AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Avon Maitland Students Advance to Provincial Round of Skills Ontario Junk Drawer Races

Students across the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) have been busy putting their skills to the test this year through a series of hands-on competitions hosted by Skills Ontario, including Junk Drawer Races and the Skills Ontario Competition. From regional events through to the provincial stage, these experiences are giving students meaningful opportunities to explore skilled trades and technology while representing their school communities.

Junk Drawer Races Gold Medal Winners - Eagle 2.0 from South Perth Centennial Public School. From Left: Edwin Froud, Angus Queen, Aiden Mills-Rastin

The Junk Drawer Races challenge elementary students to design, build, and test innovative creations using everyday household materials. Divided by grade level, the competition introduces students to engineering and skilled trades concepts through age-appropriate, hands-on challenges.

AMDSB students demonstrated outstanding creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills at the regional competition, achieving exceptional results across multiple categories in the Western Region.

Regional Results - AMDSB

• Robot Walker (Grades 1-3)
  • Gold - Little Falls Public School, Pink Flowers
  • Silver - Little Falls Public School, Glam Rock
  • Bronze - Little Falls Public School, Super Bros
     
• Cardboard Car Race (Grades 4-5)
  • Gold - Sprucedale Public School, Team #1
     
• Paper Glider Plan (Grade 6)
  • Gold - South Perth Centennial Public School, Team #1, Eagle 2.0
  • Silver - Anne Hathaway Public School, Team #4
  • Bronze - Anne Hathaway Public School, Team #5
     
• Hydraulic/Pneumatic Machine Challenge (Grades 7/8)
  • Silver - Brookside Public School, Team #3
  • Bronze - Brookside Public School, Team #7

Teams placing in the top three advanced to the provincial Junk Drawer Races competition, where AMDSB students continued their success. Congratulations to Little Falls Public School, South Perth Centennial Public School, and Brookside Public School on earning provincial medals.

Provincial Results - AMDSB

• Robot Walker (Grades 1-3)
  • Gold - Little Falls Public School, Pink Flowers
     
• Paper Glide (Grade 6)
  • Gold - South Perth Centennial Public School, Team #1, Eagle 2.0
     
• Hydraulic/Pneumatic Machine Challenge (Grades 7/8)
  • Silver - Brookside Public School, Team #3, Bro's Craning

"These results highlight the incredible creativity and problem-solving skills of our elementary students," said Jodi Froud, OYAP Recruiter with the Avon Maitland District School Board. "Through initiatives like the Junk Drawer Races, students are introduced to hands-on learning that builds confidence, teamwork, and an early awareness of the skilled trades and technology pathways available to them."

Building on this momentum, AMDSB students are also preparing to compete at the Skills Ontario Competition, taking place May 4 and 5 at the Toronto Congress Centre. A total of 52 elementary students will represent AMDSB, with some advancing through a regional competition hosted at the Pathways Innovation Centre.

At the secondary level, 19 students competed locally for the opportunity to advance, with some also participating in a qualifying competition at Fanshawe College. Ten students have earned a place at the provincial competition.

"The interest in the Skills Ontario Competition continues to grow across AMDSB, and it's exciting to see students pursuing opportunities to showcase their skills," said Froud. "For many, the local and qualifying competitions provide valuable experience and a glimpse of what it will be like to compete at the provincial level, where hundreds of students participate and thousands attend."

Junk Drawer Races Gold Medal Winners - Pink Flowers from Little Falls Public School. From Left: Hani Ahmad, Adalynn Vanderburg, Layla McVeeny, Penny White

In the weeks leading up to the competition, classroom educators will continue supporting students as they prepare to represent their schools and AMDSB on the provincial stage.