CNC hosted its fifth annual regional skills competition earlier today (Thursday).
Nearly 350 students from 13 elementary schools competed in events like spaghetti bridge building, wind turbine construction, and gravity car racing.
Suzie Barrio, Teacher at Beaverly Elementary, said she believes the out-of-classroom learning experience is important because it allows students to work collaboratively.
“Paper and pencil are important but when they can get their hands on sandpaper and balsa wood, hot glue guns and knives: come on, it’s fun! We see kids absolutely come alive doing these kinds of projects, children who don’t typically engage in more traditional academics have a chance to show us their stuff and shine,” she said
Barrio also believes the college was an important setting for the event, saying her students carried themselves with: “a sense of maturity.”
Harmony Watts, a teacher at College Heights Elementary School, also celebrated the college’s involvement, saying: “it’s a really nice way to get our kids into a post-secondary setting, where they can see what might be coming for them.”
The event centred around elementary school kids.
“This year we really focused on junior skills, which was really exciting,” said CNC’s Community Outreach Co-Coordinator, Caralee Larmond.
“We’re having students come and learn and experience some of the things they might go to the college for in the future.”
More information on the event can be found on CNC’s website.