Eleven teams representing six Comox Valley schools competed in the annual provincial Destination Imagination (DI) tournament 6 April in Vancouver.
Two G.P. Vanier teams took home provincial champion titles, including DInamic for the Engineering Challenge at the secondary level and Miracle Worms in the Improvisation Challenge, secondary level.
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Flash of Brilliance, a team representing Mark R. Isfeld and École Puntledge Park, finished second for the Scientific Challenge in the secondary level. Vanier’s Lucky Charmanders placed second in the Improvisation Challenge, middle level. The Prickly Pineapples from Puntledge Park finished third for the Scientific Challenge, middle level.
Andrew Ferneyhough, DI regional director, was impressed with the overall quality of the solutions presented by the school district teams and the spirit displayed by all students.
“It was great to see students from the Comox Valley supporting each other and supporting other teams from around the province,” said Ferneyhough. “Seeing all of those creative individuals collaborating together celebrating their imaginations made for an outstanding day.”
DI is an international program that supports more than 150,000 youth in 30 countries to develop their critical and creative thinking, project management, collaboration, and communication skills. Teams of up to seven students solve a complex challenge over an eight-month period and present their solutions before a panel of appraisers. Teams can choose from six different types of challenge: Engineering, Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisation, or Service Learning. Teams are also given a random challenge for which they do not prepare in advance of the competition.
Each year, Valley teams continue to outperform at DI tournaments with the highlight being Vanier’s improv team, Team Chance, winning the Global Finals in Kentucky in 2018. Results achieved this year by the more than 300 students who participated has made for yet another very successful season in the ten years the school district has been involved in DI.
Without the continued support of school district educators and parent volunteers, competing in tournaments at the regional and provincial level would not be possible. Plans are already underway for the 2019/20 DI season.
