TES Connect 2026 Summer

Unique Journeys

Connected by Cubing: The Journey of the TES

Speedcubing Club By Raylene Tseng, Year 8 Student, BSHS

The Birth of the CCA I had wanted to start a Rubik’s Cube Club as a Co-cur ricular Activity (CCA) for a long time, ever since I was in primary school. But I had a problem. I had to find a teacher who was as passionate about the cube as I was. When Mr Szvet (one of the new Visual Art teachers) ar rived at TES and introduced himself, I was happy to see that he also enjoyed cubing. I told him about my plan to start a club where people could have fun and learn the skills and lessons it could offer. After figuring out what to do, we were able to start. That is how the Speedcub ing Club, a place where both students and teachers are welcome to learn and improve at solving the Ru bik’s Cube, started. This was in November, with a small group of students, and it officially opened in the second semester under Mr Szvet’s supervision. The CCA hap pens every Thursday lunchtime, and during that time, students share strategies, practise, teach, and support each other. The Cube and Its Benefits The Rubik’s Cube is a 3D puzzle invented by Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik in 1974. It has coloured squares on each side, and the aim is to twist and turn the layers until every side has only one colour. At first, it can look really confusing, but that is also what makes it fun. Cub ing is not just about being fast. It can help with memo ry, concentration, patience, and problem-solving. It also helps people think logically, understand space better, and keep trying even when something is difficult. For me, cubing can be a way to relax, build confidence, and feel proud when I finally solve something I was stuck on. It is a fun hobby, but it is also a challenge that can help train the mind.

Taipei Competition The club unofficially started in November, when I invited a few friends who I knew really wanted to learn. Then, in December, there was actually a Rubik’s Cube compe tition in Taipei for schools in the area. I had never been able to join before because, to compete, you needed to represent a school. But now that I had enough people, I was able to go to the office and work something out so that TES students from Year 7 and above could com pete. So we participated in the Taipei City Education Bu reau’s 2025 Rubik’s Cube Competition. It was our first time participating in this event, and we placed in the top 25 in the Junior High division. The competition had over 497 participants this year, so it was a really excit ing experience for us. I achieved a time of 12.6 seconds when solving the 3×3 cube. We also had Year 7 student William and Year 8 students Kyle and Ira compete in the tournament, and they achieved excellent results too.

The First TES Cube Competition Our first TES Rubik’s Cube Competition was held dur ing the Year 8 House Activity in March this year. Even though we were still a small group, the event was really exciting and full of positive energy. The main purpose was to share cubing with more students at TES and en courage people to try it, whether they were complete beginners or already knew how to solve the cube. Be fore the event, we helped prepare the format, timers, cubes, and instructions. We wanted the competition to feel friendly and supportive, not too scary or serious. Of course, speed was important, but we also wanted it to be about participation, perseverance, and having fun.

SUMMER 2026 | 28