Ending the school year with a bang – Assisi Catholic College students showcase their STEM skills!

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From explosive ideas and experiments that will blow your mind, to inventions which will ‘Make a Difference’ in our world, students at Assisi Catholic College, Upper Coomera have ended the school year with a bang! 

In a special end of year STEM Showcase (Monday 1 December), Assisi Preps displayed their own self-built rotating Lego Spike Kits, the Year 6’s coded their way to success, while the senior students displayed their lifesaving inventions.

Global citizens who give back 

Assisi Catholic College Principal John Frare said, “our students are at the forefront of STEM innovation”. 

“From Prep to Year 12 we encourage students to tackle problems that negatively affect our world,” he said. 

“By encouraging all our students to become self-directed learners we are creating global citizens who not only think for themselves but use their knowledge for the greater good.” 

 

‘Making a difference’ 

John adds, “our student’s’ inventions ‘Neuroglide’ and ‘Apollo’ can make a real difference in people’s lives with their inventions”.

“In 2025, Assisi Catholic College won first place in the Secondary category at Brisbane Catholic Education’s STEM ‘Make a Difference’ (MAD) competition for their invention Apollo, which monitors drivers for signs of sleepiness and medical emergencies,” he said. 

“The same team also attended the Gold Coast Mayor’s Technology and Innovation Awards and STEM MAD Nationals in November. 

“Another team of students invented a glove, ‘Neuroglide’, which supports people with neurological issues.  
 
“Tasks like drinking a cup of coffee can be difficult for sufferers, and ‘Neuroglide’ seeks to solve this by supporting hand movement. 

“This success follows in the footsteps of our incredible 2024 win at the STEM MAD National Secondary Competition, where our students developed ‘Canary,’ a wearable hazard-detection system designed to enhance workplace safety.  

“Their innovation earned our College and BCE national recognition, showcasing Assisi’s commitment to creating solutions that save lives and serve the common good.” 

Year 9 student Beau McCathie said, “working on NeuroGlide over several months has taught us so much about engineering, physics, and maths”. 

“Attending the competitions in both Brisbane and Adelaide gave us great opportunities, we met other schools, shared ideas, and learned together,” he said. 

“STEM MAD is such a valuable experience, and we’re thankful to be part of such a fantastic opportunity.” 

Year 12 student and ‘Canary’ inventor Joshua said, “Assisi has gone from first-time participants to state champions, to national first-place champions in just four years”. 

“Every year, we have built on our skills, creativity, and ambition to ‘Make a Difference’ as part of BCE’s STEM MAD competition,” he said.

“STEM is essential in our rapidly changing world, and STEM MAD gave us the chance to begin our journey in STEM.  

“Developing our knowledge, confidence, and passion for innovation.” 

STEM in the Early Years 

John said he attributes his students’ success to good first teaching. 

“We expose our scholars to a variety of STEM programs from the Early Years,” he said. 

“In Term 3, our Prep students designed and built their own LEGO sets and recorded step-by-step instructions for assembly. 

"By challenging our younger students in the Early Years, we are encouraging critical and creative thinking, skills they will need to solve real world problems in secondary school and beyond.” 

STEM without borders 

John adds, “STEM education at Assisi is set for continued growth”. 

“In 2026, we are introducing a unique STEM option for Years 7 and 8,” he said.
 
“Rather than being a formal subject in these years, STEM will be offered as an extracurricular opportunity. 

“This approach allows passionate students to engage in meaningful STEM activities beyond the classroom.  

“This dedicated STEM time and classroom will further support students in their pursuits and lead to more participation in competitions outside the classroom, such as BCE’s STEM MAD competition.” 

In November Assisi’s Apollo and Neuroglide team proudly represented Queensland at the STEM MAD National Showcase in Adelaide, continuing this tradition of excellence and innovation.

For more information about Assisi Catholic College, Upper Coomera or to enrol click here. 

©Brisbane Catholic Education (2025).

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