It’s not just about girl power at Maitland Grossmann High School, they’re also about electric power.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Students from Maitland Grossmann came second in the Hunter Electric Vehicle School Prize at Cameron Park on Sunday.
Maitland Grossmann entered two teams from their Science, Technology, English, Maths elective class with the girls team finishing second overall, while the boys led their race before a battery problem forced them to retire.
The Maitland Grossmann teams used modified pushbikes with electric batteries to enter the competition with the vehicles able to reach 60km/h.
Teacher Jane Rose said the challenge, while educational, also had positive outcomes for the environment.
“Electric bikes are a way of people reducing their carbon emissions,” Mrs Rose said.
“They are a viable alternative for other modes of transport.
“This is the first year we’ve participated and also the first year our STEM class has come right the way through.
“The competition fitted so well with the STEM values and what we were trying to achieve with the kids.”
Mrs Rose said the gender challenge between the class helped bring out the best in the students.
“Our girls won the Eco-Geek prize and were the only whole girls team entered,” she said.
“Originally we were just going to make one bike and enter it for the class but with the interest and engagement we had from the kids we realised the best way to do it was boys against girls and make two.
“There was some excellent, healthy competition and I think the kids really enjoyed it.”
The Hunter Valley Electric Vehicle Festival is held each year through the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment at the University of Newcastle.
The Cameron Park race day is held in conjunction with the Hunter Valley Electric Vehicle Festival, with the Electric Vehicle Show to be held at Newcastle Foreshore on October 27.