By Kim Hilsenbeck

A few “sassy” and rather innovative students from Carpenter Hill Elementary are heading to a global competition in the Destination Imagination competition in May.

The event will be held in Tennessee May 20-24.

Carpenter Hill has two teams advancing to the global competition. The 7th Dimension, led by managers Anne-Marie Sheely and Christi Pierce, and the Sassy Seven, led by managers Janelle (“Nellie”) Knight and teacher Latisha Cawley. This is the first year Hays CISD has any teams going to the global competition. 

Teaching students to be critical thinkers — that is a worthy goal of any good educational program, even if it is extracurricular.

Students in Destination Imagination (DI) are learning about the creative process from imagination to innovation, and using their critical thinking skills along the way.

Originally conceptualized as Odyssey of the Mind in 1982, DI — a nonprofit organization — branched off from that organization in the late 1990s.

There are seven new Destination Imagination Challenges to choose from each year. The areas of focus include Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Structural and Service Learning. There is also a non-competitive Early Learning Challenge that allows participants to build social and problem solving skills.

According to its website, the Destination Imagination program encourages teams of learners to have fun, take risks, focus and frame challenges while incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the arts and service learning.

Both Carpenter Hill teams advanced from local competitions earlier this spring. Competitions are held throughout the country. Hays CISD started with eight teams for this school year, several of which made it to the state-level competition.

The Hays Free Press caught up with the Sassy Seven team, which was practicing last week after school, preparing for the upcoming competition. The 7th Dimension was in a nearby classroom, also hard at work.

In what’s called an instant challenge, the seven fifth graders on the Sassy Seven used team work and communication to develop a plan to create shade over five different items within a one-square-foot area on the floor, outlined with masking tape.

A small lamp in the center provided the light source. The items — including a stuffed animal and a ball — had to be in the shade to count for points.

To create the shade, they could use aluminum foil sheets, pencils, sheets of paper and pencils. But they could not touch the items on the floor themselves.

The girls excitedly talked with each other during the three-minute planning phase.

“I have an idea,” one said.

“I know what we can do,” another chimed in, even as a third said, “I’ve got a plan.”

It was tough to discern who said what as the girls spoke at the same time.

Eventually, however, a plan emerged for how to best complete the challenge.

DI team managers Tish Cawley and Nellie Knight oversaw the process. Cawley gave out the time countdown when requested by one of the girls.

Each of the seven girls has a specific role on the team:

There are rule keepers, time keepers, builders, narrators, writers, designers and actors, with some girls fulfilling multiple roles.

How would the team managers describe DI to someone on a quick elevator ride?

“I simply tell people it is seven students get together and solve open-ended problems,” Knight said.

In discussing the practice challenge after the time was up, team members and the managers said they have some leeway in how to interpret the instructions.

“In DI, if it doesn’t say you can’t, then you can,” Knight said.

“No is the worst word you can say in DI,” one team member echoed.

Knight and Cawley rated the girls after they completed the challenge. Most of the items were in at least some portion of shade. They earned points for each item that made the shade.

But the girls received the most points from their ability to function well together.

“We gave you 19 points for teamwork,” Knight said, “because that’s where is where you guys excel.”

To help send these two teams to Knoxville to represent Hays CISD, send donations to www.gofundme.com/8ehfys.