Middle schoolers at St. Patrick Catholic Academy in Bay Ridge swapped skis and skates for science and math problems on Thursday, January 29, competing in a STEM Olympics that the school timed to the run-up to the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to an advisory from the school’s publicist.
The competition was staged at the academy, at 401 97th St., at 9:30 a.m. as part of Catholic Schools Week, the advisory said. Students were placed in mixed-grade teams to work through a timed obstacle course of science and math problems in pursuit of a gold medal, the school said. The school described the format as a reverse escape room, in which students who solved complex STEM problems earned a key to get into the room rather than out of it.
Among the tasks, the school said, students built structures to a set height using wobbly materials, and a timed math quiz led to a lock box with word puzzles inside. The school said the course also included a physical race element that organizers kept as a surprise.
“We have been fine tuning this competition for years and this year we have come up with some really great obstacles for our students,” Principal Kathy Curatolo said in the advisory. “They always love this competition, and the younger students enjoy coming to the gym to cheer on the teams. Our students learn problem solving under pressure and how to work together through this game.”
The school, a Catholic academy in Brooklyn, said it has run the contest for several years. Photos from the event were made available courtesy of St. Patrick Catholic Academy through a shared online folder.
