Two DeSales Teams Advance to Destination Imagination's Global Finals,
the Largest Celebration of Creativity in the World
Lockport, NY April 14, 2016 -- After achieving honors for creativity, teamwork and innovation in regional and state academic tournaments, two teams from DeSales Catholic School have earned the right to compete in Destination Imagination's Global Finals, the world’s largest celebration of student creativity, to be held May 25-28 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Team Members from the DeSales 3rd grade team, “The Zoo Crew” led by Mrs. Nicole Goyette and assisted by Mrs. Sue Watson, include Daniel Rahill, Sophia Goyette, Dominic Pellicano, Isabella Watson, Jillian Knuutila, Aubree Parker and Hannah Upshaw. Team members from the DeSales 4th grade team, “The Magnifiers” led by Mrs. Stacey Pellicano, include Olivia Rongo, Sydney Mosher, Kai Schiesel, Natalie Pellicano and Jamie Fraass.
The DeSales 3rd graders will compete with other teams in the In Plain Sight challenge, while the DeSales 4th graders will compete in the Get a Clue challenge. These challenges are open-ended challenges that require students to apply science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, in addition to their talents in improvisation, theater arts, writing, project management, communication, innovation, teamwork, community service and social entrepreneurship.
"These children worked very hard developing and creating their solution to the In Plain Sight problem. They showed that working together to solve problems does great things! I cannot wait to see how they do at Global Finals!" said Mrs. Nicole Goyette, 3rd grade team manager.
"It is cool to work with my friends. If we have a problem, we work it out together." said Aubree Parker, 9, DeSales student on the 3rd grade Zoo Crew.
Destination Imagination has had a positive impact on more than 1.5 students who have taken part in its acclaimed Challenge program. This year, 150,000 students have participated in tournaments throughout the U.S. and 30 countries in hopes of earning a spot at the Global Finals competition in May.
The 12 students representing DeSales Catholic School will be among more than 8,000 students representing more than 1,400 teams that will advance to Global Finals, which will be held at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville May 25-28.
“The Destination Imagination program is a fun, hands-on system of learning that fosters students’ creativity, courage and curiosity,” said Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination. “Quantitative reasoning, collaborative problem solving, risk taking, collaboration, presentations and thinking on your feet are some of the important skills learned in the program.”
Destination Imagination is a leader in project-based learning opportunities that blend STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education with the arts and social entrepreneurship. Its academic challenges are designed to teach kids how to think, not what to think, and then present their solutions at regional and state tournaments.
Fundraising efforts and underway to help these 12 students get to the Global Competition in Knoxville, TN. If you are interested in making a donation to help these young students, checks can be mailed to DeSales Catholic School, 6914 Chestnut Ridge Road, Lockport, NY 14094, (716)433-6422, attention Destination Imagination Team. The teams have also established a GoFundMe page.
DeSales is Eastern Niagara County’s only Catholic School, welcoming students of all faiths in Pre-School through Eighth grade. For more information call (716) 433-6422 ext 407, or visit www.desalescatholicschool.org.
