Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) hosted the regional Destination Imagination (DI) tournament Feb. 29 at North Point High School in Waldorf. More than 700 students participated in the event. A total of 88 teams competed to solve one of six problems that challenge students to work together to use critical thinking skills, creativity and unique talents.
Challenges are separated into three levels of competition – elementary, middle and high school. There is also a non-competitive challenge for Rising Stars teams. Rising Stars teams include students in kindergarten through Grade 2. This year, 22 Rising Stars teams participated at regionals.
As a result of their placement at regionals, 43 teams advance to the state event set for March 28 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Teams that earn first- through fourth-place awards at regionals advance.
The following teams advance to the state tournament.
The Big Fix (technical)
The Pangea Pineapples competed at the high-school level because the team includes both middle- and high-school students.
First Encounter (scientific)
Picture This (fine arts)
To The Rescue (improvisational)
In The Cards (engineering)
The team from North Point and St. Charles competed together because team members attend those schools. The Lackey and Smallwood team competes together because student members attend both schools.
It’s About Time (service learning)
The Save a Nation team competed at the high-school level because the team includes both middle- and high-school students.
Special Awards
The Renaissance Award went to two teams: The Davis Elemelons team and the Matula Rising Stars Great Space Academy team. The award is given to teams that demonstrate exceptional skill in the areas of engineering, design or performance.
The DaVinci Award went to two teams: The Henson Just George team and the Piccowaxen Pangea Pineapples team. The award is given to teams that demonstrate exceptional creativity, a unique approach to the problem and for risk-taking.
The Spirit of DI Award went to two teams: the Westlake Amigos team and the Higdon Trouble Makers team. This award is given to teams for exceptional spirit, teamwork, volunteerism and sportsmanship.
The Torchbearer Award went to the Stoddert Save a Nation team. The award is given to a team that demonstrates a solution that has an extraordinary impact in and beyond their local communities.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,521 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
Challenges are separated into three levels of competition – elementary, middle and high school. There is also a non-competitive challenge for Rising Stars teams. Rising Stars teams include students in kindergarten through Grade 2. This year, 22 Rising Stars teams participated at regionals.
As a result of their placement at regionals, 43 teams advance to the state event set for March 28 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Teams that earn first- through fourth-place awards at regionals advance.
The following teams advance to the state tournament.
The Big Fix (technical)
- Middle: Archbishop Neale School (ANS) Pickled Llama team, first place; Milton M. Somers Middle School, Off the Walls team, second place; and Mattawoman Middle School, Innovators team, third place.
- High: Piccowaxen Middle School, Pangea Pineapples, first place; and North Point High School, Magnificent 7 team, second place.
The Pangea Pineapples competed at the high-school level because the team includes both middle- and high-school students.
First Encounter (scientific)
- Elementary: Peter’s School, Fast Thinking 5! team, first place; ANS, Animals team, second place; Dr. James Craik Elementary School, Red Pandas team, third place; and T.C. Martin Elementary School, Scienteers team, fourth place.
- Middle: Peter’s, Destined 2Imagine team, first place; and John Hanson Middle School, All Species DI team, second place.
- High: North Point, Half N’ ½…ish team, first place.
Picture This (fine arts)
- Elementary: Mitchell, Razzlers team, first place; William A. Diggs Elementary School, Lightning Bolts team, second place; Mary B. Neal Elementary School, DInosaurs team, third place; and Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, Huskie Friends Forever team, fourth place.
- Middle: Theodore G. Davis Middle School, Elemelons team, first place; Piccowaxen, Pictacular Panthers team, second place; Matthew Henson Middle School, Just George team, third place; and General Smallwood Middle School, Fire Breathin Rubber Duckies team, fourth place.
- High: Westlake High School, Amigos team, first place; North Point, Masketeers team, second place; and St. Charles High School, Spartans of Tomorrow team, third place.
To The Rescue (improvisational)
- Elementary:C. Parks Elementary School, Improvasational Challengers team, first place; Martin, Masters team, second place; Mary H. Matula Elementary School, Martin Pickle Pickers team, third place; and Neal, Crazy Creative Crabs team, tie for third place.
- Middle: Henson, 5 Fam team, first place; Somers, Mighty Broken Ballss! team, second place; St. Mary’s Bryantown, Tri-Justice League team, third place; and Davis, Wheel Decide team, fourth place.
- High: North Point, Lucky 7 team, first place; and La Plata High School, Not Fast Just Furious team, second place.
In The Cards (engineering)
- Elementary: Mitchell, Engineers team, first place; Malcolm Elementary School, Moons team, second place; Malcolm, Stars team, tie for second place; and Craik, Card Masters team, third place.
- Middle: Smallwood, DI-amonds team, first place; Smallwood, The Unknown team, second place; St. Peter’s, BrainStorm team, third place; and Henson, SpecStackular team, fourth place.
- High: North Point and St. Charles high schools, Dynamic Imaginators team, first place; Henry E. Lackey High School and Smallwood, Weight-sted Potential team, second place; and North Point, Heart of Cards team, third place.
The team from North Point and St. Charles competed together because team members attend those schools. The Lackey and Smallwood team competes together because student members attend both schools.
It’s About Time (service learning)
- Elementary: Peter’s, Storm Troopers team, first place; Mitchell, Kids Feed Kids team, second place; and St. Mary’s Bryantown, Fast Thinkers team, third place.
- Middle: Mary’s Bryantown, Hot Glue Guns team, first place; Henson, TBFPSP team, second place; and Mattawoman, Helping Hearts team, third place.
- High: Lackey and North Point, Little Rascals team, first place; and Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, Save a Nation team, second place.
The Save a Nation team competed at the high-school level because the team includes both middle- and high-school students.
Special Awards
The Renaissance Award went to two teams: The Davis Elemelons team and the Matula Rising Stars Great Space Academy team. The award is given to teams that demonstrate exceptional skill in the areas of engineering, design or performance.
The DaVinci Award went to two teams: The Henson Just George team and the Piccowaxen Pangea Pineapples team. The award is given to teams that demonstrate exceptional creativity, a unique approach to the problem and for risk-taking.
The Spirit of DI Award went to two teams: the Westlake Amigos team and the Higdon Trouble Makers team. This award is given to teams for exceptional spirit, teamwork, volunteerism and sportsmanship.
The Torchbearer Award went to the Stoddert Save a Nation team. The award is given to a team that demonstrates a solution that has an extraordinary impact in and beyond their local communities.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,521 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.