Teams of primary school students from across Victoria have been busily fundraising, creating their pushcarts and preparing their fitness levels for the Energy Breakthrough. Here’s our end of Term 3 Round-up from a selection of the schools: Avoca PS, Great Western PS, Rangebank, Sebastapol PS, St Catherine’s Lalor, St Pats Ballarat and St Joseph’s Rochester. We invited each of them to share what they’ve been up to, what is unique about their pushcart and what they are aiming for.
Avoca Primary School
What have the students been up to?
The Avoca PS students have been training for over nine weeks using past pushcarts for obstacle and sprint training at the Avoca Public park.
Tell us about the design and construction of your Pushcart …
We are currently working with two local engineers on an advanced steering system very different to other years to hopefully give us a winning edge.
What will success look like?
We are aiming to see students engaged in all aspects of the Energy Breakthrough experience and finishing the event with fantastic team work and leadership skills.”
– Jacinta D, Team Manager
Great Western PS
What have the students been up to?
Great Western PS students have written letters seeking sponsorship from local businesses, researched about the purpose of the Energy Breakthrough and looked at similarities between the Pushcart challenge and other sports, particularly Le Tour de France!
In preparation for the events students have been participating in Bike Ed lessons (sometimes riding 10km through the local bush), as well as practising the different events around the school grounds. This year some of our sponsors are even building a pushcart track around the school oval!
Tell us about the design and construction of your Pushcart …
Students have been involved in the building of the pushcart this year. They have measured and cut the steel for the frame and are preparing the paint. The pushcart is made of mostly recycled materials including off cuts of steel from a local business.
What will success look like?
The students are hoping to achieve similar, or better, results to last year in each of the events.
~ Kerri-Ann, Team Manager
Rangebank Primary School
What have the students been up to?
We have two teams this year who have been training twice a week to get ready for the challenges. We have also held a movie night to raise funds.
Tell us about the design and construction of your Pushcart …
Students have designed two new pushcarts (see above for photo of the students sketching their designs) and the pushcarts are in the process of being built.
What will success look like?
This year we are looking to improve our times, especially for the endurance event.
~ Debra, Team Manager
Sebastapol Primary School
What have the students been up to?
Students have been training weekly to prepare. We have organised our uniforms and had logos designed by Graphic Design students at our local University. We have been working hard to improve our driver change over times, too.
Tell us about the design and construction of your Pushcart …
We have incorporated a large amount of recycled materials in our pushcarts where possible. We love sourcing materials from garage sales and markets.
What will success look like?
Smiling students who can’t wait to share how much they enjoyed the event with their peers and families.
~ Grant Smith, Team Manager
St Catherines, Lalor
What have the students been up to?
We have been learning about the science of motion and force. We have also been running around the school every morning to build our endurance and doing fitness sessions to build up our VO2 Max levels.
Tell us about the design and construction of your Pushcart …
This year we focused on taking off at least 5 kilograms off the weight from the cart. This is because we realised that the cart was too heavy which made it harder for our team to push the cart at great speeds. Our main goal this year is to also use thinner wheels as it will decrease the rolling resistance which in turn will make it easier for us to run in the race without struggling as much as last year.
What will success look like at the end of the event?
Our one goal at the end of the event is to learn more about the science of pushcarts and to have a great time together at the event.
~ Students of St Catherine’s
St Pats (Drummond St), Ballarat
What have the students been up to?
We have been learning about sustainability and are working towards making our 2018 EB campaign waste free. We want to train, compete and camp without leaving a footprint on the environment.
We have been watching the war on waste and taking on many ideas to help live a more waste free life. No single/short term use plastics will be allowed at our camp and our team will all be drinking tap water at the event. We will also be correctly recycling or reusing any food packaging and scraps.
Tell us about the design and construction of your Pushcart …
We have an old cart that we have made improvements on and we have also built a new cart. It’s been a really exciting time getting ready for the event and we can’t wait until Maryborough!
~ Students of St Pats Drummo
St Joseph’s Rochester
What have the students been up to?
We have been training every Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtime, we have given up all our time for this great experience! Our team name is Rochy Remembers: 1918 to 2018.
We have also been doing a tribute for our main mechanic, Rochester legend Ronnie Williams, who is over 80 years old, this is the tribute:
Ronnie Williams was a jet and a big idol to us.
He came every week, teaching us kart racing which was a plus.
He made shy people talk!
For a bit, he lost the ability to walk.
He got a wheelchair instead and even had a race.
He kinda ended up on his face.
It was pretty funny and they all had a blast.
When taught by him, the cart went fast!
Most our comps we won.
The most important thing, we had fun!
Everyone enjoys Energy Breakthrough.
Especially with the year 6 crew.
This year should be amazing!
He really deserves this praising.
This year we knew,
The fun we have will be because of you!
~ Poem by Charlie Langdon, Student
Tell us about the design and construction of your Pushcart …
Well, our cart has had a long ride, a lot of sweat and laughter and this cart has a unique feature which is our secret weapon: our spinner!!! The spinner is a small wheel made from an old shopping trolley. We only use the spinner in sprints.
~ Students of St Joseph’s Rochester 2018
