Powering the Future of Science Learning with the Parent Levy Fund
Sometimes the best learning happens when students get their hands dirty. Or, in this case, keep them clean but still grow a garden.
Thanks to the generosity of our parents through the Parent Levy Fund, students have been getting stuck into science in two exciting new ways. The first is with a high-tech Airgarden. The second is with Vernier sensors that make biology lessons come alive
Gardening… but Make It High-Tech
The Eco Sisters have been busy trying out the Airgarden, which grows plants without soil. Instead, it uses nutrient-rich water and sunshine to turn tiny seeds into lush greens.
It is fascinating to watch. It is even more exciting to grow food and plant specimens right here at school, no digging required!
Beyond the plants, the Airgarden has sparked conversations about how we grow food, save water, reduce waste, and care for our planet.
Head of Science, Ailsa Harris, put it, “The Airgarden offers a unique, immersive learning experience, integrating lessons in STEM.”
This means students are not just learning about sustainability in theory; they are experiencing it first-hand, in a project that blends science, innovation, and environmental care.
Seeing Science Happen in Real Time
Over in the Science labs, things are just as exciting. Our new Vernier sensors let students measure nerve impulses, heart rates, and even EKG waveforms.
Imagine clenching your fist and then seeing your muscle activity appear on a screen. That’s the sort of wow moment our students are having.
These sensors are already a game-changer for our Years 10 – 12 Human Biology and Year 11 ATAR Biological Psychology classes. Instead of reading about how the nervous system works, students can see it in action.
Year 11 students Isabella and Maya shared, “It was really interesting to see the action potential represented in graphical form. It allowed us to better understand with a visual representation of neural transmission.”
More Than Just Cool Gadgets
While the Airgarden and Vernier sensors are fun to use, they are also building important skills.
Students are problem-solving. They are thinking critically. They are learning to use the kind of technology they might see in a lab or workplace one day.
And those skills will stick with them long after the plants are harvested and the data is collected.
A Big Thank You
This support from parents is giving our students the chance to explore science in ways that are hands-on, exciting, and truly memorable.
From growing fresh produce without soil to tracking the heartbeat of human biology, these tools are opening minds, sparking curiosity, and inspiring a new generation of innovators.
- Airgarden, Featured, HandsOnLearning, ParentLevyFund, ScienceLearning, STEMEducation, StudentInnovation, VernierSensors
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
