Holy Family Primary School's eagerly awaited annual STEM Week kicked off last week with vibrant energy and promise. The week-long event aims to unite students' passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with the ultimate goal of inspiring a more innovative future.
The week began with a Q&A session that featured guest speakers from STEM-related fields. Among them was Dr. Jeni Wellington, who was not only a parent at Holy Family, but also a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the visionary behind Australia's first medical networking platform. She was accompanied by Lavinia Adams, who has forged a successful career in the Aerospace and Defence sectors and Maree Beare, an industry leader in HealthTech and FemTech innovation, with her enterprises gaining global recognition.
Students had the opportunity to ask the guest panel about their careers to date, including their educational journeys, milestones, and the hurdles they have faced particularly in navigating male-dominated industries. Their candid responses provided invaluable insights and inspired students to follow their dreams regardless of the challenges they may face.
Holy Family Primary School Principal, Terese Shephard, spoke about the significance of the annual event, stating, “Nothing excites us more than to see our students deeply engaged in their learning.”
“Through STEM learning experiences we instil curiosity, teamwork, and innovation while equipping our students for the careers of tomorrow. More importantly, we inspire them to address global challenges and create meaningful change.”
Throughout the week students were immersed in presentations led by industry professionals, delving into fascinating areas—from the innovation of spinifex jelly to improve agriculture production, to how they can forge a career as a mining engineer and help protect our environment in return. Hands-on experiences are also on offer including workshops to dissect real lambs’ hearts and discoveries of native animal remains.
The week ended on a high with a students participating in a STEM Showcase. Budding scientists wowed their audiences with inventive experiments, highlighting their creativity and curiosity.
STEM Week is as much a journey for teachers as it is for the students. Terese noted, "This week serves as a reminder that we, as educators, are always learning, walking hand in hand with our students towards the future."
“With such an inspiring line-up of events and guest speakers, STEM Week at Holy Family Primary School is not just a week-long event but an investment in the future.”
“It underpins the importance of STEM in modern education and shines a spotlight on the limitless potential that students can tap into when they're inspired and engaged.”
