Creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills combined with originality, confidence, and team work as six teams from St. Mary’s Academy Lower and Middle Schools won in the South Metro region and will advance to the state finals of Destination ImagiNation® on April 28 at the University of Denver.
Fifteen teams from St. Mary’s Academy participated in Destination ImagiNation®, with 10 in competitive levels and five in the kindergarten-grade 2 non-competitive category.
A team of six seventh graders won first place in the Round About Courage category and merited a Renaissance Award for excellence in engineering, design, and performance. This team constructed a rollercoaster and a ticket booth that morphed into a snack shack. Every element, including their songs, lyrics, acting, props and costumes, fit perfectly together and wowed the judges.
A team of third graders finished first in the Round About Courage category and merited a DaVinci Award for adventurous risk-taking.
A team of third graders finished first in the Car-DI-ology, with their structure holding the winning weight of 345 pounds.
A team of third graders finished second in the Switching Traditions category.
A team of second and third graders finished second in the CSI: DI category. Another team of 4th and 5th graders in the CSI: DI category finished third.
Barbara Peister, third grade teacher, coordinates the Destination ImagiNation® program at St. Mary’s Academy and parents serve as team managers.
Destination Imagination® is the world’s largest creative problem-solving program for students in elementary school through college. The program is organized around team challenge with includes aspects of engineering, structure-building, theater, world cultures, and improvisation. Each team writes and performs an eight-minute skit that presents their solution to the problem presented.