The WAB Podcast

• From Idea to Impact: How STEMx Club Sparked Science Day

  Welcome to a new episode of the WAB Podcast. Today, we’re exploring how student leadership, innovation, and the power of science come together to connect and inspire.  Joining us are members of WAB’s High School STEMx Club, Grade 11 students Hannah, Utkarsh, and Shane, along with their teacher and advisor, Paul Wagenaar. Together, they share how a group of passionate students reimagined what science learning could look like, culminating in WAB’s first-ever interschool Science Day.  STEMx began as a student-led initiative aimed at making science more engaging for younger learners. The group started by running hands-on workshops in the Elementary and Middle Schools. As Hannah, the club's leader, shared: “Last year, we decided to expand our impact.” For her, what makes the club meaningful is its inclusivity: "Some members aren’t planning to study STEM in university or pursue it as a career. They joined for their interest." Driven by curiosity and a desire to break stereotypes, like the idea that STEM is only for the ‘smart’ or mathematically inclined, the club set out to create a platform that showcased science as creative, hands-on, and socially relevant. The result was Science Day, an inter-school event exploring how science can help solve real-world issues, including challenges faced by refugees.  Utkarsh, who joined after being recruited by Hannah at the club fair, shared his motivation: “I wanted to see if I could use what I learned in the classroom and help other people enjoy it.” Shane added, “We’re both very passionate about science and math, so we joined together.”  With encouragement from their advisor, science teacher Paul Wagenaar, the club took ownership of the planning process. “They’re very self-motivated,” Paul said. “Many of them even contacted the administration themselves to organize the event.”  But bringing Science Day to life wasn’t without setbacks. Faced with low early registration numbers, the team considered cancelling. “It was disappointing, especially for our grade 12 students and Mr. Wagenaar, who wouldn’t be here next year,” said Hannah. She recalled nearly giving up—until a mentor reminded her that this was just their minimum viable version. “It won’t be perfect, but it’s a first step.” It reframed the challenge as part of the process, not the end of it. The team stepped up their efforts, sending out “a hundred messages a day,” and managed to rally enough interest to make Science Day a reality.  “The moment the opening ceremony began, it came to me that it’s actually happening,” Hannah reflected. “A very small idea turned out to be so big and successful.” Utkarsh saw the impact in real time: “I saw them actually having fun and being creative. That’s what we wanted, people having fun doing science and solving real problems.” Shane, who led a catapult-building activity, added, “I could tell the participants had a lot of fun. That was great.”  For Paul, the highlight was witnessing the students lead the entire process: “Seeing the club members sharing their passion, figuring out ways to solve problems when things went wrong was a joyous moment for me.”  Science Day was about testing ideas, navigating challenges, and seeing how student-led learning can have an impact. It’s a reminder of what students can accomplish when given the space to lead. 

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• WAB Wild Takes Learning Beyond the Classroom

  Welcome to the latest episode of WAB Podcast! In this episode, we explored WAB Wild, WAB's very own outdoor learning program, and one that's all about adventure, teamwork, and connecting with nature. We were joined by Stephen Boyko, the coordinator of WAB Wild, and two Grade 8 students, Gustav and Kenzie, who shared their unforgettable experiences. From abseiling to cooking breakfast under the open sky, we uncovered how this program builds resilience, fosters community, connects with classroom learning, and changes perspectives on sustainability.  Led by coordinator Stephen Boyko, WAB Wild's philosophy is rooted in experiential education. Stephen explained that the goal of the program is to build a lasting appreciation for nature, strengthen community bonds, and develop personal resilience through challenges.   When Gustav first arrived at WAB in Grade 7, he felt unfamiliar with the environment and the English language. But everything changed when he joined WAB Wild. The outdoor experience helped him build connections with both his peers and his teachers. The program's trust-based activities-like hiking in small groups through the woods or navigating a lake by canoe, helped him feel both independent and supported. Gustav added that you could feel a trust in yourself and a kind of community trust with your classmates and teachers.  For Kenzie, returning to the same campsite each year brought back memories while creating new ones. From geocaching adventures in Grade 6 to an abseiling challenge in Grade 7, each activity pushed her boundaries and brought her closer to her peers. She also recounted her memory of completing the water trip on canoes with her friends, where they had to trust each other to avoid tipping over and getting wet in the lake.  Stephen emphasized the deeper lessons behind this program, which is helping the students develop a love for nature and the skills to protect it. From composting food waste to understanding the impact of their actions on the environment, the students carried these values and learnings back to their classrooms and homes, along with deeper friendships, shared memories, changed perspectives on sustainability, and newfound resilience. Tune in to find out more!

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• Celebrating Cultures and Community at the Student-Led Night Market

  Welcome to the latest episode of the WAB Podcast, where we explore one of WAB’s growing student-led traditions: the Night Market. Joining us are Audrey and Rachel from Grade 11, and Chloe from Grade 10, three of the students who helped make this event happen.  From cultural showcases and global cuisine to student performances and an all-new Open Mic stage, the Night Market was a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cultural connection. For the first time, the event also welcomed students from APAC schools who were visiting WAB for a badminton tournament, adding an exciting dimension to the evening.  Audrey described the Night Market as a platform for student clubs to promote their missions, raise funds for meaningful causes, and highlight WAB’s cultural diversity. It also provides a stage for performers to express themselves. The event, she explained, was shaped through student input: “During club meetings, we hosted brainstorming sessions to gather input from all club members, which helped make the event more successful, engaging, and fun for the students.”  Rachel reflected on why she got involved: “We all participated in last year’s Night Market and had such a great time. That’s why we wanted to help organize it this year.” Their goal was to carry the tradition forward and elevate it. This year’s event featured over 10 student clubs, two local restaurants, and five parent groups: Chinese Link, Korean Link, ASEAN Link, Tiger Spirit, and Tiger Den. Coordinating all these groups took time, teamwork, and clear communication. Chloe shared what made this year feel different: “It was a bit different because we hosted it at the same time as the APAC tournament.” Opening the event to visiting students created new opportunities for connection and cultural exchange. One of the most memorable additions was the Open Mic session. Though organizers weren’t sure if anyone would step forward, the response exceeded expectations as students from multiple schools joined in and shared the stage.  Of course, organizing an event of this scale wasn’t without its challenges. When weather forced a last-minute change of venue, the team acted quickly to relocate the entire market indoors. Audrey shared one key takeaway: “Make sure that you always have a backup plan.”  Tune in to this episode to hear more from Audrey, Rachel, and Chloe as they reflect on the planning, challenges, and community spirit behind this special night at WAB.

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• Student STEM Innovation: From Code to Cardiovascular Care

  In this episode of the WAB Podcast, we take a look at STEM learning at WAB. Grade 9 student Zane and Grade 10 students Anna, David, and Xander take us behind the scenes of their robotics, game development, and biomedical engineering projects. What they share isn’t just about technology, it’s about creativity, collaboration, and learning with real-world impact.  Building, Breaking, Rebuilding: Robotics in Action  Xander and David have been working together to design a competition robot using the VEX V5 system. David focuses on 3D modeling with Onshape, while Xander brings the mechanical build to life.  "Dex V5 is an educational platform where students design, build, and program the robots to compete in yearly challenges," explains Xander. "Every new season, a new game is released, which means teams must create brand-new robots to match updated growth in the field and objectives." When asked about challenges, David shares, "Testing parts and different designs of robots takes a lot of time, especially when you physically have to swap parts in and out. To solve this problem, we started using 3D modeling code Onshape, which has helped us reduce a lot of errors during the actual building process." Using AI for Health Innovation  Anna's project is a low-cost cardiovascular risk detection device that uses AI to assess and rank heart disease risk factors. “The device uses an AI algorithm to analyze your risk factors that we’ll be extracting using the same device,” she explains. “It analyzes this risk factor and also ranks them in importance.”  The hardest part, she says, was sourcing reliable training data. “Algorithms need an unbiased and balanced dataset. Patient data is hard to get due to patient privacy, but at last we found two, one from Kaggle and another from UCI.”  Anna believes that accessible AI is opening doors. “A lot of the algorithms are open source, so you can get them from the internet, and you don’t have to code them on your own. With the help of AI language models, for example, ChatGPT, you’re able to code these things on your own.”  Code, Graphics, and Game Design  Zane is creating a top-down RPG using GameMaker Studio. “It’s free and it’s really easy to learn and use,” he shares. “It’s comfortable coding software that can be picked up pretty easily.”  His biggest early challenge? "Getting used to the coding software. It has a lot of functions that are convenient once you learn how to use them, but don’t make much sense initially." Working in a two-person team, Zane focuses on programming while his friend Nick handles the graphics. “In the last month or so, we’ve kind of switched around, which is a good experience for me, and I think he’s having a good time working on his programming skills.”  Reflecting on the process, Zane says, “Developing using code, I learned that mistakes are going to happen, and if you expect them, then it’s easier. Expecting mistakes, one of the best things I’ve learned.”  Learning That Feels Real  All four students shared how these projects have pushed them, technically and personally. They’ve built new skills, worked through challenges, and found confidence in solving problems that matter to them.  They also spoke about how this learning is shaping their futures. For some, it sparked a clear career interest, robotics, game design, or biomedical engineering. For others, it’s the mindset that’s sticking with them: creativity, resilience, and the power of working with others.  “I think more people can do this than they realize,” Anna says. “With open-source tools, AI models, and even things like ChatGPT, you don’t need to be an expert to start creating something meaningful.” These stories reflect the kind of purposeful, real-world learning happening all across WAB. Students are exploring big ideas, applying what they know in new ways, and connecting their passions to real-world challenges.  STEM at WAB isn't about following a textbook, it’s about curiosity, collaboration, and creating with purpose.  Listen to the full conversation in Episode 5 of the WAB Podcast.

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• WAB DP Artists: Advocating Through Art

  In this episode, we explored DP Art with student artists, Emmett and Bella from Grade 12, and their teacher, Daniel Avila. Together, they talked about the recent DP Arts Exhibition, the hard work behind completing the final portfolio, the enjoyment of experimenting with innovative mediums, and the passion and creativity that drove them through this two-year art journey. Emmett’s work explores the irony of human development, using repetitive techniques like dot-making and woodcuts to critique industrialization and AI. He expressed that he became the instrument of labor in his own art, in which his hands-on process mirrored his theme. Meanwhile, Bella channeled her passion for animal rights into abstract pieces, experimenting with glass and wool. She explained the physical acts of cutting glass symbolized the pain animals endure. Daniel highlighted the DP Art program’s unique balance of freedom and guidance. Students tackle ambitious projects—from stained glass to robotics—while connecting their mediums to deeply personal themes. He also shared that this year’s exhibition stood out for its return to traditional materials, a reaction to the digital overload of the previous years.   For Emmett and Bella, the program was as much about research as artistry. Bella immersed herself in data about meat consumption, while Emmett discovered entirely new mediums. They also provide candid advice to future DP Art students about time management and looking for themes that truly matter personally. “Art is a language.  If you have a passion and art is the path through which you explore your passion,” said Daniel.  If you want to learn more about how our young artists are redefining creativity, transforming passion into storytelling. Don’t miss this episode to explore their journey of self-discovery, technical mastery, and art that communicates. 

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