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Student STEM inventions to embrace this summer

Whether you are pondering how to stay sun and heat safe this summer, help injured wildlife, or alleviate shoulder pain, these STEM MAD National innovations of 2023 created by students at Sydney Catholic Schools have answers.

The competition asks Catholic primary and secondary school students across Australia to apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics principles and Gospel values to identify and solve a real-world problem.

Each of the projects below also draws on research, ingenuity, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to create a measurable positive impact on personal and environmental health.

The Sun Brush

The creator: Lilah Brock, Holy Family Catholic Primary School Menai

Sustainability goals: 3 – Good health and wellbeing, 13 – Climate action

Lilah’s Sun Brush is a sunscreen applicator designed to be quick and easy to use and helpful for children with sensory issues. Engineering and mathematics were strong in her work, with a prototype brush made of hard plastic and soft pony hair. 

Lilah received the Best Application of Maths in Context Award – Primary for her project which involved calculating how many millilitres of sunscreen the Sun Brush could hold.

She was also a finalist in the Best Innovation for Health Award.

Lilah said about 15,000 people get skin cancer in Australia each year, a statistic which inspired her invention.

“When I went to the beach I saw so many people sunburnt or really red,” she said.

“I thought to myself ‘why are people not wearing sunscreen?’”

“We surveyed our local community and found most people would prefer using a brush applicator for …

HSC 2022: Nine students place First in Course

Nine students from Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) have received First in Course honours in the 2022 HSC. 

In a feat that highlights SCS’s comprehensive curriculum, the nine students placed first in a diverse range of subjects and represent seven schools from across the Sydney Archdiocese. 

Marist College Kogarah student Mario Baroud placed first Mathematics Standard 2, Mary MacKillop Catholic College Wakeley student Suzi Coates placed first in Studies of Religion I, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington student Otylia Pilat placed first in English Extension 1.

Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton student Daniel Michael placed first in Investigating Science, Good Samaritan Catholic College Hinchinbrook student Katarina Chalfa placed first in Food Technology, and Marist Catholic College Penshurst student Anna-Maria Parissis placed first in Modern Greek. 

St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove student Clara Medanic placed first in Croatian Continuers, while La Salle Catholic College Bankstown students Danny Nouseir and Verica Minovska placed first in Arabic Extension and Macedonian Continuers continuers respectively. 

The nine were among the 126 students from 83 schools in the state who topped their HSC courses.  

The students were acknowledged this morning in a ceremony with Sarah Mitchell, Minister for Education and Early Learning. 

“Congratulations to our students on what is truly an impressive accomplishment,” SCS Executive Director, Tony Farley, said. 

“We hope that together with their teachers and families, they see this achievement as a just reward for their hard work and dedication throughout a testing few years.”

Mr Farley said the success of the nine students is reflective of SCS’s excellence focussed approach to learning and the efforts of the system’s teachers and educators. 

“To have nine students, from schools right across the Archdiocese take …

December 14, 2022|

Trio honoured with NSW Youth Community Service Awards

Three Sydney Catholic Schools students have been recognised for their exceptional community service in the 2022 NSW Youth Community Service Awards.

Kardina Batti, Aimee Blackmore and Neethu Siril were among 26 recipients from across NSW recognised at a ceremony at Government House on Friday, 2 September.

Recipients of the 2022 Youth Community Service Award Recipients of the 2022 Youth Community Service Award.

The students from Mary MacKillop Catholic College Wakeley, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington and Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg Heights, respectively, were presented with a trophy and certificate of commendation by The Honourable Andrew Bell, Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court.

“None of the students sought recognition for their actions, but we honour them with the highest recognition available to NSW high school students” – Order of Australia Association NSW Branch Chairman, Jim Mein AM

Gilda Pussich, Principal of Mary MacKillop Catholic College Wakeley, praised Kardina’s pure, generous nature.

“Mary MacKillop once said ‘Let us try to keep God with us by charity of thought, word and act’. Kardina, who is a caring, compassionate and selfless young woman, lives by these words,” Ms Pussich said.

A modest Kardina said: “This award isn’t only mine, it is for all of us because if my loved ones and those in need were not here, who would I have done all of this for?”

“I work on improving our community in most of my free times” – Kardina Batti

About the Award

The annual award of the Order of Australia Association (NSW) Branch is given to students across NSW who are exemplary community role models.

Principals from 1,017 secondary schools nominated one Year 11 or 12 student each for the Youth Community Service Award in …

September 7, 2022|

Revealed: HSC First in Course awards

Six students from Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) have received HSC First in Course honours in a year like no other.

Remarkably, in the Construction Examination Aquinas Catholic College Menai Year 12 graduates Oliver Wells and Brock Wilson, together with Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton’s Tony Khattar, topped the course in a three-way tie.  

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College Kensington student Diana Vlahos topped Biology, Bethany College Hurstville student Corina Choy topped Mathematics Standard 1, and Patrician Brothers’ College Fairfield student Brent Macaraeg topped Italian Beginners. 

Two SCS students who studied external courses to their school also placed first in the state: Bethany Catholic College Hurstville student Jovanka Lim in Indonesian and Literature, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington student Christina Solyom in Hungarian Continuers.

The awards place the students among NSW’s top achievers from the 76,399 students who sat one or more HSC courses this year. 

The students were today acknowledged in an online ceremony by Sarah Mitchell, Minister for Education and Early Learning. 

LEADERS OF THE PACK

It was a case of three of a kind in the Construction Examination, with Aquinas students Oliver Wells and Brock Wilson sharing first place with Clancy’s Tony Khattar.

The trio said it was an unexpected honour but one that they all worked extremely hard to achieve. 

“Receiving first in the course is a surreal feeling; it’s very fulfilling to see such a great result for the years of work” – Oliver Wells

“It’s an extremely proud achievement and being rewarded with this accolade for my hard work and commitment to my studies is very rewarding,” Brock said. 

“I can’t wait to see the opportunities and pathways this achievement may help to open.”

“The fact …

Push up challenge boosts mental health awareness

A desire to raise awareness of mental health inspired 2021 Archbishop’s Awards for Student Excellence recipient, Julia Trassari, to host a whole-school push up challenge in June 2021.

The modest goal – to do a collective 3,318 push ups in 25 days – was trumped in the first hour of the challenge at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington. 

Students and staff completed more than 20,000 push ups and raised funds for youth mental health support organisation Headspace.

“It was good not only to encourage physical activity, it also built community spirit,” Julia said. 

“Mental health is a really big topic, especially for high school students.

“I wanted to encourage a conversation about mental health, so that no person would be suffering in silence. Also, for people to realise that it affects a lot more people than we think.

“Physical activity is a great way to clear the mind.”

Julia also helped to make 150 Christmas cards to connect with and thank the school’s teachers and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, who reside at the convent next door to her college.

She has organised Christmas hampers to donate to charity and monthly St Vincent De Paul snack packs for Sydney’s homeless.

During breaks in her home-study routine, she cycles to Botany’s Pantry 4 the People, to donate food for people who rely on the service for groceries after losing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I love the feeling of giving, and the intrinsic warmth and fulfillment that comes of volunteering your time and skills,” Julia said.

“It feels good to use your strengths to support other people.”

Julia said she did not expect the award recognition or …

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