Kingston Students Test Skills in Annual Competition

Published on: 2011/04/05 - in Releases

Photography, Culinary Arts, Esthetics, Desktop Publishing and Cabinetmaking are just a few of the more than 30 Skills, Technology and Innovative events that students will compete in during the 9th annual Limestone Skills Competition.

Once again this year’s event will take place at St. Lawrence College’s Kingston campus, and selected Limestone District School Board (LDSB) sites on Wednesday, April 06th, 2011, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The exciting partnership between the Limestone District School Board and the many skills sectors continues to grow as more than 300 elementary and secondary students will demonstrate their talents under the watchful eye of industry experts and college level judges.

The focus of the competition is to provide a showcase event that draws attention to the passion and pathway destinations students pursue in their particular field of interest. The annual competition is an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate their talent and creativity, putting all of their skills to the test against peers and current industry standards. Students are given specific tasks to perform, or scenarios to complete, within a predetermined time frame that will be judged by industry specialists.

This year the competition will add a new elementary Green Design challenge that will test student interest in renewable or recyclable materials and will be back dropped by the newly constructed Wind Turbine facility recently unveiled at St. Lawrence College. The majority of the events will occur on the same day however, Home Building will require two days and three satellite locations will now be added to accommodate the addition of Auto Service at LCVI, Auto Paint at NDSS and Baking which will be hosted by Bayridge Secondary.

Elementary robotics as well as all the familiar and traditional sector competitions such as, Hairstyling, Hospitality and Welding will be held in the south block of St. Lawrence College while Fashion Design, Desktop publishing and Graphic Design will be in the new Link building.

In addition to the annual Skills Competition, organizers are pleased to introduce the inaugural Young Women Innovator’s Conference, a one-day enrichment opportunity for Grade 7 and 8 students. They will attend St. Lawrence College on Wednesday April 6, and participate in a variety of sessions facilitated by college students, including the opportunity to view other young women competing in different trades at the Limestone Skills Competition.

The conference will introduce students to future opportunities emerging through innovative economic trends that could help them envision a non-traditional career pathway, and to encourage completion of both secondary and post-secondary education. This innovative program is supported through the Ministry of Education?s School-to-College-to-Work Initiative (SCWI), and has been developed by PASS (Partnering to Articulate for Student Success), which is made up of eastern Ontario’s 3 colleges and 9 regional school boards.

Many of the secondary winners will advance directly to the provincial competition in Kitchener Waterloo May 1st – 4th, which will also host the elementary Lego Challenges.

For secondary events in the following disciplines: 2D Character Computer Animation, Culinary Arts, Individual Carpentry, Precision Machining, Small Powered Equipment, TV & Video Production, and Welding there will be a Regional qualifier also held at St. Lawrence College on April 16th, 2011.

Release & image source: Limestone District School Board