Comet Bay College’s new STEM Academy will commence next year, offering Year 7 and 8 students with curious minds an opportunity to develop their aptitude, interest and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Associate Principal and STEM Academy coordinator Phil Casas said the carefully crafted program focuses on teaching real-world skills needed for an ever-changing jobs landscape.
“STEM skills are 21st Century skills – we’re teaching students problem-solving, creativity, critical analysis, teamwork, independent thinking, initiative, communication and digital literacy, and they are the essential requirements for employment,” Mr Casas said.
“Comet Bay College is a STEM Teacher Development School, a STEM Mentor school and a STEM HUB for the training of pre-service teachers. We have spent many years building a culture of STEM skills and cross-curricular Project Based Learning activities and, now, the STEM Academy allows us to provide specific and specialised pathways for students with a real interest in and aptitude for STEM subjects.”
Students in the STEM Academy will benefit from four periods of tailored STEM activities each week, which complement their MESH (Mathematics, English, Science and Humanities) studies.
The College has received strong interest in the program, which will be extended to include upper year groups in future years.