Page 13 - 2021 - Altiora Vol 73 Sem 1 and 2

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SEMESTER HIGHLIGHTS

SEMESTER HIGHLIGHTS | 13
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D A VINCI DECA THL ON
DA VINCI DECATHLON
In March, two very invigorated and talented Junior School teams headed off to represent Blue
Mountains Grammar School at the Central West Region da Vinci Decathlon in Bathurst. Prepared
to face extreme challenges in each of ten categories, they knew that careful collaboration,
supporting each other, and being tenacious would be vital in bringing about their best
performances.

Our Year 5 and Year 6 teams both demonstrated outstanding higher order thinking in responding
to a range of questions and tasks. For the Ideation category, teams were required to develop an
innovative plan to address threats to the iconic archaeological site of Pompeii, balancing a range
of objectives for the site, including research, conservation and tourism. For the English challenge,
both of our teams showed excellent grammatical awareness and wrote sophisticated analytical
responses to literary texts to be awarded First Place in this category.

Our Year 5 team excelled in their creative interpretation of the challenge provided in the Creative
Producers category, finishing first in that particular challenge and our Year 6 team rose to the
challenge of a complex Science conundrum to also finish first in their division. Placing well in
other categories across the day our team awaited the announcement of final results with excited
anticipation.

In an enthralling outcome, our Year 5 students were awarded Bronze medals in their division, and
our Year 6 Team won Gold in their division and qualified to contest the State level of the da Vinci
Decathlon. Whilst our 2021 da Vinci campaign ended there for these young and mighty minds,
the students are to be congratulated for their wonderful achievement in their State qualification.

Front: Angus Joseph, Charlotte Scott, Emerson Drew, Lorence Hampartzoumian. Back: Graziella Olmos,
F ront: Angus Joseph, Charlotte Scott, Emerson Drew , L orence Hampartzoumian. Back: Gr aziella Olmos,
Simeon Gee, Clare Stewart and Elise L
Simeon Gee, Clare Stewart and Elise Lowe.
owe.

y Smith. Back: Declan Thomas, Zariya
Front: Xavier Stephens, Keeden Harrison, Hunter Costigan, Audrey Smith. Back: Declan Thomas, Zariya
F
ront: Xa
eeden Harrison, Hunter Costigan, Audre
vier Stephens, K
Janine, Henry Laurie and James Klein.
Janine, Henry Laurie and James Klein.