Newman

ICAS 2026

We are pleased to inform you that St Patrick’s will once again be offering ICAS in 2026. This will be offered to students in Year 3 through to Year 6 in the areas of English (Reading Comprehension), Writing, Mathematics and Science.

What is ICAS?  

ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’  higher

order thinking and problem-solving skills.  Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals. 

Learn more about ICAS here:  (https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas)

St Patrick’s has for over a decade encouraged students to challenge themselves by participating in the ICAS Assessments and we have had a history of excellent results. These tests are challenging and will be administered during the school day. Students will be provided with a school device to use due to assessment security requirements.

The final date for online booking and payment for the ICAS assessments is Monday, 13 July 2026 after this date, students will not be able to participate this year.

2026 Participation:

In 2026 students have the opportunity to participate in the following subjects. Students will sit the tests in 2026 during school hours. (Test dates will be confirmed via Compass.)

*Students who participate in enrichment classes are strongly encouraged to take the tests relevant to the subject area/s in which they attend (e.g Writing/Mathematics Papers).

If you would like your child to participate in any of the subjects listed above, please visit the online Parent Payment System to make a direct payment to UNSW Global. The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments.

How to participate in ICAS ? 

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:  

1. Go to the Parent Portal to sign up to chosen subject areas here:  https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/IWH942
2. Enter our school’s access code – IWH942
3. Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment.  
4.  Prices range from $21 - $26.

       5.  Online payment will close: Monday, 13th July 2026

Please note that the ICAS subject areas shown for selection are at the school’s discretion.   

After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.  

ICAS Results and Certificates:

Once we have received your child’s ICAS certificate, we will send it home with your child. The back of the certificate shows ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”, that you and your child need to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent

📚 Step into the Magic of Storytelling: Sydney Writers’ Festival

Ten students from Year 5 and ten students from Year 6 headed into the city on Thursday 21st May to attend the highly anticipated Sydney Writers’ Festival ‘Primary School Days’ event at the historic Sydney Town Hall.

This excursion is designed to spark a lifelong love of literature, giving students a fantastic opportunity to engage with a variety of world class authors and illustrators. In these hugely popular, high energy sessions, creators will perform, read from their latest works, pull back the curtain on their creative craft, and take questions live from the student audience. It promises to be a day packed with fun, laughter and educational inspiration!

⭐ The Bestselling Lineup

This year, our students heard from an incredible children's book creators:

• Yxavel Magno Diño: A fantasy enthusiast who loves weaving her folklore heritage into incredible world-building. She is the author of The Serpent Rider and The Firefly Crown.
• Mick Elliott: An author, illustrator, TV producer, screenwriter, and professional mischief-maker! He is the creator of the popular Squidge Dibley and The Turners series, and Mr Duckins’ Chickens.
• Kate Foster: An award-winning author who writes heartfelt stories about friends, family, and dogs. Her beloved books include Paws, The Unlikely Heroes Club, The Bravest Word, and Harriet Hound.
• R.A. Spratt: The hilarious author behind hit series like Friday Barnes: Girl Detective, The Peski Kids, Nanny Piggins, Romeo V Juliet, and Epically Good Greek Myths.

🤫 A Surprise Special Guest!

The excitement didn't stop there—global superstar Dav Pilkey, the brilliant author and illustrator behind the multi-million-selling Captain Underpants and Dog Man series, made a very special guest appearance to supercharge our students' creative energy!