St Joseph’s Waroona takes over Waroona Memorial Hall for inaugural STEMathon

It was not an average day of school for students at Waroona’s two schools last week as they explored all things science.

St Joseph’s School Waroona held its inaugural STEMathon at the Waroona Memorial Hall on Thursday, bringing together businesses, volunteers and students from both the Catholic school and nearby Waroona District High School.

There was a smorgasbord of choices for students, ranging from virtual reality experiences to sherbet making workshops and even a robotic dog.

St Joseph’s STEM and enrichment co-ordinator Sharni Silvestri said she was “absolutely thrilled” with how the event went.

“It was a resounding success and truly exceeded our expectations,” she said.

“It was incredibly rewarding to see them immerse themselves in various STEM activities and interact with local businesses and organisations.”

Months of planning went into hosting the event, with more than 45 different activities available to students.

Community input played a big part on the day, with organisations including Waroona police, Alcoa, South32 and the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council offering activities.

There was a bit of star power present at the event, as Schlam Engineering brought along Lego Masters contestant Owen Davis to run a Lego racing competition.

Ms Silvestri said a wide range of STEM fields were covered, from robotics to chemistry experiments and agricultural automation.

“Students could engage with cutting-edge technologies, explore hands-on experiments, and gain insights from experts in various fields,” she said.

Ms Silvestri said the school hoped students who participated would develop a deeper appreciation for STEM disciplines and the real-world application of the subjects.

“We wanted them to see beyond the classroom and understand how STEM knowledge directly impacts industries, technology, and innovation,” she said.

“By interacting with professionals and experiencing hands-on activities, we aimed to ignite their curiosity and inspire them to consider future careers in STEM fields.

“Additionally, we hoped the event fostered a sense of collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking among the students as they engaged in the various challenges and activities.”

Business supporters and community volunteers have been thanked for their support of the event.