Invictus Challenge

On 29th August 2023, a group of six Stage 3 students from St Martha’s Catholic School went to the Invictus Challenge at St Vincent’s College, Ashfield. The challenges they participated in were: Engineering, Art, Robotics, Creative & Critical Thinking, Mathematics, English and General Knowledge. 

Matthew, Jeffrey, Ethan, Aaron, Yuna and Lydia started the day by arriving at school at 7:45 am and walking to the train station. They took the train to Ashfield with Mrs Zilich and she walked them to St Vincent’s College. The group then entered the school and got to their table. 

Their first challenges were the subjects Art and Engineering. For the Engineering task, Jeffrey, Matthew, and Ethan had to build a construction out of Lego, which could transport an item down a two metre drop. The Art challenge was to create an insect using craft materials selected by the task-writers.

The group’s next challenges were Robotics and Creative and Critical Thinking. For Robotics, Ethan, Matthew and Aaron were given necessary materials to make a functioning robot move in certain ways. While for Creative and Critical Thinking, Jeffrey, Yuna and Lydia had to write a poem about Artificial Intelligence and the impact it’s forming on humanity. They planned to write a Haiku, but changed their minds as they decided to write a free-verse poem. 

The last challenges the team competed in were Mathematics and English. In Mathematics Aaron,Ethan and Jeffrey were drawing number patterns while Matthew, Lydia and Yuna were completing the English challenge. They also participated in a general ability quiz on Kahoot, in which they came in 2nd place.

At around 3:30 pm, awards were given to participating schools who achieved 1st place in each of the challenges. Our St Martha’s team managed to win 1st Place in the English Challenge! They were also awarded medals and a plaque.

Written by Matthew L & Ethan N (Stage 3)