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Katamatite cool coders take out gold at STEM challenge

By Owen Sinclair

Dec 3, 2024

Joey Ryan, Year 5, Ruby Noonan, Year 6, Evelyn Hamson, Year 5, and Anika Vandermeer, Year 4. Photo: Scott Marsden. Photo by Contributed

A ‘byte-sized’ handful of Katamatite students have taken out the top gong at a national STEM competition held in Maryborough.

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Students with teaching staff travelled from far and wide to seize the opportunity to engage with problem-solving tasks found in STEM industries at the event held on Friday, November 22.

Students participated in the challenge by coding spherical robots to complete several complex tasks. In the end, students from Katamatite Primary School took home first and second place - thus earning themselves the name of the top Sphero coders in Australia among primary school-aged competitors.

The students were excited to come away with their top places. Photo: Scott Marsden. Photo by Contributed

Visiting staff from Stem It Up Sports, including Dallas College lecturer Dr Tonjia Grimble, were on site to offer their expertise and encouragement to the young competitors.

“The talent displayed here today is phenomenal,” Dr Grimble said during the event.

“Katamatite students have set a new benchmark for what primary-aged students can achieve in coding.”

The Australian Sphero Global Challenge was held as part of the Energy Breakthrough program around the globe.

Katamatite Primary School principal Jason Whiteley said he was rapt with his students’ efforts.

“This achievement highlights the incredible talent of our students and the dedication of our teachers to providing engaging, hands-on STEM opportunities,” he said.

“To be named Australia’s best is a testament to their hard work and innovation.”