Avon Maitland District School Board Students Compete at Skills Ontario
by Bob Montgomery
Thirty-seven students from Avon Maitland District Schools competed in this year's Skills Ontario competition.
The annual event showcases the exceptional talents and skills of students across the province, providing a platform for them to demonstrate their expertise in various trades and technologies. The Skills Ontario Competition is a significant event that brings together students, educators, and industry professionals to celebrate and encourage excellence in skilled trades and technologies. The students competed in a variety of events from LEGO Mechanical Engineering, Technology, and Character Animation, to VEX Robotics, Green Energy, Workplace Safety, and Carpentry.
Student Success Coach Tim Bickell says the students train leading up to the competition day where they get to their space and find out what their specific challenge is. “They get their challenge and then they spend all day working on it, tweaking their project as they compete against school boards from all over Ontario.” Bickell says in the elementary category there are usually teams from grades four to grade six and then grade seven and eight.
OYAP Recruiter, Jodi Froud says this type of competition doesn't happen without the dedication and guidance of the educators in the schools who are not only preparing these students for the competition, but also spending many hours outside of the classroom teaching the students concepts and strategies that may be utilized during the competition itself. “The Skills Ontario competition is a prime example of how teaching students problem solving, communication and collaboration skills can be fundamental to success.”
The Avon Maitland District School Board is pleased to recognize the outstanding achievement of Upper Thames Elementary School, one of the two teams that secured a silver medal in the grade 4-6 Character Animation Competition. This impressive result follows their remarkable performance last year when they won gold in the same competition. Their consistent excellence exemplifies the dedication, skill, and hard work of both the students and educators.
Photos courtesy of Avon Maitland District School Board
