On 15 Sept, four teams of our Year 7 and 8 students represented Rehoboth at the State Young ICT Explorer Competition, one of the most prestigious Digital Technology competitions in Australia. It is not only a blessed day in which the teachers, parents and students all worked together as a great team, but we also walked away with 2nd and 3rd placings and merit awards.
This is the day of the year that many primary and secondary schools across Western Australia will come together to showcase their best STEM/Digital Technology projects in a massive exhibition held at Edith Cowan University. The teams were also assessed by a panel of judges from the industry and Edith Cowan to acknowledge the top teams among the various age groups.
Months before the competition, our students had been faithfully meeting together to improve their apps in preparation for this event. Some spent their holidays writing up proposals for the competition. Right up to the night before, some students even stayed up late to make posters, trying to do anything possible to give their best shot in this event.
On the day, we travelled to ECU early in the morning, bringing with us boxes of equipment and props and accompanied by an overwhelming number of supporting parents. The set up was incredibly efficient with everyone helping one another like a highly organised team. The accomplished exhibition booths looked impressively professional with black table cloth (thanks to our Home Economic department), high-quality posters and captivating props that enhanced the overall presentation. Soon after the opening ceremony, we were greeted by the judges who asked many challenging questions. Nevertheless, our students responded beautifully with confidence and professionalism. What impressed the judges most was their passion for the needy that had been driving the app creation process. The Scriptures say, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). This verse perfectly captured the experience of our students in this event. After months of hard work, persistence and sacrifice of time, working for a noble cause, our student teams were awarded with the fruits of their labour.
The team made up of Georgia Strickling, Mikayla Chiu and Hannah Weber had worked on an app that aims to improve the mental health of the elderly, which they called “Strength of the Mind”. They received the 2nd placing award. Another team made up of Ben Witcombe and Nathan Budiman worked on a storytelling app for the young called “Snoring with Stories”. They also received the 3rd placing award. Goziem Nnadigwe’s “Lit Clothing” app aimed to reduce time for picking appropriate dress and also received the Merit award for the his age category. The overwhelming support of parents was also another highlight of the day. This day would not have run so smoothly without them. Our lovely parents had been so helpful in looking after the students, buying water and snacks for them, supporting the teachers with supervision and even buying coffee for one another when we needed a boost. This is a living testimony of the Rehoboth community spirit working in partnership. Indeed, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). At the closing of the day, we were exhausted but full of joy and gratitude to God for such a blessed day. We gathered back at the exhibition hall and finished the day off with corporate prayer, thanking God for seeing us through in every aspect of this event and encouraging us with the achievements.
“I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses” (Isaiah 63:7).
