STEAM Showcase Day

In August this year Catholic School Parents Victoria fulfilled one of the purposes of our organisation in promoting Catholic education as a first choice for parents.

CSPV were involved in assisting to organise a showcase day for Catholic primary and secondary schools to showcase their learning in Science, Technology, Engineering Design, Arts and Mathematics. While it would have been wonderful to see more parents attend the day, CSPV were able to learn so much about the amazing work our teachers and leaders are doing with the students in preparing them for real life.

We were so impressed with the students and their work but what stood out for us most was how much our teachers care for the students. Many of the students had travelled from various towns in the State and teachers were right there with them, supporting them as they presented their ideas in our first ever Snapper Tank competition. Teachers and leaders were also there to support the secondary students as they performed and showcased their work. We believe this is what sets our schools apart from others, the pastoral care and genuine interest in seeing students achieve and encouraging them to be their best selves.

Throughout the day we filmed many of the students sharing what they believe the best part of being in a Catholic community is. Most of the responses were centred around how pastoral care and genuinely caring for others is integrated throughout the curriculum and the culture of each school, particularly for STEM and design thinking students who are designing solutions for real world problems.

Many students on the day demonstrated projects that expressed their concern for problems in their own schools, centred around the environment and sustainability projects, using project based, design and future focussed thinking and learning about the challenges they see in the world around them. They are being encouraged through their learning, not only to care for the environment but also caring for others less fortunate than themselves. 

Some of the feedback we received from the students, teachers and leaders as well as parents included the fact that faith-based education in 21^st century in Catholic schools looks beyond just learning the gospel and explores integrating faith into learning throughout the curriculum.

Catholic schools build on the values and morals that are at the heart of what each school does and continuous reflection on those genuine values develops a culture of common understanding of how we need to be as good citizens of the world.

Students expressed an owning and understanding of their learning agenda, being critical thinkers in a contemporary learning environment, using faith, values and beliefs and feeling very safe in being surrounded by people who share the same values. 

Catholic education is a story of welcome, inclusion and belonging to a community, all of which underpin an education in our schools. Pastoral care and discipline bring all of the elements together under domain of this is who we are and this is what guides us in our daily lives.

Many schools also shared that they have opportunities for immersive learning experiences in foreign as well as Indigenous communities where they can see the challenges and use their learning experiences to design real life projects that can make a difference for others.

When we think of Catholic education we know that our children are being nurtured, alongside us as their parents and partners in education to form the whole person, to support them to become complete people who are spiritual, self-reflective and able to navigate the world around them, be aware and care for others in the community.

We will soon be posting more fantastic videos to hear more from the schools who attended the showcase day on our website. We’d love to hear more great news stories from your school to share. We believe in our students and in our schools to provide a great education and we will continue to promote Catholic education as a first choice for families.

STEM MAD Exhibition

As Executive Officer and a parent of children in Catholic school I had the pleasure of attending the recent STEM MAD exhibition held at Catholic Leadership Centre in East Melbourne.

The quality of work and presentations by the students on the day is a reflection of the quality of teaching and learning about STEM in our Catholic primary and secondary schools. 

Shelley Waldon, STEM Leader from Catholic Education Melbourne, is the driving force behind STEM MAD and the rapid growth of STEM achievements in our Catholic schools. This exhibition was a culmination of the exciting work of the students, led by passionate teachers, who are really encouraging and inspiring the following skills in students to develop some truly creative and innovative ideas;

• creative and critical thinking - now known as 'design thinking'
• project management
• research
• identifying the needs of people and the environment and designing projects to 'make a difference.'
• empathy and awareness
• innovation and entrepreneurial thinking
• perseverance and resilience

The photos above provide an insight into some of the ideas presented on the day and I must say the most inspiring ideas were those that were heart-centred, making a difference to the wellbeing and experiences of people in our world who are truly in need. The future nurturing and care of people and the planet are in good hands!