STEM Excellence

Bogangar Public School is one of seven partner schools in the Coastal Academy of STEM Excellence, a dedicated STEM program connected with Kingscliff High School, backed by partnerships with Southern Cross University, Griffith University, Tweed Shire Council, and TAFE NSW.

Our CASE teacher, Mrs Liz Edwards, coordinates hands-on STEM learning across the Coastal Learning Community. Mrs Edwards is a dedicated Stage 2 classroom teacher at Bogangar with a passion for visual literacy, robotics, Makerspace and inquiry-driven learning.

What CASE looks like at Bogangar Public School

Academy-wide STEM learning cycle:

• All seven partner schools work through a shared two-year STEM curriculum, with students presenting projects in competitive events including the Eye on the Future Challenge (renewable energy), Maker Fair (sustainable materials), One Earth One Future Challenge (local sustainability), and STEM Mini Olympiad

Marine science and conservation:

• students collect water and microplastic samples as part of a citizen science program, sending data to AUSMAP and NSW Waterwatch. On a school sitting 200 metres from the beach, marine biology isn't a textbook subject, it's out our front door.

STEM Excellence Program:

• selected Year 6 students attend regular sessions in the Kingscliff High School Makerspace, mentored by older students. This gives primary students real experience in a high school learning environment before they transition.

Girls in STEM:

• annual workshops for 60 girls through the Academy for Enterprising Girls. In 2025, CASE launched the First Nations Girls in STEM program, connecting young women to culture, community and Country through STEM.

Entrepreneurship:

• in 2024, 180 Stage 2 students created a real trading business for a social cause through Social Enterprise Schools, in partnership with Young Change Agents and Tweed Shire Council.

Game Changers Challenge:

• the Game Changer Challenge is the department’s award-winning design thinking competition.
  Open to public schools across the state the challenge centres on discovering solutions for a real-world, wicked problem by applying classroom learning.
  Learn more about this years Game Changers Challenge here

How CASE impacts our students:

CASE connects to our Inspire HPGE (High Potential Gifted Education) program, which includes:

• Maths Den
• Olympiads
• Film by the Sea
• Statewide trivia competitions
• debating
• Game changer challenge
• and virtual STEM experiences.

This program gives Bogangar students a K-12 STEM pathway, from Kindergarten through to Kingscliff High School and beyond, backed by university and industry partnerships

Help for your high potential child

If your child shows signs of high potential, contact us. We can share how our HPGE support can guide their learning journey.

Contact us