Brilliance Under Pressure at the da Vinci Decathlon
Determination, teamwork and a love of learning were on full display as Santa Maria College students recently competed in the prestigious da Vinci Decathlon at The University of Western Australia. Facing complex academic challenges designed to stretch even the brightest minds, our students embraced every opportunity to think creatively, collaborate under pressure and step beyond their comfort zones.
The da Vinci Decathlon is a highly competitive academic competition designed to inspire and extend students through complex, collaborative challenges. This year, Santa Maria College was thrilled to secure places for teams of IGNITE students from Years 5 to 10, giving them the opportunity to compete alongside like-minded peers from 25 schools across Western Australia. Students were selected not just for their knowledge but also for factors such as teamwork, collaboration and initiative.
Ten Disciplines, One Incredible Challenge
Each team of eight students competed across ten disciplines including Science, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography, Engineering and Legacy.
One of the highlights for many students was the Engineering challenge, where teams were tasked with designing and building solutions using minimal resources and under strict time constraints. In preparation for the competition, students had been working through past papers and refining their skills, giving them insight into the level of challenge they would face on the day.
Throughout the competition, students demonstrated remarkable teamwork, resilience and encouragement towards one another, even when tackling concepts well beyond their year level, including Year 11 Mathematics questions in the Years 7 and 8 competition.
Celebrating outstanding results
At the conclusion of each day, the top three schools in each discipline were announced. Santa Maria teams achieved our strongest results this year, including:
- Year 6 team – Third place in Cartography
- Year 7 team – First place in Engineering
- Year 8 team – Second place in both Art and Poetry, and Engineering
Beyond the impressive results, students returned inspired by the experience and eager to compete again next year.
IGNITE Coordinator Chrissie Fossey praised the students for the way they approached the competition.
“The challenges the students attempted are incredibly difficult, and we were so proud to see their positive attitude when faced with such challenging work under pressure. They didn’t give up but showed determination and resilience to just have a go. It really reinforced that many of our students enjoy the challenge of difficult, focused problems, especially when working with like-minded peers.”
Student Reflections
Year 7 student Ella enjoyed the challenge of stepping outside her comfort zone.
“Maths was the most challenging because it included lots of algebra and physics, but we still had a go at it. I loved the Code Breaking because once you worked out the code, it was really exciting.”
For Sophia, the Art and Poetry challenge was both difficult and rewarding.
“It was really hard to understand what they wanted us to do and how to intertwine the art and poetry to make a 3D piece. However, it was still my favourite challenge.”
Year 8 student Edith particularly enjoyed the creative aspects of the competition.
“I found Cartography most challenging because it related to the Industrial Revolution, and I am not well-versed on this period of history. However, I really enjoyed the English section because it required different types of narrative writing, and I love writing.”
Year 6 student Scarlett reflected on the fast-paced nature of the event and the opportunity to work with new people.
“I found it really hard to think of answers in a limited amount of time, particularly the Cartography challenge involving different maps. However, we must have done well because we came third. I really enjoyed working with different people that I don’t normally get to work with.”
The da Vinci Decathlon was a wonderful opportunity for students to challenge themselves, collaborate with peers and celebrate a love of learning. We are incredibly proud of the courage, resilience and enthusiasm our students displayed throughout the competition and look forward to seeing them continue to grow and thrive in future academic pursuits.
- academic competitions Perth, creative problem solving, da Vinci Decathlon, Featured, gifted and talented students, IGNITE Program, Mercy Education, Santa Maria College, STEM Education, Student Achievement, UWA competitions
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
Weekly Wrap Up – Week 6 & 7, Term 2
