Learning & Teaching

G.A.T.E.WAYS

This week, students from Years 1–6 participated in the G.A.T.E.WAYS Into the Unknown enrichment program hosted at St Mary’s. Through a range of engaging, hands-on workshops, the program challenged them to think creatively, solve complex problems and explore exciting STEM concepts.

In robotics sessions, students used Dash robots to explore coding, storytelling and the ways technology can be used to create narratives and solve problems. Older learners also investigated artificial intelligence and chatbot technology, considering how programmed pathways can influence communication and decision-making.

Scientific thinking was further extended through workshops exploring both the microscopic and astronomical worlds. Using microscopes, some students investigated cells and tiny structures invisible to the naked eye, carefully recording their observations through detailed scientific drawings. Others explored the vastness of space, learning how astronomers measure distances between stars and galaxies through the groundbreaking work of Henrietta Leavitt and the study of Cepheid variable stars.

Throughout the day, curiosity, creativity and perseverance were on full display as students collaborated with like-minded peers and extended their learning beyond the classroom. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and engagement they showed.

Student Reflections:

Honor (3CM): I loved working with the robots and using the iPad to create paths for them. We used coding to help them use their sensors, but my favourite part of all was playing a game called Gang Up with the robots!

Jonathan (5F): I really enjoyed calculating the distances and locations of stars and plotting them on a map of the Milky Way. It was incredible to see the true scale of the galaxy and just how fascinatingly enormous it is!

Amelie (6S): My favourite part was coding the robots and watching to see whether they followed our commands and whether we had programmed them correctly. It was funny when the robots crashed into each other and pushed one another out of their designated space.

George (3CM): I loved using the microscopes and discovering the amazing variety of crea

tures in pond water. My favourite part was drawing the tardigrade.