By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
FROM the City of Casey to Perth and now to the USA, the student problem solving team out of Fountain Gate Secondary College is starting to build quite the international itinerary.
The team, Encouraging Pride in Our Community (EPIC), competed in the Future Problem Solving National Championships in Perth over the weekend and earned a berth in the upcoming American competitions after coming third.
Jodie Doble, assistant principal of Fountain Gate Secondary College, said the Perth championships had been a terrific experience for the students, while the USA reward topped off a fantastic weekend.
“We have had some excellent feedback which the students are taking on board and will enrich their aim to encourage pride and spirit into the Fountain Gate community,” she said.
“We were personally congratulated by the National Director who informed us we are the first ever state school from Victoria to be invited to represent Australia at the international competition in the USA.
“This is a great honour for Victorian state schools, Fountain Gate and the City of Casey.
“Now the work really begins financially and in a competitive sense, all of which our community will benefit from.”
While Ms Doble was looking forward to putting her feet up after a hectic weekend, she was thrilled with how the students competed.
“This weekend has been exhausting but amazing,” she said.
“The experience the students have had this weekend could never have occurred without your support.
“With more than 400 high achieving students from all over Australia and Tasmania competing in Perth, they have learnt so much in such a short time.”
Earlier this year, EPIC contributed to the school’s Future Problem Solving Program, where it presented its plan to boost community pride through the redevelopment of the school’s gardens.
The development, supported wholeheartedly by Casey council, will involve a redesign of Fountain Gate Secondary College’s gardens at the school’s entrance, particularly the area surrounding the Robin Boyd-designed fountain.
Paul, a student from the team who was selected to carry the Victorian flag at the weekend’s championships, said the Perth competition had an unbelievable atmosphere.
“We met so many inspirational and like-minded people; we can’t wait to meet the global young thinkers of the future in the USA next year,” he said.
