Student achievements

Congratulations to the following students

Klara Donnelly and Jean Beerworth (Year 7), who have been crowned winners of the Day of AI 2024 Student Challenge in the Year 7 category with their submission, 'Emissions Tracker'. The annual competition was open to students in Years 5–10, and the projects the students developed were designed to assist them in applying the concepts learned during the Day of AI course that was completed in class during Term 2.

Klara and Jean have received $1,200 in prize money, which will go towards setting up a great technology environment or STEM experience for their classroom. Well done, Klara and Jean! This a fantastic result and demonstrative of what can be accomplished through innovation and teamwork. 

Here's a summary of the Emissions Tracker from Klara: 

The Emissions Tracker uses a sensor to detect what gases are in the house during the day. Then, using AI, it suggests what people can do to reduce the gases.

It will notify people when they’re using too many gases, suggest solutions or alternatives, and reduce gases in that way. It gives you a daily tracker that each day you choose not to take your car or motorbike you get a streak and once you have done a year you get a different prize each time. 

You would have to tell the AI what things are important, like the fridge. You would also need to make sure that the AI doesn’t pressure people to turn things off, and only suggests it.

Madeleine Marr (Year 9), who was selected as one of the finalists for the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize. Madeleine wrote an essay highlighting the contributions of Australian nurses during World War I and is now in the running for a spot on a 10-day study tour to Belgium and France in 2025. Congratulations, Madeleine! What an excellent result. We wish you all the best for the next stage of the competition. 

We also are delighted to announce that five St Mary's College students entered the competition at school level (the maximum number of entries allowed), with three entries shortlisted. 

The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize aims to commemorate and preserve the meaning of the ANZAC spirit in the Tasmanian community. The competition is open to all Tasmanian Year 9 students. 

If you would like to share a student achievement, please email stmarys@smc.tas.edu.au so we can acknowledge and celebrate your child's success in The Fountain newsletter.