Director of Teacher and Learning K-12
Celebrating Student Participation and Achievement in Academic Competitions
We are proud to share that 39 students from Years 2 to 8 recently took part in the annual ICAS assessments for English, Science and Mathematics. A wonderful opportunity to challenge themselves and showcase their academic strengths.
What is ICAS?
ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) is a globally recognised program that assesses students’ skills in a range of subjects. Unlike typical classroom tests, ICAS focuses on higher order thinking and problem solving abilities, making it a unique way for students to extend their learning and be recognised for academic excellence.
Each assessment is designed by educational experts and provides valuable feedback that helps students identify their strengths and areas for growth. With thousands of students participating worldwide, ICAS offers a meaningful way to benchmark performance beyond the classroom.
- In English, students were tested on comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing techniques.
- The Science assessment challenged students to think critically about scientific information, interpret data and apply scientific principles.
For Mathematics, students tackled complex problems involving numbers, patterns, algebra, measurement and space.
We commend every student who took on the challenge. Their willingness to participate reflects a commitment to learning and a strong academic mindset. Thank you to Mr Lee Macey for coordinating these assessments.
Looking Ahead
We look forward to celebrating and recognising all participants when results and certificates are released later in the year.
Game On! Our Year 10 Commerce students take on the Sharemarket
Our Year 10 Commerce students are currently competing in the ASX Schools Sharemarket Game — a 10-week simulated stock market challenge that gives students hands-on experience in trading, financial markets, and investment strategies.
We’re excited to share that Matilda Medland is particularly excelling in the competition, currently ranked 7th in Australia out of more than 13,000 participants! This is an outstanding achievement, and we can’t wait to see how she finishes the game, along with the other students in the class.
When asked about her investment strategy, Matilda explained:
“I chose to focus on high-risk, high-reward shares because the game uses virtual money and I felt it was better to either perform very well or take the risk of finishing lower, rather than playing it safe and ending up in the middle. Although diversification is usually recommended, I decided to concentrate my portfolio on lithium and uranium companies, as both sectors have strong short-term volatility and growth potential. Fortunately, this strategy has worked so far and my investments have all risen. This approach has helped me understand both the potential and the risks of focusing on speculative sectors rather than spreading investments across different industries.”