Decoding the Universe

STEM Day at Wenona turned vast tracts of campus into an excited hub of scientific discovery.

Students from Kindergarten to Year 10 explored this year's ambitious themes of ‘Decoding the Universe - Exploring the Unknown with Nature's Hidden Language’ and in the Junior School, ‘Hero's Quest’.

The massive event involved 56 separate classes, requiring tight coordination and careful scheduling from our hardworking Science and administrative staff. Everything from History to English and PDHPE to Drama, was given a STEM-twist, with Year 10 students stepping into teaching roles for Kindergarten to Year 6 classes, supervised and evaluated by academic staff. Meanwhile, Years 7, 8 and 9 engaged in cross-curricular activities across the School. Years 8 and 9 concluded with an incursion from Fizzics Education and Year 9 were left fascinated by a visit from Perform Education.

Most sessions for the younger students emphasised hands-on learning, exemplified by the detective work required for one lesson that asked the students to identify animal footprints – adding life to the theme of nature's hidden language.

Meanwhile, West Commons was the location for a session on ‘Gravitational Lunges - Force of Attraction’, one of many cross-curricular activities that combined physical movement and scientific concepts.

The peer-to-peer teaching model, with Year 10 students leading younger classes under teacher supervision, created valuable learning opportunities on multiple levels. The older students had worked hard to devise concepts that would keep young learners engaged. They discovered the challenges and rewards of teaching, while their younger peers benefited from learning from role models who are just a few years ahead of them.

"The feedback from students and staff was overwhelmingly positive," said Director of STEM, Dr Alisha Thompson. "It was wonderful to see the School buzzing with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration across all disciplines … it's days like this that truly show what we can achieve when we work together brilliantly, with good humour and flexibility."

Building Cross-Cultural Connections

While STEM Day showcased scientific discovery, Wenona's commitment to global learning was equally evident when the School recently hosted a group of visiting students and their teacher from Nagoya, along with a representative of the Japanese Government, for a full-day cultural exchange.

The program paired visiting students with Wenona girls, beginning with games and conversation that quickly broke down any initial shyness. Throughout the day, the Japanese visitors joined a variety of classroom experiences, immersing themselves in Wenona's learning environment while sharing their own perspectives.

The exchange concluded with a farewell afternoon tea characterized by shared stories and laughter. It was a warm ending to a day that had built meaningful friendships and strengthened cultural connections.