Brandon Schools? When the fourth grade Destination Imagination team from HT Burt Elementary school combined team work, fast thinking, public speaking and calm composure during adversity, the experience they walked away with nearly immeasurable.
Almost.
Though their experience may have been too great to measure, their performance was not. At the April 12 State Competition for Destination Imagination, the HT Burt team was awarded third place out of 29 teams in their division.
‘We were thrilled,? said, Robin Loughlin, a team coach. ‘When they called our name, we were so pleased. I got to observe the kids in their instant challenge, and they were amazing. The kids are quick thinking on their feet and I am so proud of them. They really came together.?
As a team, the six students in Destination Imagination got together once a week to practice their particular challenge. Beginning in October, the DI teams choose a challenge, and plan a skit which meets all the necessary requirements.
‘Our team chose to act out a 3-D video game. In the challenge they had to meet three objectives in three different countries,? Lisa Gunnels, the team head coach, said. ‘The team researched every aspect of the countries they chose, and found out a lot of interesting things, such as when the Chinese New Year is and that there is a six to one ratio of sheep to people in New Zealand.?
The students had to perform a skit in front of a crowd in which their ‘player? achieved three objectives, in this case, to collect a mug from China, obtain water from a Geyser in New Zealand, and get hot cocoa mix from the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory in Hershey, Penn.
The students were then judged on their overall performance, an instant challenge, and three side trips. ‘The students did very well,? Gunnels said, ‘but they really shined in their instant challenge, because they are good quick thinkers and know how to improvise.?
For HT Burt, their performance and objective not only earned them the third place finish in states, but a first place regional finish earlier in the year as well.
All the accolade earned by the HT Burt team was not the only Destination Imagination highlight for the Brandon School District; three additional teams qualified for the state competition as well. Those teams were