Igniting Innovation at St Finbarr’s Primary School, Byron Bay

A dynamic day of hands-on learning and collaboration, St Finbarr’s Primary School, Byron Bay, STEM Day brought together students from 10 primary schools to explore innovation, technology, and community through real-world challenges and creative problem-solving. (26 June 2025)

A spark of innovation lit up St Finbarr’s Primary School, Byron Bay, as it hosted HPL STEM Day, welcoming students from 10 Diocesean primary schools for a day of hands-on, collaborative learning. The event celebrated STEM through the lens of the 6Cs of Deep Learning: character, citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.

From the outset, students were filled with energy and excitement as they formed new friendships and tackled real-world challenges. Working in mixed-school groups, they explored emerging technologies including LEGO Spike, Dash & Go, and Sphero Bolt, applying creativity and critical thinking throughout the day.

Activities included building the tallest paper tower, with a twist. The tower had to hold a heavy weight without collapsing, encouraging innovation, design thinking, and teamwork. 

Later, students were presented with a medical rescue scenario. Acting as engineers, they designed robots and trailers to deliver supplies to an isolated village, navigating obstacles and testing their coding and problem-solving skills.

‘The STEM Day at St Finbarr’s was more than just a fun event—it was an opportunity for students to develop essential skills for the future,’ said Tony Davis, Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching, St Joseph’s Primary School, South Murwillumbah.

‘I can't stop thinking about our STEM Day… we got to do so many fun activities with the new friends we made,’ said Year 5 student Isla, Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head.

More than just STEM, the day built a strong sense of community, creating a network of young learners ready to innovate, collaborate, and inspire.