Senior School News

Battle of the Builds | SMC gamers level up

Our budding Minecraft makers are on a winning streak, showcasing their creativity, problem-solving and technical skills as emerging video game designers. 

We are proud to celebrate our Year 5–8 students whose Minecraft worlds were selected for the Level Up Tasmania Video Game Showcase held at PW1 in Hobart during the term break. 

This statewide event highlights Tasmanian-made games and shines a spotlight on local creators who are pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling and interactive design. 

From our 26 entries, two SMC teams earned special recognition for their hard work, receiving Judge's Picks for their standout builds and some excellent feedback. A huge congratulations to our prize winners and a big well done to every student who participated.

Winning teams:

• Emily Yan and Grace Wood (Year 7) – Nature's Fair
• Darcy Woods, Juniper Pauley and Chloe Plummer (Year 8) – Seek and Find the Diamond 

The winning teams each received a certificate of recognition and a $100 gift card to Area 52. 

Read more about their projects and browse all selected submissions from Level Up Tasmania 2026 on the Tas Game Makers website. 

Students on cloud nine after inspiring astronaut encounter 

It's not every day you receive personalised advice from a trailblazing space engineer who also happens to be Australia's first female trained astronaut and the 2026 Australian of the Year.

During the Term 1 school holidays, 

Sarah (Year 12) and Rozalia (Year 11) attended the 2026 EdCAT (Education, Careers and Technology) 'Techtopia' Summit at Wrest Point, where they heard from inspiring keynote speakers Katherine Bennell-Pegg, an astronaut with the Australian Space Agency and Australian of the Year, and Tracey Spicer AM, an established author and AI commentator. 

STEM, digital skills and future career pathways were key themes throughout the day, but it was Katherine's message about empowering Australia's STEM future that really resonated with our senior students – especially her encouragement for girls to see themselves in space and STEM careers.

After the keynote and panel, Sarah and Rozalia were lucky enough to grab a photo with Katherine, which soon evolved into a great chat about where they hope to head in the industry. Thank you for your time and encouragement, Katherine. 

The sky isn't the limit – it's just the starting point! 

Thank you to our staff, Mrs Lucy Paske and Mrs Catherine Midson, for organising this opportunity for our students.

Sewing up a storm in Year 9/10 Textiles 

During Term 1, our Year 9/10 Textiles students designed and created their own vintage-style aprons. 

Maggie Rae in Year 9 shares a snapshot of her work in the excerpt below. 

I chose to make a 1940s-inspired apron, using bright yellow fabric and adding a hand-embroidered lemon to the pocket for a fun pop of detail. The unit was incredibly enjoyable – the project was challenging at times, but I learnt new skills and loved bringing my apron to life.