Finals week: Northland students up for the STEM challenge
Seventeen Northland school teams will compete for the top honours in the Northpower EPro8 STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) competition this week.
Last week, 77 teams from 26 Northland schools competed in seven EPro8 heats at Dargaville and Whanga¯rei Intermediate schools.
And the teams chosen from those two heats will compete in the finals at Whanga¯ rei Intermediate tomorrow and Thursday.
They will compete across two events with the Year 7-8 final on first and the Year 5-6 on Thursday.
In the Year 7-8 final, eight schools will compete for the title – Arapohue School, Dargaville Intermediate,
Kamo Intermediate, Maungakaramea School, Ngunguru School, Parua Bay School, Tautoro School and
Whanga¯rei Intermediate.
The Year 5-6 final will see nine schools vying for champion status –
Arapohue School, Hurupaki School, Ngunguru School, Onerahi Primary, Parua Bay School, Ruawai School, St Francis Xavier Catholic School, Tautoro School and Waipu¯ School.
EPro8’s Andrew Thiele was looking forward to the 2021 finals.
“I have been really impressed with the quality of the teams and how well they have done considering we are right at the start of the year.
“I am also really impressed with the level of support from parents and teachers and I wish all of our finalists luck. I also want to give credit to those teams who missed out on the finals because there was very little between them.”
While not letting any secrets out,
Thiele said the timing of the challenges for the grand final was very interesting given the interest in the America’s Cup.
“Let’s just say it has a nautical theme.”
Northpower Network general manager Josie Boyd urged finalists to have fun during the week.
“Teamwork is the key but win or lose, to have made the finals is a significant achievement. It is certainly pleasing to be sponsoring the 2021 Northpower EPro8 challenge because it has a significant impact on the students. It is clear how much they enjoy the challenge and to have had well over 250 students take part in 2021 is really pleasing,” she said.