Da Vinci Decathlon

A team of eight students was selected for each of Years 7-10 to represent the college in the statewide da Vinci Decathlon on Thursday 7 May. This is a very challenging and competitive academic gala event that involved around 40 schools across the state. The theme of this year’s state competition was Machines and Mechanics.

Congratulations to our Year 10 Team (Cindy C, Jonathan H, Mahi J, Nicole M, Priscilla P, Sherah S, Steffan S and Celina W) who came 3rd overall in the state which was an outstanding achievement! They secured first place in Engineering, second in English, second in Ideation and third in Science.

Our Year 8 team also came second in Engineering.

Throughout the day, we faced constant pressure as we raced against strict time limits to compete across 10 demanding academic events including English, Science, Codebreaking, Engineering, Ideation, Art and Poetry, Cartography, Mathematics, Legacy and Creative Producers. Despite our careful planning, stress often took over, forcing us to adapt quickly and rely on each other’s strengths. Although we were unable to fully complete every subject, we learned the importance of communication and teamwork under pressure. One of the most memorable moments was Creative Producers, where we had only minutes to prepare and perform a dramatic presentation, showing how quickly we could collaborate creatively. 

 

Beyond the academic challenge, the experience strengthened our friendships and confidence in one another. By the end of the day, we realised that the da Vinci Decathlon was not just about intelligence, but also about collaboration. Hearing Oxley announced as third overall was completely unexpected and emotional, especially after receiving outstanding results in other areas. We were also so proud of our younger teams, particularly our Year 8 students who came second in Engineering.

Looking back, this achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and encouragement of Mrs Paul, Mr Mancev and Mrs Sandison, whose support guided us throughout the entire experience.

Nicole M (10.3)

We commend all students who contributed to our Oxley team and who attended lunchtime meetings to prepare for the events.

Competing against 40 other schools in the state, we're proud to announce the following results for our teams.

Mrs Sharon Sandison

Head of Learning Enhancement (Secondary School)