In state competition, two fifth- and sixth-grade teams at New Hope Christian School placed first and earned the opportunity to compete in the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tenn. recently.
The children connected with approximately 13,000 children from various cultures around the world and engaged in communication strategies that enabled them to broaden their understanding of existing worlds in the United States and globe. They met challenges on their five-day journey that have set them down the pathway of lifelong experiences.
Parents Rynia Cottingham, Evelyn Williams and Valtressia Austin explained during an interview that Destination Imagination Global Finalists provided not only a chance for teens to compete on the world stage but also a celebration to come together and to achieve amazing things.
They opined from observing surroundings and children’s interactions that the trip was a wonderful educational and social opportunity.
Each of the seven challenged solutions had their specifics: (1) Technical Direct Deposit Engineering included cost benefit analysis, innovation, and decision process; (2) Technical Design and Construction involved mathematics, communication, theatre arts, and team work; (3) Di-bot included scientific (structural engineering, robotic technology, research, technical design and construction, science, theatre arts, and team work); (4) Do or Di was improvisational that included improvisation, acting, story development, team work, and research results; (5) Breaking Di News included structural (structural engineering, material science, international relations, research innovation and design process, mathematics, theatre arts, and team work); (6) Project Outreach encompassed each person making a difference in the community with music enhancement; and (7) Instant Challenge required all teams to engage in impromptu problem solving.
The New Hope children who were assigned the Do or Di project, wrote a skit, and enhanced their social, cultural, and critical thinking skills. Though they did not win the competition, they came away with positive expressions. “Twelve-year-old Chauncey Taylor, a sixth-grader, stated, “To see all the kids around the globe participate was very memorable. It was exciting to perform the original skit before the judges, teams, and parents. I enjoyed meeting new people, hanging out with my friends, and being in a new hotel.”
One of the chosen students to march during the opening ceremony was 11-year-old Assata DeMyers. “The fireworks and confetti were beautiful. Every state and country had state flags, and they were beautiful because at the beginning there was a parade.”
Student Dominique Williams spoke of the opportunity to learn different things from the different represented cultures. She met people from places like Turkey, Brazil, China, British Columbia, Canada, and South Korea.
One of the main features of cultural connections was the pin trade. The children competed as they collected as many pins as they could from the members of other cultures.
Nina Teeuwissen, 12, said she benefited from the pin trade because it afforded her opportunity to “communicate with different languages. People had different accents, clothes and elaborate props,” she gleaned.
Many of the children and their parents had never attended the Global Finals prior to this experience.
They said that they would love to return. They also explained the need for other children and their parents to go and form acquaintances with world cultures.
Sixth-grade teacher, team manager, and Destination Imagination Coordinator Yvonne Jones commented that both fifth- and sixth-grade teams placed in the Top 3rd of their challenge. “We look forward to doing Destination Imagination next year,” she continued.
For further information contact Jones at New Hope Christian School, 601-362-4776.
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