Our new STEAM Ambassadors STEAM Ambassadors Shivanah Shetty, Lucy Martin, Phoebe Henning, Anne Leven-Marcon, Sarah Low, Ruby Wiese, Novita Carolina, Sofia Bekir Fuente.
Congratulations to our new Science Technology Engineering Arts Maths (STEAM) Ambassadors. Selected from Year 10 and 11, these girls are the first to take on the exciting role. Their responsibilities include co-ordinating and promoting STEAM events, representing the views of the student body, celebrating successes and raising awareness of the importance of STEAM-related skills. One of their first tasks in August was to welcome students from across Perth to an informative presentation by renowned Associate Professor Allison Imrie, Senior Research Fellow at the Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Western Australia. Her thought-provoking discussion about the Zika virus, its origins and the future of research into this infectious virus captivated the audience.
Leaving young students on a high note
Our STEAM Ambassadors Phoebe Henning (Year 10) and Sarah Low (Year 10) also went to the Women in Mining WA (WIMWA) Summit, as guests of Old Scholar Sabina Shugg (’84). STEAM blends the application of science, technologies, engineering, arts and mathematics skills, drawing connections between students’ learning and the realworld. STEAM projects and events aim to equip students with critical thinking, communication, and problem solving skills necessary for future success in a wide range of employment sectors. This is particularly important as around 75% of the fastest growing occupations now require STEAM skills and knowledge. Opera isn’t just soaring voices for the older generation, as proven by WA Opera and its fun incursion at the Junior School. There were lots of giggles and enthralled eyes as opera singers Richard Symons and Emma Pettemerides, who also teaches voice at St Hilda’s, flounced their way up and down the makeshift stage to the piano music of renowned Perth musician Jangoo Chapkhana. Premiering at St Hilda’s, the Opera in Education incursion allowed the students to get a behind-the-scenes look of what it’s like to be an opera singer including their day-to-day activities and personal journeys. “The students don’t have preconceptions about what opera is, so they don’t come in judging. They come in with an open mind,” Ms Pettemerides said.
St Hilda’s voice teacher and WA Opera singer Emma Pettemerides entertained St Hilda’s Junior School students with an interactive singing activity.
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St Hilda’s Ammonite
“You have to work really hard to connect and it can’t just be about the voice – it has to be connecting with people. They respond really well to it, and they love it!”