Skills Ontario is all about building Ontario’s skilled trades and technologies workforce. Their innovative programs connect education, experience, and employment. Normally Skills Canada delivers in-school presentations across Ontario, hosts Canada’s largest skills competition, runs summer camps for skills development and connects students to employers. As organizations and businesses of all shapes, sizes, and services did their best to find new ways to operate during the COVID pandemic, Skills Ontario was no different.
One of their new programs was particularly innovative and intriguing for SMCDSB students and their teachers - the Junk Drawer Races! Open to students from Grades 2 to 12, this competition was aptly named because competitors must use items found around the house/classroom, recyclables, or easily available for little to no cost!
Elementary schools in our board had a very good showing in this first-ever competition! Congratulations to all of the teams listed below, who will be moving onto the provincial level and the championship round:
Grade 2/3 - Gravity Powered Robot Walker
3rd: St. Mary's Collingwood
2nd: St. Peter the Apostle Team 2
1st: St. Peter the Apostle Team 1
Grade 4/5 - Rubber Band Powered Cardboard Car
3rd: St. Mary's, Collingwood
2nd: St. Angela Merici
Grade 6/7 - Gliders
3rd: St. Mary's, Collingwood
2nd: St. Angela Merici
1st: St. Charles, Team #5
Grade 8 - Hydraulic Cranes
3rd: Sacred Heart, Team #2