The 2024 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) STEM MAD Showcase was a resounding success, with nearly 400 students, 50 teachers and dozens of staff celebrating a day of innovation, creativity and collaboration.
Held at CathWest Innovation College, the event featured 94 teams from over 20 schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, all eager to demonstrate their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) projects aimed at making a positive impact on the world.Each team demonstrated not only technical skill but also a deep commitment to using STEM to make a positive impact on the world. The day was further supported by dozens of CathWest staff and CSPD support teams, making it a truly collaborative effort.
The showcase was filled with excitement and hands-on activities including BlueBots and Ozobots programming to Bottle Rockets, PowerAnchor challenges, Bridge Building, and Fizzics Education demonstrations,
"The quality of the students' STEMMAD presentations has reached new heights this year with students demonstrating outstanding innovation and critical thinking," said Lisa Nash, Digital Learning and Library Services Manager and CSPD STEM MAD event organiser. "Their ability to harness STEM concepts to make a difference in the world was truly remarkable."
The day culminated in an awards ceremony with St Margaret Mary’s Primary Merrylands (ACTZ - We Take Action) and St Michael's Primary Baulkham Hills (The PRT - The Piped Rubbish Transporter) earning national selection in the primary category and Santa Sophia Catholic College (Wind project) and Marian Catholic College (Fun Guys) gaining national selection in the secondary category. These teams will present their projects at the 2024 STEM MAD National Education Showcase in Brisbane this November, offering them a platform to further share their ideas and potentially influence a broader audience.
The CSPD STEM MAD Showcase not only celebrated the talent and ingenuity of young minds but also underscored the importance of STEM education in shaping the future. With projects that address real-world problems and propose innovative solutions, these young innovators are well on their way to making a significant impact on their communities and beyond.
2024 CSPD STEM MAD Showcase Awards
Primary Awards
National Selection (based on video submission)
St Margaret Mary’s Primary Merrylands - ACTZ- We Take Action
St Michael's Primary Baulkham Hills - The PRT (The Piped Rubbish Transporter)
Highly Commended (video submission for National)
Highly Commended Design Process - St Margaret Mary’s Primary Merrylands - Waste Warriors
Highly Commended Innovation - St Michael's Primary Baulkham Hills - Treadmill Road
Highly Commended Links to Curriculum - St Angela's Primary Castle Hill - Oceaner
Highly commended Making a Difference - St Margaret Mary’s Primary Merrylands - First Aid Rangers
Highly Commended Communication - St Bernadette's Primary Castle Hill - SockEz
Judged on the Day
Best Overall projects on the day
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary Wentworthville - Ocean Acidification (Group A/B)
St Angela’s Primary Castle Hill- Eco Hat (Group C/D)
Highly commended projects of the day
St Aidan's Primary Rooty Hill - Bee Lock (Group A/B)
St Angela's Primary Castle Hill - Oceaner (Group C/D)
Secondary Awards
National Selection (based on video submission)
Santa Sophia Catholic College - Wind project
Marian Catholic College Kenthurst - Fun Guys
Highly Commended (video submission for National)
Highly Commended Design Process - Marian Catholic College - Spuddles
Highly Commended Innovation - Xavier College Llandilo - Hollagram
Highly Commended STEM application - CathWest Innovation College Moun Druitt - Mars Prototype
Highly Commended Making a Difference - Xavier College Llandilo - S.O.R.T.
Highly Commended Communication - Catherine McCauley Westmead - Zen Zoo buddy
Judged on the Day
Best overall projects on the day
Catherine McAuley Westmead - Tech Neck (Group A/B)
Marian Catholic College Kenthurst - Starch Polymer (Group C/D)
Highly commended projects of the day
Catherine McAuley Westmead - Kaida (Group A/B)
Marian Catholic College Kenthurst - Trash for Building (Group C/D)
Activities
Bridge Breaking Testing
Group D winner - Good Shepherd Primary Plumpton Weight = 13 kg
Group B winner - St Patrick's Primary Blacktown Weight = 12.7 kg
Power Anchor planes
Session 1
Fastest - Marian Catholic College Kenthurst (6.03m/per second )
Highest - St Agnes Catholic High School Rooty Hill (1.41m)
Session 2
Fastest - Xavier College Llandilo - 10.68m/per second
Highest - Xavier College Llandilo - 1.23 metres
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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