More than 100 students from 12 primary schools showcased their intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness as part of Sydney Catholic Schools’ (SCS) inaugural Invictus Challenge. 

Held at St Vincent’s College Ashfield, the Invictus Challenge brought together students from across SCS’ Ashfield-Olympic Park network to compete against one another in a series of academic challenges designed to test their thinking and collaboration. 

Students worked in teams of six across seven domains of learning: Mathematics, English, Engineering, Robotics, Creative Arts, General Knowledge, and Critical and Creative Thinking.  

From unravelling complex mathematical patterns to creatively analysing the world of artificial intelligence, these gifted students demonstrated a tremendous amount of originality and determination.

Of the 14 schools that participated, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Ashbury were crowned overall winners of the first Invictus Challenge after impressing across the different categories. 

The individual category winners were: 

  • Mathematics – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Concord
  • English – St Martha’s Catholic Primary School Strathfield
  • Engineering – All Hallows Catholic Primary School Five Dock
  • Robotics – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Concord
  • Creative Arts – Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School North Strathfield
  • Critical and Creative Thinking – Holy Innocents’ Catholic Primary School Croydon

Winners were presented with their trophies by The Hon. Jo Haylen, State Member for Summer Hill, and Minister for Transport. 

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Ben Nolan, Assistant Principal at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Concord, said the day was a huge success. 

“Watching the engagement of both the students and supporting teachers on the day made all the months of planning worth it,” Mr Nolan said. 

“Collectively, we were blown away by the work the students were able to produce across all the domains challenged on the day” – Ben Nolan

“Students enjoyed the day immensely and look forward to participating again next year.”

Cathy Young, Principal at Sydney Catholic Schools, said the writers of the challenges created opportunities for the students to showcase their abilities and to make connections with real-world events. 

“It was great to see the students immersed in opportunities that were rigorous, realistic, measurable and able to be completed within a set time frame” – Cathy Young

“In Latin, Invictus means ‘unconquerable’ or undefeated’ – to conquer, to overcome, to fight and meet challenges head on. 

“It suggests self-discipline and fortitude in adversity, never losing hope no matter the circumstance, and controlling one’s own fate in deciding the future. 

“From the very beginning of planning, the Invictus Challenge placed emphasis on such aspirations.”

Following the success of the first Invictus Challenge, the vision is to expand the Challenge into SCS’ other networks in the coming years.  

2023 Invictus Challenge Participating Schools: