students of Curran Public School have done. It is often said that champions are made, not born. To be a champion requires hard work, determination and self-belief. It also takes courage: courage to take a chance despite the odds; courage to test your limits; and courage to succeed knowing that life may never be the same again. Being a champion starts with a dream. Winning is not everything, it is more about how you play the game, but the taste of victory sure is sweet. It is this vision that students and staff of Curran Public School in Macquarie Fields had when they set out to take part in the National Future Problem Solving Program championships in Brisbane in October. The team of 12 students from year 5 and year 6 had the support of the whole community and they certainly made us proud by returning home crowned National Junior Future Problem Solving champions.
The students won the junior division and were formally recognised for their creation of a care package to assist local preschool children in their transition to primary school. The care package includes a variety of useful school supplies, as well as a host of educational resources. The development of the care package showcases the skills and ability of our local students. By giving prospective kindergarten students the best opportunities to learn and grow before they embark on their journey to big school the students demonstrated how much they care about the local community.
The Future Problem Solving Program is an international initiative that is open to students of all ages. It focuses on giving young people the tools to learn how to think, not what to think. The program not only challenges young people to tap into their imagination to find plausible strategies to help solve problems, it also encourages students to think outside the box. The transition to primary school is one of the most significant moments in a child's life. While it can be met with trepidation, it can also be an exciting time full of anticipation. Initiatives that seek to enhance the start of school experience are a worthwhile and smart investment in setting the tone for a student's lifelong learning journey.
Using Osborn and Parnes' six-step creative thinking process, students at Curran Public School discovered a low level of academic skills among children starting kindergarten. This research led them to discover that the knowledge of basic sounds, numbers and reading sight words in preschool children were at low levels. The care package is a fantastic resource to boost school readiness for incoming kindergarten students. The children at Curran Public School are certainly to be congratulated on their fantastic result at the competition, but more importantly on having the foresight to be socially conscious at such a young age. I also acknowledge the wonderful work of the teaching staff, led by principal Mr Michael Strahan.
The care package is a legacy that will keep on giving for many years to come. The students have demonstrated a commitment to improving their community and highlighted the value of kids helping kids. It is a very powerful project for the students to be involved in and one in which they can help make a difference and give kindergarten kids the best possible start to their school journey. Now that they are national champions, students at Curran Public School are set to take on the world. The school is currently raising money and seeking the community's support to send the students to the international finals to be held in the United States in June 2016. As a community we are incredibly proud of the students' achievements. They are an inspiration and true champions in every sense of the word.
This is more than just about winning. It is about breaking down stereotypes and giving hope to kids who may never have had the opportunity to dream big, let alone the chance to make their dreams a reality. I am confident our students at Curran Public School will be excellent ambassadors for Macquarie Fields and Australia and will show the world the immense talent that exists in our local community. With such socially conscious youngsters making a difference to the lives of other children in their community, the future is certainly bright. I look forward to hearing more about the students' achievements as they continue on their journey in school and in life.
