This year, two teams of Year 6 students from Wairakei Primary School took part. Each team was given a workstation, which contained an impressive assortment of easy to use equipment, including gears, wheels, pulleys, joiners, nuts and bolts, tools, aluminium framing, motors and electronics.
Teams were given four challenges to choose from, one of which was building a waka/yacht that moved freely on land. The more difficult challenges were higher scoring and teams battled to complete the challenges in the three-hour time limit. Parents and teachers were confined to the sidelines, not able to speak at all to the competitors, who were reluctant to even stop for a snack or a drink.
Our teams were awarded second and third place at the local competition, which saw them gain automatic entry into the regional semi-finals, held at John Paul College in Rotorua. Whilst our teams did not progress to the finals, we were very proud of the POWER they demonstrated - taking the opportunity to try something out of their comfort zone, and exhibiting respect and sportsmanship in a high-pressure environment.
The key competencies of thinking and participating and contributing were certainly in action and we congratulate the students involved - Max K, Elliot, Ali and Matt (Team Wairakei 1 - ninth place) and Max H, Asharntay, Baylee and Clare (Wairakei 2 - sixth place). A big thank you to our support crew, who provided transport and quiet encouragement from the bleachers: Jo Knowles, Diana Sutherland, Kate Francis, Mathieu Turquier, Debi Hendra, Suzanne Aitken and Phoebe Kearney.
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