Creative and critical thinking helped four Comox Valley teams qualify for the Global Finals of Destination ImagiNation.
Five teams from Comox Valley schools travelled to the provincial championships for Destination ImagiNation, a multi-intelligence competition of creative and critical thinking April 16.
Eighty-three teams from across B.C. attended the provincial tournament after regional competitions.
Of the five Valley teams, two won provincial championships, two finished second in their categories, and one finished a respectable fifth. Four of the five teams qualified for the global finals May 25 to 28 in Tennessee.
Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School sent two teams.
The team of Forrest Picher, Melissa L’Heureux-Hache, Katarina Smith, Ethan Glenwright, Sam Merrick, Josh Duncan and Kyle Vaags and managed by Mrs. Corman won the provincials at the senior secondary level for their challenge. It focused on improvisation skills, knowledge of mythology and response to an instant challenge that was kept secret until they had to complete it.
The second Isfeld team — Braela Pearce, Maggie Bird, Colin Walker, Damian Parlee, Evan McMillan, Alasdair Yamagishi and Devin Pelletier and managed by Mrs. Watt — finished second in the senior secondary level, competing in a technical challenge requiring them to build a machine on the spot that would move things to and from a five-metre tower.
Highland Secondary School sent one team.
The team of Michael Higginson Stubbs, Oliver Simmonds, Pragya Dawadi, Connor Buchanan, Elsie Hampshire, Jacob Hodge and Stephanie Hale and managed by Mr. Kochanuk finished second at the senior secondary level.
They built a structure out of finite resources to hold as much weight as possible and integrate it into a creative presentation.
They were the only team to feature an accordion player, silent movie style and melodrama. They also won the Renaissance Award for extraordinary amounts of effort and preparation for their performance.
“On our journey, we sometimes encounter exceptional travelers who entertain and enlighten us along the way. This is such a group,” said BC Affiliate Director and award presenter Faith Garriock.
The other provincial champions came from École Robb Road Elementary, which had two teams qualify for the provincial tournament.
The Gods of Epicness — Kai Schwarz, Cate Wareing-Oksanen, Cassia Nasralla, Maxine Forman, Amelia Elder and Jacob Fussell and managed by Ms. Mohrs — finished first in the province at the middle school level for their improvisation of Icelandic mythology and the Kraken.
The second Robb Road team, The Talent, featuring Ashlee Pilon, Nova McCabe, Kaden Glenwright, Mattias Hansen, Claire Brown, Georgia Rogers and Amelia Henriquez and managed by Ms. McCann, finished fifth at the middle school level for presenting their play to three different audiences in three different styles.
Garriock commented how impressed she and the other officials were with the quality of work and character of the Valley students.
“The students are amazing," she said. "Their passion, approach and skill embody what Destination ImagiNation is all about. They will represent our province and country well at the global finals.”
School District 71 superintendent Sherry Elwood is impressed with the local students.
“I am so proud of these students and the schools they represent,” she said. “They are such amazing kids and wonderful ambassadors for our district. I’m also really proud of the teachers who’ve supported these students as they’ve gone outside the box to challenge themselves in meaningful ways.”
For more information about the competition, visit www.DestinationImagination.ca.
— School District 71