Introduction

We are the STEM Leaders of St Damian’s and our name stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Our job is to help students learn the theories behind Science. We accomplish this by assisting at Science Club, helping the Science department out at opening evenings and organizing extra curricular trips for pupils.

We wanted to become STEM leaders because it is a fun and interesting way of learning science. Also, it would really benefit students in their GCSE’s, especially if they choose to take Separate Sciences. So not only does it help your future, it also looks very impressive on your application form if you want to become a prefect or head boy/girl!

 

Tameside STEM challenge Day

Separate Science students to participated in the ‘Tameside STEM challenge Day’ at Fairfield High school. Students were divided into two teams of four and I am proud to say that our two teams were awarded 1st and 3rd place! All pupils were a credit to the school but most impressively they used their Scientific, Numerical and Problem solving skills to solve the ‘Murder Mystery’.

1st place winners: Millie Hepplestone, Jaime Lowe, Anneliese McKay and Hannah Roche.

3rd place: Josef Crompton, Jessica Finnan, , Daniel Howard and Gerald Herman

The STEM leader said that our students ‘Stood out from the start of the competition!’

 

Wonderdome                                                                                              

Our school was visited by the excellent Wonderdome. It attracted many many members of our science club and also the STEM leaders. The Wonderdome was an immersive 360 degree theatre film in a portable planetarium. With a 360 degree, high tech camera system, special effects and interactive technology style they took us on a incredible journey through the stars and plants. “It was great! I genuinely felt like I was flying through the stars” - A member of the science club. We learned lots of  new things about space and the solar system and it was an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, we would love to get the Wonderdome back into school for more pupils  to experience it.                                    

By Mia Corcoran, Mehak Shahid and Gerald Herman    

                 

Cool Geek Club

Every Friday the science department hosts a fantastic and informative club called the Cool Geeks Club (CGC). It gives the pupils a great opportunity to learn more about science. After science club, Cleyean Suarez, a member of the CGC was interviewed, he said “The experience watching this documentary was certainly a memorable one, learning about our solar system was incredibly interesting and I would recommend it to anyone else interested in astronomy.” We interviewed several others and they shared similar opinions. Mrs Baynham says that everyone is welcome. We are watching the wonders of the universe by Brian Cox where the members of the CGC found out more about the outer space.

By Wiktor Weiher

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Astronomical Society Trip

On the astronomy trip we travelled by a mini bus to get to our destination which was the Manchester university. The trip was organized to give the pupils an opportunity of meeting the members of the astronomical society (which is more than a hundred years old). Then we set off to the University where we would go into the observatory. Only seven students were allowed to enter the observatory at a time and whilst some went into the observatory others waited and learned about astronomy. For example, we learned about the moon and why it has so many craters in it and how the lunar eclipse happens. Inside the observatory we learned about how the telescope works. It uses a 7” refractor to be able to view the outer space, the moon and other planets in great details. Afterwards, we went to the John Dalton building to attend a lecture by a scientist about Astronomy and geologycrashed into earth causing mass to be ejected and eventually form the moon and also how the precious metals got to where they are now.

By Avin Sunny and Joel Joseph

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Open Evening!

At Open Evenings STEM leaders showed Year 6 pupils and their parents how to make comets! People said they really enjoyed watching the practical and learning about how comets are formed. Comets are big chunks of rock and ice that release gas and dust as they orbit the sun. STEM leaders used dry ice to make copies of the comets, this can be as cold as –80 degrees celcius!   

By Jaime Lowe

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Science Club!

Every Wednesday lunchtime in Dr Voke’s room there is science club. Anyone in years 7 or 8 can go. It isn't any work, its just doing fun experiments! If you want to go, put your name on the sign up sheet on Dr Voke’s door and all you have to do is turn up at 2 o’clock during lunchtime. You can come once or come every week, it’s up to you! There will also be special events, such as the Wonderdome which came to school. At science club, there will always be two or three of us STEM leaders joining in and taking part! So far this year, we have; set fire to our hands, made paper clips float on water and have a visit to the Wonderdome, we have even made comets from dry ice! We would love to see more of you there, make sure you come and have some fun!

By Daniel Howard and Connor Houghton