Cover image: Some of the Flinders Primary students who entered the 2024 ICAS
Primary School students at Matthew Flinders Anglican College are courageously stepping up to test their knowledge and skills in academic competitions, with some placing among the top students in Australia and internationally this year.
Recent competitions included the National Junior Maths Olympiad, the Maths Games program and the International Competition and Assessments for Schools (ICAS).
Mrs Trudi Edwards, the Head of Primary at Flinders, said it was important for students to challenge themselves and build confidence through opportunities beyond the classroom.
“It has been wonderful to have so many of our students in the Flinders Primary School choosing to participate in academic competitions and enrichment activities this year," Mrs Edwards said.
“Competitions can be tough and push students out of their comfort zone, so they are a wonderful way to build confidence and resilience, and encourage young learners to apply their skills to more complex and challenging tasks.
“Our Primary staff are committed to going the extra mile and guiding students through these extra-curricular opportunities to build their skills, sense of teamwork and confidence.”
National Junior Maths Olympiad Competition and Maths Games Program
There were 24 students in Year 5 and 24 students in Year 6 who proudly represented Flinders in the 2024 National Junior Maths Olympiad Competition.
Six of the Year 6 students impressively scored in the top 10% of students across the nation who competed, including Will M, Theo C, Yuna J, Isabel W, Ryan S and Sienna d-P.
And placing in the top 25% of their age groups nationwide were a further seven of the Year 6 students (namely Kalila B, Katelyn B, Nathan C, Mason J, Alannah L, Alexander M and Alex T) and two of the Year 5 students (Joshua G and Rachel N).
The Olympiad competition comprises four separate contests, spaced roughly six weeks apart, and is designed to stimulate and challenge students' mathematical thinking, while teaching major problem solving strategies.
In addition, 20 students in Year 4 at Flinders recently competed in the Maths Games program, which is aligned with the Australian Curriculum and serves as a precursor to the Junior Maths Olympiad. The program focuses on challenging students to think laterally and creatively when solving mathematically-based problems.
Some of the Olympiad participants are featured with their medals in this photo gallery with Mr Ben Louis, Flinders Primary Maths Specialist.
International Competition and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)
Also, a group of students across Years 3 to 6 at Flinders chose to compete in the International Competition and Assessments for Schools (ICAS), some across multiple subjects.
ICAS High Distinctions were awarded to three Flinders students (Danielle C and Penelope C in Year 3, and Hanna D in Year 6), which placed them in the top 1% of participants.
There were also 21 ICAS Distinctions awarded (see below), which placed the students in the top 10% of participants.
The ICAS offers engaging and challenging questions designed by psychometricians, education measurement experts and experienced teachers to test students’ higher-order thinking skills.
Maths in the Flinders Curriculum and Extra-Curricular Opportunities
In the Primary School years at Flinders, students develop core and extension skills in Maths with the support of their classroom teachers and a Maths Specialist teacher, as well as mastering their basic skills and understanding, to ensure students are able to solve more complex problems.
In Secondary School, students deepen their Maths knowledge through extension classes, specially run programs and competitions, and increasingly complex subject choices from Preparatory Mathematical Methods in Year 10 and Specialist Mathematics in the Senior years.
FLINDERS STUDENTS’ TOP ICAS RESULTS 2024
The following students achieved High Distinctions and Distinctions in this year’s ICAS.
High Distinctions place students in the top 1% of participants, while Distinctions place them in the top 10% of participants.
Year 3
English Distinctions: Jadesola A, Danielle L
Maths High Distinction: Danielle L
Maths Distinctions: Penelope C, William H, Elliot S, Hugo W
Science High Distinction: Penelope C
Science Distinctions: Danielle L, Elliot S
Year 4
English Distinction: Hantha O
Maths Distinctions: Hantha O, Noah Z
Science Distinctions: Hantha O, Noah Z
Year 5
English Distinctions: Eilidh G, Harvey M, Yurim N
Maths Distinction: Eilidh G
Year 6
English High Distinction: Hana D
English Distinctions: Alannah L, Lily M
