LA PLATA, Md. (March 09, 2010)—More than 550 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students competed in the regional Destination ImagiNation competition held Saturday, March 6, at La Plata High School. Thirty-four teams advance to the state-level competition, scheduled for April 10 at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Ninety teams competed to solve one of five problems in the long-term academic event that challenges students to work together to apply creativity, critical thinking skills and their unique talents. Challenges are separated into three levels of competition: elementary, middle and secondary. Teams that place at the regional event advance to the state tournament.
The following Charles County teams placed in the top five spots at the regional Destination ImagiNation tournament.
Winners in the Direct DIposit challenge are:
-- Elementary: Malcolm Elementary School, first place; William A. Diggs Elementary School, second place; Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, third place; and J.P. Ryon Elementary School, fourth place.
-- Middle: Theodore G. Davis Middle School, first place; and Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, second place.
Winners in the DI-Bot challenge are:
-- Elementary: Diggs, first place; Mary H. Matula Elementary School, second place; J.C. Parks Elementary School, third place; and Dr. James Craik and J.P. Ryon elementary schools, tie for fourth place.
-- Middle: John Hanson Middle School, first place.
-- High: La Plata High School, first place.
Winners in the You’re Gonna Flip challenge are:
-- Elementary: Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, first place; St. Peter’s School, second place; Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, third place; Indian Head Elementary School, fourth place; and Eva Turner Elementary School, fifth place.
-- Middle: General Smallwood Middle School, first place; and Davis, second place.
-- High: La Plata, first place.
Winners in the Do or DI challenge are:
-- Elementary: Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy and William A. Diggs elementary schools, tie for first place; Wade, second place; Gale-Bailey Elementary School, third place; and Arthur Middleton Elementary School, fourth place.
-- Middle: Piccowaxen Middle School, first and second place.
-- High: Thomas Stone High School, first place; and La Plata, second place.
Winners in the Breaking DI News challenge are:
-- Elementary: Mary B. Neal and Walter J. Mitchell elementary schools, tie for first place; St. Peter’s School, second place; Diggs, third place; and Middleton, fourth place.
-- High: A team composed of students from Mattawoman and Milton M. Somers middle schools and North Point High School, first place; and La Plata, second place.
The team from Mattawoman, Somers and North Point competed at the high-school level because the team was comprised of both middle and high school students.
Additionally, the following teams earned special awards:
-- Spirit of DI award – for exceptional spirit, teamwork, volunteerism and sportsmanship – La Plata’s You’re Gonna Flip team and St. Peter’s Weighty News team B.
-- The Renaissance award – for outstanding design engineering or performance - Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy’s Weighty News team, Malcolm’s DI Like Donuts team, and the Breaking DI News team composed of students from Mattawoman, Somers and North Point.
-- Da Vinci – for outstanding creativity – Craik’s Crazy Children team.
Charles County Public Schools and the Greater Waldorf Jaycees sponsored the event. Destination ImagiNation is an international program dedicated to enhancing the learning skills, creative problem solving skills, team skills, sportsmanship and knowledge of all students.
Source: Charles County Public Schools