STEM

Balloon Car STEM Challenge – Young Innovators at St Monica’s

St Monica’s College was thrilled to host Grade 5 students from our local feeder primary schools for a hands-on Balloon Car Challenge—a highlight of their STEM immersion day.

Using recycled and repurposed materials—cardboard, bottle caps, balloons, straws, and skewers—students were challenged to design and build a balloon-powered car capable of travelling 12 metres across the room. The learning extended beyond construction: students engaged with real-world science and engineering principles throughout the process.

The project explored simple machines, including the wheel and axle, which allowed for smooth, rolling motion. Students also discovered how a wedge could be used to help push the wooden skewer axles securely into bottle cap wheels—demonstrating both practical problem-solving and clever use of materials.

Central to the challenge was Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. As the balloon deflated, the escaping air propelled the car forward, bringing the physics of motion to life.

The day was full of creativity, discovery, and excitement—an inspiring introduction to STEM at St Monica’s. We look forward to welcoming these future innovators into our community in the years ahead.

Mr S Kalantzis

Senior STEM Educator

St Monica’s College Inspires Young Scientists at St Catherine’s STEM-Science Day

On Tuesday, 12 August 2025, St Monica’s College, Epping (SMC) proudly partnered with St Catherine’s Primary School (SCPS) for a dynamic and hands-on STEM Day, designed to spark curiosity and foster a love of science among younger learners.

The day commenced with a whole-school parade, followed by a series of engaging science experiments led by St Monica’s STEM / Science staff in the HUB. Highlights included dancing sultanas, psyllium slime, magic ink, chemical colour changes, airbag races, and the ever-popular elephant toothpaste. These interactive demonstrations captivated students from Prep to Year 6, encouraging exploration and scientific thinking.

Complementing the experiments were classroom-based STEM challenges tailored to each year level. Students explored nature, art and animal prints, Fibonacci flower patterns, and light communication projects, each activity designed to deepen understanding and inspire creativity.

This outreach initiative exemplifies SMC’s commitment to community engagement and STEM education. By mentoring primary students, our secondary students not only shared their knowledge but also developed curiosity and inquiry skills.

Special thanks to Claudia Palmisano (SCPS) and the Monican STEM Team for preparing the day’s resources, and to Andrea Mathios, Rachael Furgal and Clare Bello for facilitating experiments throughout the day and to Irena Foreman, and Shayne Esmaquel for their support. Their dedication ensured a smooth, enriching experience for all involved.

STEM / Science Day is a celebration of collaboration, curiosity, and the joy of learning and an inspiring example of what is possible when schools work together to incubate future scientists and innovators.

Mr S Bagh

Senior Teacher (Future Technologies, STEM Education)