What is Trivia Challenge  ?

Trivia Challenge is an exciting and educational event conducted throughout Australia each year that is designed to develop an understanding of epilepsy and enhance general knowledge by using a specially developed trivia questionnaire based on the curriculum.

Students from Years 4, 5, 6 and 7 are encouraged to compete in teams of either three or four to answer a 45 minute questionnaire of 100 questions. Topics include English, History, Geography, Maths, Sports, Science, Current Affairs, Entertainment & The Arts and The Environment.  Questions on epilepsy are also included in the quiz.  (A free comprehensive Resource Kit on epilepsy is distributed to all competing schools earlier in the year so that teachers and students can learn about epilepsy).

In addition to its educational value, Trivia Challenge is also a means of raising vitally needed funds for Epilepsy Queensland Inc to assist with their epilepsy awareness program in schools.  Funds are raised by the participating students seeking sponsorship prior to undertaking the quiz.

Teachers: Notes have been made below regarding what your role would be in taking part in Trivia Challenge  2008.  Where words are listed in pink, a greater explanation of the term is also outlined below.

When is the World of Trivia ® held?

The 45 minutes questionnaire can be taken at any time suitable to the school during the nominated quiz period (July/August) or during a month to suit your school. Many schools choose to take it in a wet lunch hour or a spare period. The Queensland State Finals will be held on the October 19th, at the "UQ Centre", University of Queensland.

School Fundraising

Prior to undertaking the quiz, students are encouraged to seek sponsorship from friends, family and local businesses.  Sponsors may choose to donate an amount of money per question answered correctly.  Alternatively, sponsors may find it easier to donate a set amount of money.  The choice is theirs and receipts are available for tax purposes should you request one.

ALL FUNDS RAISED IN QUEENSLAND USED IN QUEENSLAND!

Prizes

Fundraising can be hard work, and as such we offer incentive prizes to the students for their efforts.  As a result of the generous sponsorship received from the corporate world, Epilepsy Queensland Inc is able to offer prizes for all students who raise $10.00 and over.  Look below for details of some of last year's prizes:

CERTIFICATES are awarded to the members of every winning school team per year level.   

School Rewards

Alongside the students, the schools themselves are worthy of praise for the effort they make in supporting Trivia Challenge.  Awards are given for:

• Highest Fundraising School

• Highest Fundraising School per Participating Student

• Highest Fundraising Student

Look further down to see the 2007  winners !

Queensland State Finals

On 19th October 2008 the Queensland State Finals will be held at the University of Queensland (UQ Centre).  Each participating school is invited to send their winning team from years four through to seven.  This is a fun-filled day, where the students undertake further quizzes to determine the Queensland Champion teams.

MEDALLIONS, INDIVIDUAL TROPHIES and SCHOOL PERPETUAL TROPHIES  are awarded according to the level of achievement gained.

National Grand Finals

The 'National Grand Finals' will be held on 19th November.( Venue still to be finalised)  For this event, the Queensland Champion Year 7 Team will take on the challenge of representing Queensland

This a significant achievement and honour for the students and the event is much enjoyed by the students. 

So . . .  why take part?

There are three beneficiaries from the project:

1. The students benefit by receiving rewards and recognition for achievements such as most successful team, highest fund-raiser and the ultimate goal of entry to State and National Championships.  (Unbeknown to them, their team-building skills and general knowledge are also benefiting !!)  Besides all else . . . they HAVE FUN !!!
2. The community benefits by these children helping to increase the numbers of those who are aware of and understand epilepsy.
3. People with epilepsy benefit by having the myths surrounding epilepsy dispelled and consequently, increased acceptance, understanding and help.

Year 6: John Paul College

Year 7: Anglican Church Grammar School                                 

• Highest Fundraising School: John Paul College 

• Highest Fundraising School per participating student: Bororen State School 

• Highest Fundraising Student: Clare Young John Paul College 

Our Sponsors in 2007 . . .

Epilepsy Queensland Inc offer the most sincere thanks to the sponsors of World of Trivia® 2007.  Without their generous donation of goods and/or money, the event itself and the prizes for students would not be possible.  THANK YOU to all those who helped us to help others . . . .

That's Life Magazine                                                       

Birch Caroll and Coyle

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Trivia Challenge 2008 please contact Judy Vorster as per the details below...

Notes for teachers . . .

Should your school take part in Trivia Challenge 2008, the first step would be to complete a registration form and return this to Epilepsy Queensland Inc.  Should you not already have this form, please contact Epilepsy Queensland Inc, as per the details below.

As a school, you will be asked to nominate a Trivia Challenge School Coordinator.  This will be the person to whom all correspondence will be forwarded.  Your School Coordinator can nominate the most convenient form of contact, be that phone / fax / post / Email.  The School Coordinator can then be used as a central contact to pass on any information to the teachers of the classes involved. 

A comprehensive Resource Kit will be sent to your school in May..  This will contain a VCD, pamphlets, booklets and a central resource folder on epilepsy.  We would ask that you make use of this when explaining Trivia Challenge and epilepsy to your students.  Please note, that all efforts will be made to break the paperwork in your Resource Kit down to a 'class by class' basis so that it can be easily distributed by your Coordinator. In order for this breakdown and labelling of packs to take place, we rely on the information given on your school registration form.

Your school's Quiz Pack will most likely be sent in conjunction with the Resource Kit.  This will contain the quizzes to be used by your students (one booklet per 3~4 students) and an answer sheet for the teachers for marking purposes.  Teacher Instructions and School Coordinator Instructions are also included so that all details of the quiz are explained clearly.  Again, these packs will be broken down into class kits, provided that information is given on the registration form.  Sponsorship Forms, for use by the students, will also be included in this pack.  These will be easily identified by colour as being for student use, alongside an easy to follow checklist for the students.  Whilst the students undertake the quiz in a team environment, the sponsorship is done on an individual basis.  

The Quiz Period has been nominated as July/August 2007.  The time and date when your school holds the quiz is at your school's discretion.  We aim to be as flexible as possible, so please feel free to contact us if you need to step outside the general timeline that has been set.  Whilst in most cases schools will create teams from within each class, some situations may require that you create a team from different classes.  This is fine to do.  Furthermore, some schools may need to combine students from different year levels into the one team.  Again this is fine, given that the team sits the quiz nominated as being for the year level of the highest grade student.  For your reference, two quiz booklets exist ~ one for years 4 & 5, and the other for Years 6 & 7.

Teachers will be asked to mark the quiz papers and advise the teams of their score.  At this point the students can begin to collect the sponsorship pledges.  The teacher will be asked to collect this money and pass it on to the Coordinator for return to Epilepsy Queensland Inc.

Student Incentive Prizes and School Prizes will be awarded at the Queensland State Finals.  If your school is unable to attend this event, the prizes will be mailed.

Judy Vorster
Trivia Challenge Event Coordinator

Epilepsy Queensland Inc

Po Box 1457, Coorparoo BC QLD 4151

Phone: (07) 3435 5014 or  1300 852 853 (outside Brisbane)
Fax: (07) 3435 5025

Email Judy Vorster
wot@epilepsyqueensland.com.au

The funds raised through Trivia Challenge are used by Epilepsy Queensland Inc to help over 85,000 Queenslanders whose lives are affected by epilepsy

What do teachers think about Trivia Challenge ? Feedback from previous years has described Trivia Challenge as very teacher friendly, enjoyable and easy to run. Here are some quotes from teachers whose classes have taken part in Trivia Challenge:

• "Trivia has proven to be a real winner… providing a much needed boost for a seriously neglected area in modern primary schooling, that of developing and encouraging the pursuit of general knowledge."

• "I cannot think of a better program available for children today."

• "Ever since we took part in Trivia, the children have insisted we hold a quiz following every topic we do … It really is very valuable educationally."

Take a look at the 2007 Queensland State Finals . .     

The 2007 Queensland State Finals were held at the University of Queensland on Sunday October 16.  Approximately 500 students attended the day, with the winners listed below:

Years 4: John Paul College

Year 5: Fairholme Junior 

We invite your school to explore Trivia Challenge 2008 . . . .

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