What a week! Our halls and the ice rink were buzzing with energy as we hosted a series of day and evening events designed to spark curiosity and build community. Throughout the week, we welcomed future CMS students from Plain City Elementary and Monroe Elementary during the day, and capped things off with high-energy evening sessions for our 5th and 6th grade families.
From gliding on the ice to mastering complex code, our Pioneers showed exactly what they are capable of when they ThinkBig!
Daytime Discovery: 4th Grade ThinkBig
Our visiting 4th graders jumped right into the CMS experience with a rotation of STEM challenges that tested their logic and teamwork:
Dash Robot Launchers: Groups worked together to code Dash to launch snowballs at targets.
Micro:bit Melodies: Students turned Micro:bits into functioning radios to play music.
Navigational Pros: A precision challenge where Dash had to move from point A to point B without hitting a single obstacle.
SamLabs Circuits: Students created colorful LED cycles using SamLabs blocks.
Logic and Literacy: From tangible block coding to binary code coloring, students explored the languages of technology.
Structural Success: Teams communicated through the stars and straws challenge to build the sturdiest towers.
Evening Engineering: 5th and 6th Grade Family Nights
The excitement did not stop when the bell rang! Our evening events brought families together for some friendly competition and hands-on building:
The Snowball Tower: A classic challenge—building the tallest straw-and-star tower capable of supporting a snowball.
Breakout EDU: Families put their heads together to solve puzzles and break out before time ran out.
Vex Snowmen: Using block coding and Vex robots, students and parents teamed up to build digital snowmen.
Ramp Riders: Engineering skiers and snowboarders that could successfully stay on the ramp through the entire run.
Ozobot Snow Plows: A fan favorite! Families built custom plows and coded Ozobots to clear the snow.
Heartfelt Thanks
An event-filled week like this requires an incredible amount of coordination. A huge Pioneer shout-out goes to Mrs. Rings, Mrs. Byers, and Mrs. Gillespie for the countless hours they put into making these events a massive success.
We also want to extend a special thank you to our sponsors, Amazon and Smiles to Love Orthodontics. Your support of these activities provides invaluable experiences for our students.
It was a week to remember—full of falling (on the ice), rising (with the towers), and learning together. Go Pioneers!