Last Friday, Year 6 students Nikola, Christian, Leo, Luvdeep, Lexie, Ava and Pippa (who was unable to attend) were invited to the University Of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, to compete in the CESA STEM MAD Challenge.

STEM MAD, is a prestigious celebration of student learning, recognising initiatives that address real-world problems through STEM education and highlight the unique character of Catholic schools.

Students are challenged to live in the footsteps of Jesus and create a device that can ‘make a difference’ (MAD) ensuring our world is more sustainable and inclusive. This year’s challenge was bigger than ever, and students from more than 25 Catholic Schools across South Australia were represented in the entries.

Nazareth students who participate in the challenge, do so as an extension of the co-curricular lunchtime STEAM Club, led by the dedicated guidance of Mrs Olivia Bordignon and Miss Jane Watson at the Findon Campus.

The clever ideas of Nikola, Christian, Leo, Luvdeep, Lexie, Ava and Pippa, awarded them a nomination to attend the “finalists showcase” at UniSA, where they were required to create a static display that demonstrated all their incredible design thinking knowledge and showed the steps they took to create their innovative, life-changing products. 

Olivia Bordignon​​​​, R‑6 Leader of Teaching and Learning ‑ Innovation, shares how “our students conducted themselves with kindness and respect and represented our Nazareth Community with pride”.

Take a look at what they were able to create and present:

The Weight Lifter: Pippa and Lexie

This product called ‘The Weight Lifter’, helps students with Autism to regulate in the classroom. Congratulations to Lexie and Pippa for placing second overall in the challenge.

Fooder Spray: Luvdeep, Leo, Christian & Nikola

The ‘Fooder Spray’ is an all-in-one mouth spray that includes a mouth disinfectant and helps people living rough to stay healthy by providing daily nutrients, vitamins and proteins.