Robotics & STEM Club
Robotics & STEM Club for Years 5–9 meets Tuesdays 3:30–4:45pm in the STEM Lab, builds with LEGO Spike Prime, Arduino and micro:bit, and competes at RoboCup Junior Victoria on Saturday 12 September 2026.
Robotics & STEM Club brings together Junior and Senior students from Years 5 to 9 to design, build and program robots — and then put them to the test against other schools at RoboCup Junior Victoria. Led by our STEM Coordinator Mr Anthony Grech, the club is a rare space where a Year 5 and a Year 9 work on the same team, and it is one of the main pathways into VCE Systems Engineering and Applied Computing.
When and where
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Day | Tuesday |
| Time | 3:30–4:45pm |
| Venue | STEM Lab, Room S3 (Senior Science wing) |
| Years | 5–9 |
| Teacher | Mr Anthony Grech, with Year 11 Systems Engineering student mentors |
| Cost | $40 per year materials levy, billed to the family fee account |
| Capacity | 36 students (waiting list operates) |
Year 5 and 6 members are walked from the Junior School to the STEM Lab by a mentor at 3:20pm and must be collected from the STEM Lab at 4:45pm via the Senior Gate. Uncollected Junior students are taken to After School Care at 5:00pm and a casual session charged — see OSHC.
What we build with
- LEGO Spike Prime and EV3 — the entry point for Years 5–7 and the platform for our Rescue Line teams.
- Arduino — sensors, motors and C++ for Years 8–9 building custom robots.
- micro:bit — quick wearable and data-logging projects.
- 3D printers (two Prusa MK4) and a laser cutter in the STEM Lab for custom parts, under staff supervision.
- All equipment stays at school; students only need a USB stick or their BYOD laptop (Years 7–9).
2026 term program
| Term | Focus |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | Skills bootcamp: sensors, line following, block and Python coding |
| Term 2 | Team formation; Rescue Line, OnStage and Soccer builds begin |
| Term 3 | RoboCup preparation; practice runs against the clock; Saturday 12 September 2026 state event |
| Term 4 | Open projects: Arduino weather station, micro:bit wearables, showcase at Junior assembly Friday 27 November 2026 |
RoboCup Junior Victoria — Saturday 12 September 2026
RoboCup Junior Victoria is the state robotics competition for school students, held this year in Bundoora, running from 8:00am to 5:00pm. St Mary's is entering four teams:
| Division | Teams | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Rescue Line | 2 teams | 8 (Years 5–8) |
| OnStage | 1 team | 5 (Years 6–9) |
| Soccer Lightweight | 1 team | 4 (Years 8–9) |
- Arrival: teams meet Mr Grech at the venue at 7:45am for registration and robot check-in. Parents drive their own child and are welcome to stay and watch all day.
- Permission and consent: the excursion form is on the Parent Portal now and closes Friday 4 September 2026. There is no additional cost; entry fees are covered by the College.
- Dress: College sport uniform with the club's navy RoboCup t-shirt (provided).
- Bring: packed lunch and snacks (nut-free), drink bottle, laptop and charger, robot in its labelled tub, spare batteries.
- Results and photos will be shared in the newsletter on Monday 5 October 2026.
Our Rescue Line team placed 4th in Victoria in 2025, and this is the first year we have entered Soccer.
Joining
Sign up via Parent Portal > Forms > "Co-curricular Clubs" or speak to Mr Grech. Places for Term 4 2026 and Term 1 2027 will be confirmed in the newsletter on Monday 5 October 2026. No coding experience is needed — the Term 1 bootcamp is designed for complete beginners, and about half our members join in Year 5. Year 4 students interested in joining next year are welcome to attend a taster session on Tuesday 24 November 2026.
Related: Clubs & Activities, Laptop Program (BYOD), Curriculum Years 7–10.