Pupils aim high at science challenge
Four pupils have risen above the rest as the top primary school Epro8 challengers in the region.
Twelve teams from across Manawatu¯, Horowhenua and Tararua gathered at Monrad Intermediate yesterday to test their problem-solving skills in a nautically themed challenge, building a lighthouse, fishing contiki, yacht or a navigation device.
Armed with a brief and a well-supplied workstation, the teams set out building their nautical feature using equipment such as gears, pulleys, joiners, aluminium framing and electronics.
Taking a clear lead in the race against the 2.5 hour time limit, Feilding’s Lytton Street School powered ahead early with 120 points to the majority’s 50 one hour in.
Parents gritted their teeth as they stood on the sidelines willing their children towards success.
Ann Mackay could only watch on as her son Roy, 11, from Levin North School ran his fingers through his hair, feeling the mounting pressure of the challenge.
As the event manager and judge Kelvin Thiele checked over his team’s work, he took a breath. ‘‘We’ve been building a yacht that is powered by wind,’’ Roy said. ‘‘Right now we’re just working on the dimensions for the sail.
‘‘There’s a lot of pressure. Right now were in third, we need to keep up the momentum.’’
But as the clock stopped it was too late; Lytton Street School’s team had won the challenge with their yacht raking in 290 points.
Team leader Liam Burgers, 10, who was supported by his teammates Beth Mcmenamin, 9, Laura Dallas, 9, and Connor Moar, 10, said he was glad they had won after putting their all into the challenge. ‘‘I don’t really know the feeling to explain it, but it’s really amazing.’’
Almost 13,000 kids from 900 schools compete in the Epro8 Challenge in 260 events every year, Thiele said.
‘‘It’s a different kind of thinking when you’ve got to actually do it. It’s about making that learning real.’’
Making learning fun and exciting, especially in a high-pressure environment like the challenge, was a greatway to encourage students to learn, Thiele said. ‘‘I’d like to think that what we do here is a catalyst for schools to make learning more practical, rather than just paper-based exercises.
‘‘This season was really good. For year 5s and 6s, they’re still pretty young and the fact that they are achieving this, is pretty incredible. ‘‘
Lytton Street School’s assistant principal Chris Symon said he was nervous as the time ticked away, but he was proud of what his pupils achieved.