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. 

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 …