Parents supporting Student Innovation and Exploration at CCW

Recently, the College’s Parents and Friends Association generously supported the Arts and Technology Department by purchasing a VEX IQ Class Robotics Kit. This cutting-edge resource empowers students to tackle complex engineering challenges by building robots in unique configurations and coding them to respond intelligently to their environment.

The kits will be integrated into Middle School STEM and Digital Technology classes, as well as Senior School Information Technology classes. This term, Year Ten students are focusing on coding robots to identify, collect, and sort objects using increasingly sophisticated algorithms. Next term, our Year Eight Digital Technology students will begin using the kits, with plans to expand their use further in the coming year.

Cathedral College Wangaratta teacher Ross Baker explains, “The robotics kits can be coded using Scratch-style block coding, Python, or C++, depending on the user's experience and competence. While AI is increasingly used in industry to assist with coding and debugging, a foundational understanding of computational thinking and coding languages remains essential for future careers.”

Thanks to successful fundraising initiatives, the Parents and Friends Association was able to support this project along with other staff-led programs. The Association plays a vital role in enhancing student experiences through various social and fundraising events held throughout the year.

Member Louise Carmichael shared, “We are thrilled to support the purchase of the VEX IQ Education Bundle for our school. We are committed to promoting enriching educational opportunities for our students. Our financial contribution reflects our dedication to advancing hands-on STEM learning and robotics exploration. We look forward to seeing our students thrive as they develop essential skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork through this exciting new resource.”

With the support of our community, the College continues to foster innovation and inspire the next generation of thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers.