This spring, students at St. Mother Teresa High School have been lighting up the world of STEM through creativity, innovation, and collaboration. From building wind turbines out of recycled materials to leading coding workshops for younger students, students take what they learn in the classroom and turn it into real-world impact.
Through two exciting initiatives their participation in the Ontario Skills Competition and a collaborative coding workshop at St. Patrick's Elementary School students put Deep Learning into action, demonstrating the power of problem-solving, leadership, and hands-on exploration.
Real-World Learning at the Ontario Skills Competition
To kick off Catholic Education Week, Grade 7 science students travelled to Toronto to compete in the Ontario Skills Competition, a province-wide event showcasing student talent across various skilled trades and technologies.
"This was an incredible opportunity for students to take what they've learned in the classroom and apply it in a real-world setting," said teacher Alyssa Kelly, who accompanied the students. "They competed in both the Character Animation and Green Energy categories, and it was amazing to watch them problem-solve and work together under pressure."
In the Character Animation category, teams of four created one to five-minute animations using WeVideo, choosing a skilled trade as their focus. "They had to use a mix of storytelling, creativity, and technical skills," Alyssa explained. It was a perfect blend of digital competency and collaboration."
Meanwhile, students in the Green Energy challenge engineered wind turbines using recycled materials. "They applied their knowledge of renewable energy to create functional, eco-conscious designs," Alyssa said. "It was hands-on, innovative, and deeply aligned with our curriculum."
Beyond the competition itself, the experience left a lasting impression. "One of the highlights was simply being part of a larger community of learners," Alyssa reflected. Competing with other school boards and travelling to Toronto gave students a sense of pride and motivation that you just can't replicate in a classroom."
Coding, Connection, and Leadership
Later in the month, Grade 7 and 8 students from St. Mother Teresa brought their STEM knowledge to a new audience visiting St. Patrick's Elementary School to lead a hands-on day of coding and robotics exploration for younger learners.
"The students were thrilled to use and experiment with all the technology," Alyssa said. "The Spheros (small, programmable robotic balls that help students learn the basics of coding in a fun, hands-on way) were a big hit. Seeing our students take on leadership roles was rewarding, facilitating each center and guiding the younger kids through their learning."
This day wasn't without its challenges, but they became growth opportunities. During the session, a school-wide power outage disrupted the activities. However, the students adapted quickly, using hands-on demonstrations to keep the stations running smoothly. Their ability to remain calm and resourceful under pressure was a strong example of real-world adaptability.
The most meaningful outcome was the students' leadership and mentorship throughout the day. They adjusted their teaching styles to suit different age groups, supported their peers, and inspired curiosity in younger learners. Their actions reflected a deep sense of citizenship and exemplified the values of Deep Learning in practice.
STEM and Deep Learning: Building Skills for Life
These two experiences one in competition, the other in collaboration reflect the OCSB's commitment to Deep Learning. Through opportunities like these, students aren't just gaining knowledge they're developing global competencies like communication, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, character, and citizenship.
At St. Mother Teresa, the future looks bright. Students show what happens when curiosity meets courage and when learning is rooted not just in theory, but in purpose, innovation, and care for others.
Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate how STEM shapes tomorrow's leaders, thinkers, and problem-solvers. #ocsbSTEM #ocsbDeepLearning
