Take your family on an adventure with the new outdoor learning environment at St Benedict’s, Mango Hill or check out a purpose-built STEM space at Mater Dei, Ashgrove West.
The schools are just two of Brisbane Catholic Education’s primary schools participating in Open Week from April 27 to May 3, 2026.
The new playground at St Benedict’s Primary School, Mango Hill, takes you on an adventure modelled on the Redcliffe Jetty with its iconic history, ships, Fire Station, market stall, and vegetable garden.
You will also find all the traditional playground favourites, such as hopscotch, monkey bars, balancing beams, drums, a trampoline, swinging baskets, and a sand pit.
The souped-up playground features a dry riverbed with a water pump, a wheel for STEM play, a mini-pod, and seating for quieter play.
St Benedict’s Primary School Principal Renay Condon said the environment fostered confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of belonging from students’ first day at school.
“This is a well-designed playground that supports the holistic development of early learners,” Ms Condon said.
“Playgrounds help children build physical strength and coordination, as well as social and emotional skills, which are fostered as they learn to cooperate, negotiate, and form friendships.
“It’s also a space where children can develop creativity, problem-solve, and build resilience as they take on new risks.”
Meet Ms Condon and explore St Benedict’s Primary School at Open Week from April 29 at 9.30am. For more information on the school, or to enrol click here.
Mater Dei Catholic Primary School, Ashgrove West, is showcasing its dedicated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM space to families at this year’s Open Week.
Mater Dei Catholic Primary School Principal Donna Jones said the purpose-built learning iHub was designed to spark curiosity, supercharge collaboration, and power students into the future of learning.
“The iHub has been purposefully designed to support future-focused learning, with a wide range of devices and tools that allow students to build skills progressively from the earliest years,” Ms Jones said.
“From pre-coding computational thinking in Prep and early coding experiences with BeeBots and WeDo kits, the space evolves with students as their learning deepens.
“As they progress, they will have the opportunity to engage with more advanced technologies, including drones, robotics, microelectronics, MakeyMakey and 3D printers, using the iHub to turn big ideas into tangible creations and bring abstract concepts to life.”
The open plan design of the iHub allows students to collaborate as they learn, skills they will need for the next stage of their schooling and the real world.
Across the school, students benefit from a dedicated Technologies teacher for two terms each year, ensuring specialist instruction that helps learning really compute.
An extension program for gifted and talented students in advanced game coding and artificial intelligence visual recognition is also in development.
Mater Dei has enjoyed multiple years of success at the BCE’s STEM ‘Make a Difference’ (MAD) competition.
In 2024, its students placed second in The Future is STEM category for their invention, End the Silence, with the students attending the STEM MAD Nationals.
Meet Ms Jones and explore the Mater Dei Catholic Primary School campus and iHub on Tuesday, April 28 from 9am.
Click here for more information or to enrol.
