It’s almost time to celebrate STEM Fest 2026 at Woodend Primary School!
From Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, STEM Fest will invite our students and community to GROW.
Connecting with the 2026 National Science Week theme, ‘Seeds of Science’, this year’s theme encourages us to think about all the ways we can grow as we celebrate curiosity, creativity, problem-solving and the exciting journey of learning, designing and becoming.
What is STEM?
STEM education helps children become curious, capable learners who can think deeply, solve problems and better understand the world around them.
Through learning experiences that connect Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics to real-world problems, STEM encourages children to think critically and explore how the world works. It also helps children develop important qualities such as creativity, persistence, empathy and collaboration.
At Woodend Primary School, STEM learning and design thinking give students opportunities to explore ideas, ask questions, work with others and respond to real-world challenges.
As we implement the new South Australian Curriculum, STEM provides a meaningful way for children to build the dispositions, skills and knowledge they need to become confident, capable and engaged learners who can contribute positively to their community and the wider world.
Family Design Challenge
Get creative with your family over the holidays
Families are invited to take part in our 2026 GROW Family Design Challenge.
This year’s theme offers endless possibilities! We encourage families to work together to design, create and build something that shows how you can GROW.
We can’t wait to see the wonderful creations, ideas and curious thinking that our families come up with!
All families who participate in the Family Design Challenge will go into the draw to win a Sphero mini.
Project information
Bring your project to school by:
Wednesday 14 October — Week 1, Term 4What to include:
Your child’s name
A brief description of your design
A template is available below or from the office. You may wish to complete this before bringing your project to school.
Family projects will be displayed at our STEM Fest Expo on Thursday evening and Friday.
Do you have a STEM-related interest, skill or career?
We would love to hear from our Woodend families and friends.
Parent presentations are always a highlight of STEM Fest. We are inviting parents, carers and friends of our school to share their STEM-related careers, skills or interests with classes.
You might work in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, or have a special interest or skill that you would love to share. These opportunities help our students discover the many pathways available through STEM and see how learning connects to the real world.
Interested in sharing?
Please contact your child’s teacher for more information.
STEM Fest Expo
Come and celebrate with us
Friends and family of Woodend are invited to visit our STEM Fest Expo on Thursday evening or Friday of Week 1, Term 4.
Our Expo will showcase the creativity, curiosity and problem-solving of our students, alongside the wonderful contributions of our families.
What will you see?
Visitors will be able to explore:
- Class design-thinking projects from Term 3
- Family responses to our GROW Design Challenge
- Entries from our Library Seed Challenge
- Hands-on activities and challenges
Expo times
Thursday 15 October
5:30pm–7:00pm – Expo open
Friday 16 October
8:00am–8:30am — Quiet Time
8:30am–12:30pm — Expo open
Location: Gym, Office and Atrium areas
Guests are welcome to drop in at any time during these sessions. No bookings are required.
We look forward to welcoming our Woodend community to celebrate the learning, creativity and growth of our students.