For four years now Clarkson Community High School has challenged the thinking ability, public speaking skills and pride of our partner primary schools.  The Clarkson Challenge has become an event that our whole community looks forward to.

CCHS Principal John Young “invites the students to high school.”

“Interschool sports allow primary schools to compete in athletics… This event provides a unique opportunity for primary schools to compete in problem solving.  Clarkson Community High School organises this event and sees it as an important part of our transition program.  We work very hard to ensure the move to high school is seamless.  The primary school students are provided with an engaging opportunity while we get to know our future students and alleviate some of the anxiety that students (and parents) may feel about entering secondary school.” Anne-Marie Ellery, Head of Invitational Education, CCHS.

Merriwa Primary School, Clarkson Primary School, Quinns Rocks Primary School and Somerly Primary School send teams of their best and brightest to represent them.  These teams of four students are paired with two Clarkson Community High School Year 10 mentors to compete in a problem-solving contest.

Teams met and worked enthusiastically together throughout Term 3 on the 2013 challenge:

Could a family, living in the Clarkson area become self-sufficient?

The primary school students enjoyed two workdays at our school.  This always includes a school tour- highlights included playing volleyball with Year 12s and looking at the dead animal wall in Science.

“My favourite part of the Clarkson Challenge this was the school tour.  High school doesn’t seem scary anymore.”  Lucja Yr 7 Somerly PS.

Students enthusiastically used CCHS specialist facilities exploring fuel and energy in Science, working on their presentations in Art and building models in Woodwork.

The Challenge culminates in a presentation evening at CCHS.  About 150 staff, parents and friends attended and enjoyed a BBQ dinner.   Each team had 5 minutes to convince us about the feasibility of self-sufficient living in our local area.  The skills and creativity of the young team members resulted in a very difficult decision for the judges on presentation night.

Somerly Primary School’s “Somerly Mechanics” won with their bright and detailed analysis of the problem.  This breaks Clarkson Primary School’s winning streak.  The Clarkson Challenge Perpetual Trophy was presented to the team and Mr Stephen Blechynden (Somerly Principal) at their assembly on Friday 25^th October.

“Thank you so much again for all your efforts with the Clarkson Challenge, I know it is a huge job each year. It's a fantastic opportunity for some of our students to step up and show leadership skills, they get so much out of the experience. All the students involved are still talking about it.”

Andrew Britton, Deputy Principal, Somerly Primary School

Second place went to Clarkson Primary School and third to Quinns Rocks Primary School.

Photo 1: Anne-Marie Ellery (Head of Invitational Education, Clarkson Community High School) with Stephen Blechynden (Principal, Somerly Primary School) and the Year 5,6 and 7 participants with the Clarkson Challenge Perpetual Cup.

Photo 2: Somerly Primary School students working with Helen Bradshaw (Teacher, Clarkson Community High School) in Science.

Photo 3: Quinns Rocks Primary School participants working on their projects in Design and Technology.

Photo 4: Justine McNaught-Conroy (Deputy Principal, Clarkson Community High School) with Stephen Blechynden (Principal, Somerly Primary School).

Photo 5: Clarkson Primary School students wait for the bus after a workday at Clarkson Community High School.