STEAM

Year 8 STEAM

STEAM is the integrated teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. Labour force data collected between 2013 and 2018 shows that STEM related occupations have grown by 16.5% which is 1.6 times higher than the growth rate of non-STEM based jobs. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018). 

The Year 8 STEAM program aims to develop innovative mindsets, creators of technology and tomorrow’s engineers and designers. Students are currently developing Grit skills such as resilience, perseverance, initiative, determination and flexibility, through a series of Makerspace challenges. Formative assessment of these skills will enable students to grow and develop their Grit skills. 

Students have worked in collaborative learning teams consisting of approximately three students. Each student is placed in a role such as Project Manager, Engineer and Mathematician. Students navigate the design process: Emphasise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test and Evaluate to create the fastest and lightest water vessels, design a paper plate marble maze and paper plate roller coasters. They are given variables and time constraints for each build. 

International Women's Day - Accelerate Action

International Women’s Day is held on the 8th of March, 2025. To support this day, Mater Dei Catholic College, NSW Department of Education and Training and Transgrid combined forces to create an event to inspire Year 10 students to “Accelerate Action”. 

The theme “Accelerate Action” is a ‘worldwide call to acknowledge the strategies, resources, and activity that positively impact women’s advancement, and to support and elevate their implementation.’ (IWD, 2025)

There was a mixture of panel members and guest speakers throughout the day who spoke about their journey’s throughout school and employment and how they were either supported or needed to overcome barriers or stereotypes along the way. 

Guest Speakers:

Chloe Campbell - Nurse, Medical Student and founder of Boots to Scrubs, a scholarship program for female rural medical students

Vickie Burkinshaw - Owner of Curious Rabbit, Wagga Wagga

Panel Discussion Members:

Dayna Kahlefeldt - Sales Consultant, Fitzpatricks Real Estate

Alex Mack - Owner of Ted and Olive

Kaitlyn Fuller - Director of Huntsman Recruiting

Emma Zannotto - Engineer, Transport NSW

Georgie Davis - Wagga City Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Wagga Wagga

Ebony Fodham - Apprentice Automotive Agricultural Machinery, Hutcheon and Pearce

Bianca Munro - CEDWW Education Officer School and System Improvement

Jade Tapfield - Murrumbidgee Local Health District

Thank you to our wonderful guest speakers, panel discussion members and Stacey Suidgeest from the Department of Education and Training for bringing this event to life.

Mrs Courtney Freebody | Leader of Learning - Digital Technology and STEM