Congratulations to Hunter Jordan (Year 13), Tequin Lake (Year 12), and Michael Clinckett (Year 13), our talented Level 3 Digital Technologies Programming Students, for their outstanding achievement! They attended the prestigious Grapple23 event during the July holidays; chosen among 80+ applicants from across the country.
Grapple23, organised by the 4C Centre in Christchurch, is a week-long camp uniting young makers with a passion for innovative technology creations like drones and lunar rovers. They received a fully paid scholarship (free flights, accommodation, food and access to copious amounts of electronic building equipment), showcasing their talents and competing for a $1500 prize. Humanity is moving to Mars!!! Well at least theoretically for this year's 4C Grapple Challenge.
In Week 1, Hunter and Tequin participated; showcasing their exceptional skills and dedication. Their group project was a hydroponics system designed for sustainability, utilising a cycle of chicken manure to provide nutrients for plant growth in a controlled environment. Notably, this group, with members Hunter and Tequin, emerged as the winning group for the first week.
Additionally, Tequin was part of another group that worked on a different project, which involved utilising melting ice to generate electricity (energy needed to live on Mars) - a great physics experiment that achieved successful results.
In Week 2, it was Michael’s turn to participate. His group's group made a vest that monitors your vitals and uploads them to the internet to be viewed on a dashboard. The vest monitored heart rate, air pressure, CO2 levels, temperature and humidity. It also had a detachable weather station that measures temperature, CO2 levels, air pressure, humidity and dust levels - this was truly inspirational.
August 19, 2023
Hargest School made an impressive entrance into the New Zealand Programming Contest, a prestigious event uniting high schools and universities. In their inaugural appearance, they demonstrated their prowess as Team 'Microsoft paint'. While claiming the top spot proved elusive, their commendable 30th rank was secured through the outstanding performances of students Malachi Lang, Tequin Lake, and Sean Cross (all Year 12 and Digital Technologies: Programming students).
Spanning a demanding 5-hour duration, the competition showcased their steadfast resolve and poise, even amidst a missed problem-solving opportunity that cost them a higher ranking. Notably, due to their perseverance, they were the only team to solve the exceptionally challenging 100-point problem, though it came later than they had hoped, costing them the second spot. Looking towards 2024, Hargest's unwavering enthusiasm is fueled by their ambitions to elevate team participation and performance. Notably, Hargest's recognition as an official site, a first for any school in New Zealand, amplifies their anticipation for the journey ahead. Kudos to Team 'Microsoft paint' for their inspiring journey, emblematic of their unwavering commitment to excellence and the promise of continued growth. A special thanks to whānau for organising platters, bakes, snacks, drinks to keep them fueled throughout the contest; and the amazing pizza at the end.
The New Zealand Olympiad in Informatics (NZIC) for 2023 has concluded, and it's time to applaud the remarkable achievements of our talented students. This year's competition featured three challenging rounds spread across the school year. From basic coding tasks to complex problem-solving, students showcased their coding skills and creativity.
In NZIC, students used code to solve math problems. They had 3 hours to tackle problems individually. Congratulations to all participants for their dedication and enthusiasm. Your skills will continue to serve you well in the future. Special thanks to Tequin Lake (Year 12 and Digital Technologies Programming Level 3) and David Harding (Year 10 Digital Technologies) for their completion of Rounds 1 and 2 this year. Keep coding!
James Hargest College students achieved something truly extraordinary – they built their school in Minecraft Education! Over three years of dedicated lunch sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, these students brought their virtual campus to life, showcasing their creativity and innovation.
The project's visionary founders, Forrest Lung, Michael Clinckett, and Tony Huang, set the stage in 2021 for a collaborative effort that any parent would be proud of.
But why choose Minecraft for this project? The benefits go beyond fun – students explore architectural design, spatial planning, and teamwork. They develop essential skills like problem-solving and critical thinking, crucial for their academic and personal growth.
We are immensely grateful to all the students who contributed to the Minecraft school - your dedication and hard work has made it an impressive hub for knowledge and exploration, reflecting their passion for education and technology. Your contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of virtual education.