April 27, 2006
CFISD SCHOOLS
HEAD TO KNOXVILLE FOR DI GLOBAL TOURNAMENT
Eleven teams representing
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD schools participated in the Gulf Coast State Destination
ImagiNation (DI) Competition in Corpus Christi, March 31-April 2, and
three teams returned home as global bound winners.
The winning teams will now compete in the Destination ImagiNation Global
Competition which will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, May 24-28.
According to Cassandra Johnson, HORIZONS, Gifted & Talented helping
teacher, students began working on their projects for the DI challenges
early in the school year. Each group was required to build a balsa wood
structure, create a drama, hone their improv skills, or build a ball launching
device.
“Working on these projects allowed students to learn that creativity
is not just thinking outside of the box, but that the greatest challenges
to creativity come when you must stay within the parameters of the box,”
Johnson said. “More importantly, these students learn about teamwork—the
kind of teamwork where you respect the talents and strengths of others
and you know that your actions will either harm the team or bring them
success.”
Of the 11 CFISD teams
that participated in the state competition, six placed in the DI challenges.
The following are the winning teams:
Global Bound Winners:
• Hamilton Elementary: Lucky 7’s won 1st
place in the Back at You! challenge. Team members were Akshay
Fecade, Rebecca Kavar, Brenna Larkin, Anoosha Moturu, Geoffrey Orihel,
Owen Rettenmaier, and Marissa Villamanga. The
school sponsor was Mary Duhon and the team manager was
Sarada Moturu.
• Hamilton Middle School: KIAW won 2nd place in
the Back at You! challenge. Team members were Drew Allen, Eddie
Brucculeri, Nathalie Charlton, Sally Cogan, Hayden Passon, Daniel Schlomer,
and Michael Sliva. The school sponsor was Mary
Young-Miller and the team manager was Denise Cogan.
• Cy-Fair High School:The Dynamic Super Fundercats
won 2nd place in the On Safari challenge. The team members were Lauren
Falconi, Bryan Gray, Kelsey Sallade, Matt Wheeler, and Phillip
Wozny. The school sponsor was David Winfiele
and the team manager was Becky Sallade.
Other Winners:
• Hamilton Elementary: Team Squirrel won 6th place
in the Kidz Rulz challenge. Team members were Colin Chappell,
Casey Cogan, Erin Curby, Brittan Elliott, Brooke Hanley, Adam Walker,
and Kirsten Williamson. The school sponsor was Mary
Duhon and the team manager was Denise Cogan.
• Yeager Elementary: VR Geese won 3rd place in
the How’d tHAT Happen? challenge and a Spirit of Destination ImagiNation
medal. The team members were Abigail Buck, Blair Dewing, Annie
Elkington, Kelsey McGlamery, Katie Mudd, Deanna Narveson, and
Emma Willingham. The school sponsor was Ardith Daily
and the team manager was Linda Mudd.
• Jersey Village High School: The Velcro Masters
won 4th place in the Kidz Rulz challenge and a DaVincI medal. Team members
were Lee Barker, Kurt Bilanoski, Shin Chu, Jordan Fauser, Jesse
Pyle, Sarah Wisterman, and Heather White. The
team manager was Curtis Haverty.
Destination ImagiNation
is a process-oriented program designed to teach its participants the art,
skills and tools associated with problem solving. Some teams’ achievements
go well beyond meeting the core mission of DI.
Hamilton
Elementary School :
The Lucky 7’s launched 299 balls for six points each. Their ingenuity
outscored teams from around the state.
Hamilton
Middle School: KIAW is returning to Knoxville after placing fifth
at last year’s Global competition.
Cy-Fair
High School: The Dynamic Super Fundercats will be returning to
Global Finals for the third time. They will be co-hosting an Improv Fiesta
while at University of Tennessee.
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