High Potential and Gifted Education

da Vinci Decathlon Success

The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. It fosters collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity across ten disciplines:

1. Mathematics – Problem-solving, number patterns, and logic puzzles

2. English – Spelling, word origins, definitions, textual analysis, and writing tasks

3. Science – Engage with advanced scientific concepts and apply them

4. Code Breaking – Decipher complex, mysterious codes

5. Engineering Challenge – Design tasks testing problem-solving skills, creativity, and ingenuity

6. Ideation – The process of generating new ideas

7. Creative Producers – Create and perform a short drama or commercial to promote a product

8. Art and Poetry – Develop an original poem and a connected artwork on a given theme

9. Cartography – Interpret spatial information, decipher, and create imaginative maps

10. Legacy – Honour significant people, inventions, and events from the past and present

The theme for the 2025 da Vinci Decathlon was Sustainability, encouraging students to explore innovative solutions for a sustainable future. It was an incredible day with our Years 9 and 10 teams demonstrating outstanding problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity across the ten disciplines! Participation in the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools da Vinci Decathlon team provides an exciting opportunity for students to collaborate with other high-ability peers across the diocese and to showcase their talents and abilities on a regional stage.

I’m very proud of our team members, which included two St Joseph's students. 

Congratulations to Year 9 – Charlotte H  and Year 10 – Will L on their teams' success.

🏆 Results

Year 9 🥈 2nd – Art and Poetry

Year 10 🥇 1st – Mathematics 🥇 1st – English 🥉 3rd – Code Breaking 🥉 3rd – Cartography

Nigel Richardson

Gifted Education Mentor Project Officer