Twenty-three Year 9 and 10 students recently attended the National Science and Engineering Challenge, hosted by the University of Newcastle. Competing against six schools from across the district, students participated in a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities that challenged them to build and test models, work collaboratively, and use critical thinking skills to solve problems.

One challenge involved designing a bridge that was strong, lightweight, and demonstrated an efficient use of materials. Reflecting on the experience, one student shared that their team created a unique curved bridge design that successfully carried multiple loads before narrowly missing the final 5kg weight. The student described the challenge as exciting, rewarding, and a great test of teamwork and creativity.

All students represented the school exceptionally well, showing enthusiasm, resilience, and a willingness to tackle every challenge. Their efforts were rewarded with an impressive 4th-place finish, making it a fantastic day of learning, teamwork, and engineering problem-solving.