On Saturday, 30 August, two of Kolbe’s GATE teams proudly represented the College at the Regional Finals of the Creative Edge Problem Solving Challenge at Curtin University. This unique competition pushed students to think outside the box, collaborate under pressure, and showcase their creativity against other schools from across Perth.
Our Year 8 and Year 9 teams spent six weeks preparing for their chosen divisions—Literature & Communication and Science & Engineering—before taking to the stage. Each group was given a prompt to transform into a 10-minute play for the judging panel.
The Year 8s wowed audiences with an original script that cleverly reimagined a classic fairytale to address modern-day issues. Meanwhile, the Year 9s combined innovation with storytelling, building a Rube Goldberg–style chain reaction machine using a set list of materials and presenting it within a narrative of their own creation.
Both teams also took on the Impromptu Challenge, where they were tasked with inventing a story based on an image—all with just minutes to prepare. Their efforts paid off, with each team finishing in the top three of their divisions and securing a place in the upcoming State Finals.
Year 8 participant Morgan summed it up perfectly: “Creative Edge was a great opportunity to work with new people, show off our creative thinking skills, participate in a new challenge, and most importantly—HAVE FUN!”
The excitement didn’t end there. On 20 September, both teams advanced to the State Finals, where they were faced with an entirely new challenge. With only three hours to brainstorm, write a script, design props and costumes, and rehearse, the students once again proved their resilience and imagination. They also faced another Impromptu task, this time with just 8 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to perform.
Their hard work paid off in spectacular fashion:
- The Year 9 team placed 1st in Science & Engineering.
- The Year 8 team was awarded the prestigious Alec Pascoe Spirit of Creative Edge Award.
Both groups proudly brought home trophies, marking an outstanding achievement for the College.
Reflecting on the experience, Year 9 student Amelia shared: “Creative Edge really taught me a lot about teamwork and leadership. I’m glad I got the opportunity.”
While the trophies were a highlight, the experience offered something even more valuable: lessons in collaboration, problem-solving, and the joy of creating together. For our students, Creative Edge was about more than winning—it was about teamwork, resilience, and fun.
