Two weeks ago, 16 Junior School and 40 Secondary School students from St Andrew’s Cathedral School took part in the NSW State Da Vinci Decathlon at Knox Grammar School.
The Da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics and chess, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy.
To succeed in the competition, students need to work exceptionally well in teams and be able to access content well above their grade level. Despite the steep competition, St Andrew’s Cathedral School’s team ranked highly across the categories.
Leonardo Da Vinci embraced learning with a lifelong passion and determination to uncover the unknown. Well done to all the students who participated and for exhibiting these qualities in their ongoing educational development. ... See MoreSee Less
Great job! Extra congrats to Y9 coming 1st in Science!
Student Spotlight: Lachlan Sparshott – Leading with creativity
Year 11 student Lachlan Sparshott is the playwright and co-director of ‘Clear Illusion’, a completely student-created theatrical production hitting the stage very soon.
Lachlan not only wrote the script for this original mystery drama, but has also been guiding rehearsals, shaping performances and even revising the script along the way. His leadership and vision have helped bring complex, challenging characters to life, with fellow students taking on both acting and directing responsibilities.
Behind the scenes, a talented student crew including Mika Chin, Yuze Ding, Izzy Darge, Martha Way Stamatellis, Ally Rose and Pyari Qureshi has been hard at work on lighting, sound, costumes and stage design.
We can’t wait to see this ambitious, student-led production come together. ... See MoreSee Less
Congratulations Lachlan- so pleased to see your long planned vision come to life 🙂
A tale of two festivals
Recently, students across both Primary and Secondary School took part in the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival at Town Hall – a celebration of creativity, courage and the written word.
Our Year 3 to 6 students enjoyed the Primary School Days programme, hearing from acclaimed authors including Terri Libenson, Katrina Nannestad and Jared Thomas. A surprise appearance by Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney was a clear highlight! Students came away inspired by the power of storytelling and the creative process behind their favourite books.
Year 5 student, Mariah K, reflected that “the event included thought-provoking activities that really challenged our creative side.”
Later in the week, budding writers from Years 7 to 9 returned to Town Hall for a day of workshops with local and international authors, including Demet Divaroren, Hayley Lawrence and New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman. From having their book signed to stepping up and asking questions in front of hundreds, our students fully embraced the experience.
We hope the festival sparked new stories, ideas and confidence in every student who attended. ... See MoreSee Less
On Sunday 25 May, Joshua Chin, Amali Cooray (both Year 12 HSC) and James Grennan (Year 10) performed Nikolai Kapustin’s Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano Op. 86 (3rd movement), taking out second place in the Under 18 Chamber Group section.
Also performing on the day were Ryan Sim (Year 12 HSC), David Kim (Year 9) and Thomas Silpa-Anan (Year 8), who impressed with the 4th movement of Brahms’ Piano Trio Op. 114.
Both ensembles have also been preparing entries for the national Strike A Chord chamber music competition.
Congratulations to all students, and a big thank you to Ms Chen, Mrs Dries, Ms Grennan and Mr Oshiro for their expert guidance and support. ... See MoreSee Less
We recently held our K-2 and Year 5 solo concerts. Music tutors were invited to nominate students they felt had a piece ready to share with their cohorts and the students did not disappoint!
They showed courage as they stood in front of their peers to perform and it was evident that these students had been doing wonderful preparation at home.
Congratulations to all involved and thank you to the tutors for preparing and nominating these students. A huge thanks to our school accompanist Ms Szu Yu Chen, as well as Ms Pen Campbell for supporting the performers in these concerts. ... See MoreSee Less
Kate, looks like you are doing great things at St Andrew’s.
The children are so cute.
Chris would be so proud of you.
Love Ros xx💕
SACS Factor turns up the volume!
Yesterday’s annual SACS Factor was a spectacular showcase of student talent, creativity and house spirit! Each House choreographed, organised and performed a medley of iconic songs — filling the Cathedral with energy, laughter and impressive vocals.
Westminster House took out first place with their powerhouse mash-up of Edge of Seventeen, Teenage Dirtbag and Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Hereford House followed closely behind with Help!, I Was Made for Lovin’ You and Livin’ on a Prayer.
St Paul’s House rocked into third with their Queen tribute: We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are the Champions.
Canterbury House (Texas Hold ‘Em, Sweet Home Alabama, Free Bird) and York House (Fabulous, Get’cha Head in the Game, We’re All in This Together) tied for fourth – both delivering unforgettable performances.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award closes at 1.10pm today. Stay tuned for the winner!
All proceeds from SACS Factor support South Sydney Anglican Church, whose Redfern-based charity provides meals and services to vulnerable communities. Special thanks to Pastor Matt Johnston for speaking to students about this vital work and to the many students who volunteer throughout the year.
Bring on next year’s competition, we’re already counting down! ... See MoreSee Less
A huge congratulations to Sophie Dimitrov (Year 10), who recently competed at the National Athletics Championships and helped her NSW relay team set a new Australian record in the Under 16 Girls 4x200m relay.
Sophie’s team ran a scorching time of 1:37.94, smashing the previous national record at the championships in Perth on 8 April.
What an outstanding achievement, Sophie! We are so proud of you. ... See MoreSee Less
Moments captured by students. A journey they’ll never forget.
This video brings together glimpses filmed by our Gawura School students during the 2025 On Country Tour – from Alice Springs to Uluru, through sacred lands and powerful stories.
It’s a window into the connection, culture and courage experienced On Country.
Want to know more about the tour? Read the full story now on our website — including reflections, highlights and voices from the tour.
Year 12 student Aliyah Gordon, a participant in the Souths Cares Nanga Mai Marri programme, has been named a finalist for NSW Trainee of the Year. This is an incredible recognition of her hard work and commitment.
While completing her HSC at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Aliyah has also been studying for a Certificate III in Business, supported by the Nanga Mai Marri programme, an initiative designed to provide future-focused pathways and cultural support. Aliyah continues to break barriers and lead with strength, showing what’s possible when First Nations students are empowered to thrive in every space.
We’re incredibly proud of Aliyah as she heads into the final selection stage of the NSW Training Services Awards.
Congratulations, Aliyah – your school and community are cheering you on! ... See MoreSee Less
Cracking the Da Vinci Decathlon code
Two weeks ago, 16 Junior School and 40 Secondary School students from St Andrew’s Cathedral School took part in the NSW State Da Vinci Decathlon at Knox Grammar School.
The Da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics and chess, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy.
To succeed in the competition, students need to work exceptionally well in teams and be able to access content well above their grade level. Despite the steep competition, St Andrew’s Cathedral School’s team ranked highly across the categories.
Leonardo Da Vinci embraced learning with a lifelong passion and determination to uncover the unknown. Well done to all the students who participated and for exhibiting these qualities in their ongoing educational development. ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Great job! Extra congrats to Y9 coming 1st in Science!
Student Spotlight: Lachlan Sparshott – Leading with creativity
Year 11 student Lachlan Sparshott is the playwright and co-director of ‘Clear Illusion’, a completely student-created theatrical production hitting the stage very soon.
Lachlan not only wrote the script for this original mystery drama, but has also been guiding rehearsals, shaping performances and even revising the script along the way. His leadership and vision have helped bring complex, challenging characters to life, with fellow students taking on both acting and directing responsibilities.
Behind the scenes, a talented student crew including Mika Chin, Yuze Ding, Izzy Darge, Martha Way Stamatellis, Ally Rose and Pyari Qureshi has been hard at work on lighting, sound, costumes and stage design.
We can’t wait to see this ambitious, student-led production come together. ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Congratulations Lachlan- so pleased to see your long planned vision come to life 🙂
A tale of two festivals
Recently, students across both Primary and Secondary School took part in the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival at Town Hall – a celebration of creativity, courage and the written word.
Our Year 3 to 6 students enjoyed the Primary School Days programme, hearing from acclaimed authors including Terri Libenson, Katrina Nannestad and Jared Thomas. A surprise appearance by Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney was a clear highlight! Students came away inspired by the power of storytelling and the creative process behind their favourite books.
Year 5 student, Mariah K, reflected that “the event included thought-provoking activities that really challenged our creative side.”
Later in the week, budding writers from Years 7 to 9 returned to Town Hall for a day of workshops with local and international authors, including Demet Divaroren, Hayley Lawrence and New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman. From having their book signed to stepping up and asking questions in front of hundreds, our students fully embraced the experience.
We hope the festival sparked new stories, ideas and confidence in every student who attended. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Striking a chord at the Sydney Eisteddfod
On Sunday 25 May, Joshua Chin, Amali Cooray (both Year 12 HSC) and James Grennan (Year 10) performed Nikolai Kapustin’s Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano Op. 86 (3rd movement), taking out second place in the Under 18 Chamber Group section.
Also performing on the day were Ryan Sim (Year 12 HSC), David Kim (Year 9) and Thomas Silpa-Anan (Year 8), who impressed with the 4th movement of Brahms’ Piano Trio Op. 114.
Both ensembles have also been preparing entries for the national Strike A Chord chamber music competition.
Congratulations to all students, and a big thank you to Ms Chen, Mrs Dries, Ms Grennan and Mr Oshiro for their expert guidance and support. ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Well done James!
I’m sure that this was very well deserved! 👏
K-2 and Year 5 shine!
We recently held our K-2 and Year 5 solo concerts. Music tutors were invited to nominate students they felt had a piece ready to share with their cohorts and the students did not disappoint!
They showed courage as they stood in front of their peers to perform and it was evident that these students had been doing wonderful preparation at home.
Congratulations to all involved and thank you to the tutors for preparing and nominating these students. A huge thanks to our school accompanist Ms Szu Yu Chen, as well as Ms Pen Campbell for supporting the performers in these concerts. ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Kate, looks like you are doing great things at St Andrew’s. The children are so cute. Chris would be so proud of you. Love Ros xx💕
SACS Factor turns up the volume!
Yesterday’s annual SACS Factor was a spectacular showcase of student talent, creativity and house spirit! Each House choreographed, organised and performed a medley of iconic songs — filling the Cathedral with energy, laughter and impressive vocals.
Westminster House took out first place with their powerhouse mash-up of Edge of Seventeen, Teenage Dirtbag and Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Hereford House followed closely behind with Help!, I Was Made for Lovin’ You and Livin’ on a Prayer.
St Paul’s House rocked into third with their Queen tribute: We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are the Champions.
Canterbury House (Texas Hold ‘Em, Sweet Home Alabama, Free Bird) and York House (Fabulous, Get’cha Head in the Game, We’re All in This Together) tied for fourth – both delivering unforgettable performances.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award closes at 1.10pm today. Stay tuned for the winner!
All proceeds from SACS Factor support South Sydney Anglican Church, whose Redfern-based charity provides meals and services to vulnerable communities. Special thanks to Pastor Matt Johnston for speaking to students about this vital work and to the many students who volunteer throughout the year.
Bring on next year’s competition, we’re already counting down! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Australian record breaker!
A huge congratulations to Sophie Dimitrov (Year 10), who recently competed at the National Athletics Championships and helped her NSW relay team set a new Australian record in the Under 16 Girls 4x200m relay.
Sophie’s team ran a scorching time of 1:37.94, smashing the previous national record at the championships in Perth on 8 April.
What an outstanding achievement, Sophie! We are so proud of you. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Moments captured by students. A journey they’ll never forget.
This video brings together glimpses filmed by our Gawura School students during the 2025 On Country Tour – from Alice Springs to Uluru, through sacred lands and powerful stories.
It’s a window into the connection, culture and courage experienced On Country.
Want to know more about the tour? Read the full story now on our website — including reflections, highlights and voices from the tour.
Read more here: www.sacs.nsw.edu.au/blog/2025/05/walking-where-dreaming-began-gawura-schools-2025-on-country-tour/ ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Wonderful experiences for them all x
Aliyah Gordon recognised among NSW’s top trainees
Year 12 student Aliyah Gordon, a participant in the Souths Cares Nanga Mai Marri programme, has been named a finalist for NSW Trainee of the Year. This is an incredible recognition of her hard work and commitment.
While completing her HSC at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Aliyah has also been studying for a Certificate III in Business, supported by the Nanga Mai Marri programme, an initiative designed to provide future-focused pathways and cultural support. Aliyah continues to break barriers and lead with strength, showing what’s possible when First Nations students are empowered to thrive in every space.
We’re incredibly proud of Aliyah as she heads into the final selection stage of the NSW Training Services Awards.
Congratulations, Aliyah – your school and community are cheering you on! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook