Head of Learning & Teaching - 22 May
Primary Curriculum Update - Term 2 week 5
Lauries Excel at the Da Vinci Decathlon
On Wednesday 20 May, seven Year 6 students along with one Year 5 student made up the team that proudly represented Laurie’s at the Da Vinci Decathlon, hosted by Brisbane Boys’ College. This prestigious academic competition brings together schools from across Queensland to take on ten intellectually demanding disciplines inspired by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. The boys delivered an exceptional performance that showcased their creativity, teamwork, and problem‑solving skills.
Our 2026 team consisted of Banjo Galetto, Jonathon McIntyre, Fred Simmons, Noah Gavin, Charlie Pfeffer, Leo Kim, Raymond Chen and Sahan Mendis
We also extend our sincere thanks to Year 5 students Hudson Maroney, Callum McDermott and William Whitehouse who trained alongside the team as reserves. Their enthusiasm and commitment during lunchtime practice sessions were invaluable.
Throughout the competition, students tackled a wide range of disciplines, including Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Engineering, Art and Poetry, Cartography, Legacy, and Code Breaking.
From designing inventive engineering solutions to crafting expressive poetry, from navigating complex mapping tasks to cracking challenging ciphers, the boys embraced every challenge with enthusiasm. Their collaboration during Ideation and their resilience in the Legacy general‑knowledge tasks were standout moments of the day.
Competing against strong teams from across the state, our students demonstrated perseverance, creativity, and a genuine love of learning. Their efforts reflected the values we strive to instil at Laurie’s—excellence, teamwork, and curiosity.
A special thank you goes to Mrs Leszczynski for her guidance and preparation in the lead‑up to the event. Her support played a key role in helping the boys feel confident and ready.
We are incredibly proud of our team’s achievements in the Da Vinci Decathlon and we look forward to returning next year as we continue to stretch our thinking and celebrate academic challenge.
Jemma Trendler
Head of Learning & Teaching (Primary School)
