Carmel School Year 6 students shine at Synergy Schools Solar Challenge

CARMEL School Year 6 students have a bright future in science after winning the inaugural Synergy Schools Solar Challenge Grand Final this month.

The challenge is a joint initiative between the Science Teachers Association of WA (STAWA) and Synergy that enabled teams of four students from Year 6 and Year 8 classes to build and race solar-powered kit cars against other schools.

Carmel School hosted one of the semi-finals in March, and then went on to win the grand final held on a 20m track at Kings Park on April 4.

Year 6 Carmel School student Joshua Fuhr said his team were amazed they won the competition.

“It was such a great competition and we loved the experience; we all worked together as a team to get a great result,” he said.

Dianella Secondary College also competed in the grand final.

STAWA president Glenda Leslie said the response to the competition was “overwhelming”.

“At a time when there’s a declining interest from students to continue studying science in senior secondary school, we are extremely excited about the positive feedback we have received from both teachers and students alike,” she said.

More than 500 students from around 60 schools competed in four semi-finals last month.