Standard Sr. High team wins gold at Skills Canada Competition

Times Contributor

 

Sixty-six teams of Jr. and Sr. High schools students spent Nov. 16 constructing cardboard boats at SAIT in Calgary as part of a Skills Canada Competition sponsored by Cenovus.

The event provided students from Alberta with an opportunity to plan, build and race a boat made entirely out of cardboard. Skills Canada Alberta provided each team with the following materials: One roll of packing tape, Jr. High (two 4 ft x 8 ft sheets of ¼” cardboard), Sr. High (four 4 ft x 4 ft sheets of ¼” cardboard), 25 feet of string, one small roll of duct tape, two exacto knives, one laminated team sheet number, two pencils and a surprise item on competition day (a Canada Day balloon was provided and it had to be used in the competition). The same items were provided for each team to make an even playing ground. Many of the students had drafted ideas and practiced at their schools prior to the day’s events.

After the construction of the boats each team were judged on a number of different criteria. The design sketch of each team’s boat had to be submitted to the judges during construction on the day of the event. Points were awarded for sketch innovation and how closely the construction followed the design.

In the speed event, all teams had to start on the pool deck with their boats out of the water. Once the whistle was blown and the time began, teams then placed their boats into the water. Team members were allowed to stabilize the boat in the pool at the beginning of the race in order to allow the rider to smoothly enter. Members stabilizing the boat could not be more than one arm’s length from the edge of the pool.

In the weight event, the weight of three of the team’s members must be supported for one minute to receive full points. Judges used discretion to determine if the boat was floating and holding the full weight of the competitors.

A main component of the event was that there would be no external help during any part of the competition. Teachers, parents and advisors could not give advice or physically help their teams.

Three teams (one junior team and two senior teams) from Standard School went to the Competition. The Senior High group called the ‘Sea-Ya Later’ Team made up by Abe Jensen, Duncan Michie and Ethan Stinn won the Gold Medal for their school. Teacher Mr. Mark McKeen has been a huge part of their success and has always encouraged his students to “think outside the box” in everything they do.