Students at St. John Catholic School have once again demonstrated their creativity and engineering prowess by winning silver in the Skills Ontario Grade 4 to 5 Cardboard Car Race Regional Competition.
The prestigious event, which draws young innovators from across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), challenges teams to design and construct a functioning cardboard car using paper products, toothpicks or wood skewer sticks, rubber bands, and other materials. The cars must travel at least 15 feet on a flat surface, with teams competing for the fastest times.
Led by their dedicated teacher, Ms. Reis, Grade 5 students Gloria, Valentina, Fernanda, and Sofiia (from left to right in the picture) devoted hours to crafting a sleek, aerodynamic design. Their innovative approach minimized wind resistance and ensured one of the fastest recorded times at the competition, earning them a well-deserved second-place finish.
Reflecting on their success, the students are now setting their sights on the provincial competition in April. They aim to refine their design further in pursuit of a gold win. “Their determination and teamwork have been inspiring,” said Ms. Reis. “I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved and look forward to seeing them excel at provincials.”
The team’s achievement underscores the importance of STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning and highlights the potential of young minds to innovate and excel when given the right tools and opportunities.