Designing and building a robot to collect as many cubes as possible in a 60-second challenge won the team first place at the Queensland VEX State Competition in November 2023, with the team then invited to compete against 40 other teams in a national competition in South Australia in December.
There they showcased their engineering and programming skills, as they drove and coded their robot to success, clinching the Sportsmanship Award.
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), Principal David Sewell applauded Sharon for her unwavering commitment to STEM education.
“Sharon empowers her students to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and confidently stride into a future where they will play a vital role in shaping the world of STEM,” he says.
“Sharon has been instrumental in fostering a passion and confidence in STEM among our students, particularly our girls.
“Her innovative approach has led to remarkable successes in the field of robotics and other STEM disciplines, including Brisbane Catholic Education’s (BCE) STEM MAD (Make a Difference) Showcase, First Lego League, and the recent VEX State and National Competition.”
Sharon says her female students bring a unique perspective to the STEM classroom.
“Girls are not only creative but also excel in connecting with people and communicating effectively,” she says.
“In the realm of robotics, girls have proven to be resilient problem-solvers, showcasing their abilities to lead, strategise and communicate clearly.”
Sharon says it is important to encourage more girls to enter STEM careers.
“Girls are instinctively empathetic and have the ability to connect with people,” she says.
“Our female students always excel in BCE’s STEM MAD Showcase, as they are great at solving real-world problems, viewing challenges through a lens of understanding and compassion – always putting the ‘person’ at the centre of their innovations.
“Their unique perspective adds a depth of creativity and collaboration to STEM endeavours, fostering innovative solutions that benefit society as a whole."
David says it is unique that St Vincent’s Primary School has a specialist STEM teacher.
“It’s inspiring for our female students, who view Sharon as a role model,” he added.
“Sharon’s excellent teaching fosters a sense of empowerment, encouraging our female students to envision their success in the dynamic fields of STEM.”
For more information about St Vincent’s Primary School Clear Island Waters or to enrol click here.
About BCE’s STEM MAD Showcase:
The BCE STEM MAD Showcase is a celebration of student learning designed to acknowledge and promote STEM initiatives that not only address real-world problems but also exemplify an unwavering commitment to excellence in STEM education across BCE schools.
About VEX Competition:
The VEX Robotics Competition, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation, is the largest and fastest growing elementary school and middle school robotics program globally.
Each year, an exciting engineering challenge is presented in the form of a game. Students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, build innovative robots and compete in tournaments.