STEM

STEM Ambassadors at Whittlesea Technical School Student Fellowship Program

In Term 3, some of our Year 9 and Year 10 students are currently participating in the Whittlesea Technical School (WTS) Student Fellowship program. This exciting initiative is designed to advance a wide range of skills including leadership, organisation, teamwork, communication, facilitation, creativity and digital literacy.

Through the program, students are engaging in peer-to-peer education, connecting with students from other local schools, and networking with industry partners. These experiences are helping them grow both personally and professionally.

This year, the program is centred around the theme of games and play. Students are working on exhibition projects in various forms, which will be showcased at the WTS later in the year.

Today, students are taking part in a critical play feedback exhibition. They are applying skills developed in previous workshops and focusing on completing their own models for the end-of-year presentation.

We are proud to acknowledge the participation of the following students in this program: Sahasra Dharmavarapu, Fiona Nelson, and Miley Tsilomanis. Their commitment, creativity and enthusiasm are a credit to the College.

SGC Discovery STEM: Engineering and Bridge-building

Bridges are more than just ways to cross rivers, valleys, or roads. They are powerful examples of how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) come together in the real world. Engineers must understand the science of forces such as tension and compression, use technology and tools to design, apply mathematics to measure and calculate loads, and bring it all together with creative engineering solutions.

By building and testing bridges, students have the opportunity to think like real engineers: solving problems, designing for strength and safety, and improving ideas through testing and redesign. This activity demonstrates how STEM works in action and how engineering helps shape the world around us.

In Term 3, SGC Year 8 Discovery STEM students, guided by their teacher Dr Lachlan Deane, explored the engineering design process and developed a prototype bridge of their choice. The students constructed their bridges with a limited amount of material, experienced the effects of forces such as tension and compression, and finally tested their designs for strength through weight testing. They then identified weaknesses and considered improvements, just as real engineers do.

Through this hands-on project, students not only learned about bridge design but also discovered how STEM subjects connect to solve real-world challenges. By applying creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, they developed valuable skills that extend far beyond the classroom, preparing them to be the innovators and engineers of the future.

St Monica’s Month Alumni Visit

Each August, during St Monica’s Month, students in Digital Technologies are visited by former Monican students who return to share their post-school journeys. This year, SMC students were fortunate to hear from two inspiring alumni: Angela Fenech, Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering (RMIT), and Adam Mardiryan, Bachelor of Information Technology: Network Engineering & Cyber Security (La Trobe).

Angela and Adam spoke to several Digital Technologies classes across Years 9 to 11. They began by reflecting on their time at SMC, offering valuable advice on subject selection and how it influenced their academic and career paths. Angela highlighted the importance of studying Mathematics at school, especially for those considering Information Technology courses such as Computer Science, reinforcing the relevance of STEM subjects.

Both alumni shared insights into university life, including course structures, pathways, internships, and the flexibility to change degrees. They also spoke about the broader university experience, including sports and extracurricular opportunities, and encouraged students to explore all aspects of tertiary education.

Special thanks to Daniela Parisi (Careers Pathway Assistant), Michelle Pezzi (Alumni Coordinator), and Wenjun Krishna (Head of Digital Technologies) for making this enriching experience possible.

Mr S Bagh

Senior Teacher (Future Technologies, STEM Education)