In Year 9, students are refining their mentoring abilities to provide guidance and support to their younger peers in Years 7 and 8. Through weekly lessons, they improve their communication skills—both verbal and non-verbal—and learn effective methods for maximising the potential of their mentees. These sessions also focus on fostering confidence, encouraging reflective thinking, and setting achievable goals. Following these lessons, students apply their newfound skills by spending dedicated time with their mentees, assisting them with understanding STEM concepts relevant to their 'Beat the Flood' project.

Meanwhile, in Year 10, students are immersed in the thorough refinement of their Hydrogen Fuel Cell Remote Control cars, gearing up for the upcoming Hydrogen Grand Prix next term. Supported by esteemed professionals such as Professor Andrew Bulmer from Griffith University, Mr. Andrew Nicholls from Foxwell SSC, and Ales Rakovsky and Kieren Curry from Horizon Educational, students are developing innovative strategies to enhance the control and speed of their vehicles. This involves careful adjustments to the weight and dimensions of the cars, as well as a deep dive into aerodynamics principles.

This term, our Year 7 and 8 Gen STEM students, alongside their Year 9 Gen STEM student mentors, tackled the 'Beat the Flood' project. They designed and built flood-resistant model houses, focusing on sustainability and engineering principles. Last week, they tested their designs against simulated flood and wind conditions, showcasing their problem-solving skills and teamwork. Currently, each team is preparing presentations to evaluate their design choices and share insights with their mentors. This project highlights their STEM abilities whilst fostering teamwork and critical thinking. We're proud of their achievements and look forward to their presentations!