Fostering innovation at the Preparatory School
When Ms Jessica Newton arrived at Trinity’s Preparatory School, there was no Robotics Co-curricular. With her passion for everything science, she knew that creating this opportunity for students was necessary, so she set out to make it happen.
Initially joining the staff team in a maternity cover position, Ms Newton came to Trinity knowing that the inquiry-based approach of the International Baccalaureate’s PYP program was aligned to her own pedagogical practice.
Throughout her time in what was, initially, a temporary position, she was struck by the culture at Trinity.
“It was fantastic how supportive the School community is, how much they foster innovation, and how they allowed me to promote innovation throughout the School, giving me the flexibility to run any programs or competitions. Not all schools would do that.”
“I love that this means it’s not the same every day – I can do new things, change learning experiences, using the curriculum to grow in my own love – and the students’ love – of science and technology.”
When the opportunity arose to introduce a Robotics Co-curricular, she dove straight in – researching programs, exploring what other schools were doing, and working closely with Trinity’s leadership team to bring the vision to life.
“It began with RoboCup, our Lego Robotics competition. It’s a fantastic entry point because it allows students to be creative and expressive in how they design and program,” she said. “After running RoboCup for a year, I continued looking into what else was available, and that’s when I discovered VEX Robotics.”
Since VEX IQ Robotics was introduced at Trinity Prep in 2023, the program has expanded from 16 Year 4 students to 42 students across Years 4–6, reflecting the rapid interest in the program.
“VEX brings a whole new level of engineering, problem-solving, and real-world challenge. It encourages students to experiment, refine, and think like engineers. The teamwork and creativity that it helps the boys to develop are incredible to watch. It’s a program that really stretches their thinking in the best possible way and that’s why we love it.”
All the while, she says, they don’t even realise how much they’re learning.
Last year, she also won the Australian VEX IQ Teacher of the Year award. That same season, Trinity’s own Cheeky Atoms team were crowned the 2024 VEX IQ Australian National Champions, earning their place on the world stage in Dallas, Texas, USA. Travelling to America and competing was such an amazing opportunity for the boys and for Ms Newton, a highlight of their robotics journey.
“VEX is a whole package program; it’s interest-based rather than academic. Students get to learn the skills of an engineer, but they learn because it’s exciting, not because they have to.”
Beyond these established robotics programs, Ms Newton has also supported students in taking part in a wide range of external STEM opportunities, including the UNICEF Challenge, the Snowy Hydro Student STEM Competition, AMT’s Coding Challenge, various Science Buddies Challenges, and the Young Scientist Awards. These experiences give students additional avenues to explore their interests, extend their skills, and apply their STEAM learning in real-world contexts.
“Trinity give a lot of flexibility in the job as long as you’re interested and as long as you’re willing to put in the time, they are open to you doing these sorts of things and giving it a try.”
Ms Newton took part in the first trip to the Murray Downs and Alekarenge schools through the City to Country partnership, bringing along robotics equipment and STEM resources to share with the students.
“It was a truly unforgettable experience and a remarkable highlight in my career.” she recalls.
And, this year, she made it her Professional Development goal to speak at conferences.
“I’m not a natural-born public speaker,” she says. “Speaking to kids is easy! Speaking to adults who probably know more than you? It’s scary. I knew I had to step out of my comfort zone to do more of it.”
And with the support of Trinity she made it happen, speaking at the EduTECH conference on Inquiry-based learning. She’s already been invited to go back next year.
As she looks towards 2026, she says she’s keen to continue taking every opportunity that comes her way and to feel just as proud of her work.
“I just want to keep doing what I’m currently doing. I love my job and can’t wait to find new ways to keep learning relevant, engaging and future focused.”
