Inaugural Saint Kentigern Team Embarks on F1 in Schools Challenge

Ateam of talented Saint Kentigern students set their sights on the F1 in Schools Australian National Final held in Sydney, Australia earlier this year. With great enthusiasm and determination, current Year 13 students Oliver Long, Aimee Watson, Karya Atalag, Isaac Lindroos, Lachlan Wallace, and Josh Evangelidakis, otherwise known as ‘Kiwiono’, took up the challenge to be the first-ever Saint Kentigern team in this competition.

F1 in Schools combines science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, challenging students to design and develop a miniature Formula One team. Overcoming the hurdles presented by limited resources and machinery in New Zealand, the team worked tirelessly for months beginning in October 2022 to create a project they could be proud of.

The competition included several aspects starting with a trade display, which acted as the team’s home base and showcased their project to judges, guests, and other competing teams. Scrutineering followed, where each team’s car underwent rigorous examination to ensure compliance with strict regulations. Despite encountering minor time penalties, their vehicle was ultimately cleared for racing. ‘Kiwiono’s’ car showcased impressive raw pace and acceleration during drag racing. Withstanding some damage, their vehicle fell just shy of a top-ten position. Racing also included a reaction-time competition. With her sharp reflexes, Karya Atalag was chosen to push the trigger as the lights went out.

Overall, Kiwiono secured seventeenth at the competition. This performance earned them an invitation to represent New Zealand at the F1 in Schools World Finals in Singapore. Although unable to attend, they continue to contribute to the programme by providing mentoring and support to two junior teams who will compete next year.

Following their successes, Dr Michael Myers from the Re-Engineering Australia (REA) Foundation visited Saint Kentigern to discuss establishing a New Zealand branch of F1 in Schools. This collaboration aims to inspire students across the country to engage in STEM education within the thrilling world of motorsport.

Story by Aimee Watson

Robotics Season ‘Spin Up’ Success

With the rise in artificial intelligence, there’s no doubt that once-cute, lovable robot WALL-E has become more than a fictional character living in the cinematic world. Though we may not see the earth becoming a habitation for robots anytime soon, we can see that robotics, technology, and AI are becoming ingrained in the fabric of our society.

College Year 9 students Vincent Cheng and James Wang recently showcased their robotics prowess at the 2022/23 VEX VRC World Championships in the United States. Vincent’s team, Rubixcoders, represented New Zealand and achieved remarkable success, winning nine qualification rounds and securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Although they narrowly lost in a close match, they claimed an impressive fifth place globally. James also competed in the VEX IQ competition, demonstrating his skills in a different league.

This season, teams were tasked with the game ‘Spin Up’, a head-to-head played by two Alliances made up of two teams each. The aim? Gain as many points as possible in the allotted time by launching foam discs at various goals and completing predetermined bonus-points tasks. After working through the summer perfecting their code, practising manoeuvres and studying up on the other teams, the Rubixcoders team packed up their creation and headed to Dallas to compete. Vincent and James’ dedication to their passion is inspiring. We watch this upcoming season with anticipation, cheering them on to bring home the gold for New Zealand.