Cavendish Road State High School has a long and proud history of successfully competing in the Queensland Opti-minds Creative Sustainability Challenge. This is an inclusive and creative problem solving team challenge for both junior and senior levels of schooling, which empowers participants to think, create and communicate. Participants are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following categories: language literature, science engineering, social sciences.
The Opti-minds Challenge is an opportunity for all those with a passion for learning and problem solving to showcase their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant and public way.
The challenge...
Teams are required to work together on a long term challenge for up to six weeks without assistance from anyone outside the team. Participants are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution. They develop creative and original ways to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex challenge criteria and the deadlines of the challenge day.
Students present the product of their ideas - their challenge solution - to a panel of judges and an audience on challenge day. They have 10 minutes in which to present and must do so in a 3 x 3 metre (approx.) performance area.
The teams must also participate in an unseen spontaneous challenge on Opti-minds Day. This challenge requires rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think effectively, creatively, and well-developed group cooperation skills.
Judges for both the long term and the spontaneous challenges are professionals chosen from all areas of education, the arts and industry. They are thoroughly trained to enable them to assess the creative performance and technical aspects of the presentation.
Opti-minds objectives...
To foster creative responsiveness - a “CAN DO” culture
To provide challenge, enrichment and stimulation
To facilitate the ability to adapt to and harness change to advantage
To foster flexibility, innovative thinking and functioning
To promote complex thinking and creative problem solving skills
To encourage reflective thinking and self-directed learning
To facilitate empowerment and responsibility
To promote an understanding and appreciation of self and others
To develop effective communication & collaborative thinking skills
To celebrate difference
To foster cooperation and teamwork
To promote enterprise and initiative
To stimulate a spirit of exploration, investigation, experimentation and a love of learning
To provide a collaborative link between all sectors of education, community & industry
To promote UNASHAMED EXCELLENCE!®
Our aim...
Opti-minds’ aim is to enhance the potential of all participants by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and demanding environment.
We encourage participants to be UNASHAMEDLY EXCELLENT!®
Real world benefits...
Opti-minds looks beyond conventional achievement and understands that the pursuit of excellence knows no boundaries.
Opti-minds offers participants a total experience, providing challenge and growth through its long term and spontaneous problem solving structure. The challenge process provides a platform for excellence and equips participants with strategies and skills which will support future success.
Accept the challenge...
Opti-minds is a CELEBRATION of the talents and abilities within our society!
Thousands of people flock annually to participate in; to watch and to enjoy the exhilarating spectacle of presentations and ingenious solutions created by motivated participants who have accepted The Opti-minds Challenge. Take up the challenge of Opti-minds and help build a brighter future for us ALL!
Opti-minds at Cav Rd
2015
Senior Science and Engineering team – Regional final winners and State Final runner-up
Three teams Regional Honours
One team “Spirit of Opti-minds” award
2014
2013
2012
All 3 teams qualified for State Finals
State Honours Div 2 Language and Literature
State Honours Div 2 Science and Engineering
2010
State Winners Div 3 Science and Engineering
State Honours Div 3 Social Sciences
Regional Winners Div 3 Language and Literature
Regional Winners Div 4 Language and Literature
2009
2008
State Winners Div 3 Science and Engineering
State Winners Open Div Social Sciences
Australian representatives (international exchange) Div 3 Science and Engineering
Australian representatives (international exchange) Open Div Social Sciences
2007
- 2007 Regional winners Div 2 Social Sciences
- 2007 State Honours Div 2 Social Sciences