Real-World Learning at the Ontario Skills Competition
At St. Mother Teresa High School, students lit up the world of STEM through creativity, innovation, and collaboration. From building wind turbines out of recycled materials to leading coding workshops for younger learners, these students took what they learned in the classroom and turned it into real-world impact.
Through two key initiatives, participation in the Ontario Skills Competition and a collaborative coding workshop at St. Patrick’s Elementary School, students demonstrated how curiosity, leadership, and hands-on exploration brought Deep Learning to life.
Students from St. Mother Teresa High School travelled to Toronto to compete in the Ontario Skills Competition, a province-wide event that celebrated student talent in skilled trades and technology.
This was an incredible opportunity for students to take what they had learned in the classroom and apply it in a real-world setting, said teacher Alyssa Kelly, who accompanied the group. They competed in both the Character Animation and Green Energy categories, and it was amazing to watch them problem-solve and collaborate under pressure.
In the Character Animation category, teams created short animated films using WeVideo, focusing on skilled trades.
They had to blend storytelling, creativity, and technical skill, Alyssa explained. It was a perfect combination of digital competency and collaboration.
Students in the Green Energy challenge engineered wind turbines using recycled materials, applying their knowledge of renewable energy to create functional, eco-conscious designs.
It was hands-on, innovative, and deeply aligned with our curriculum, Alyssa said.
Beyond the competition, the experience left a lasting impression.
One of the highlights was simply being part of a larger community of learners, Alyssa reflected. Competing with other school boards and travelling together gave students a sense of pride and motivation that is hard to replicate in a classroom.
Coding, Connection, and Leadership
Back at home, Grade 7 and 8 students from St. Mother Teresa High School took their STEM knowledge on the road by visiting St. Patrick’s Elementary School to lead a day of coding and robotics exploration for younger learners.
The students were thrilled to experiment with all the technology, said Alyssa. The Spheros, small programmable robotic balls, were a big hit. Seeing our students take on leadership roles was so rewarding as they guided and supported younger students through each activity.
Even unexpected challenges became valuable learning moments. When a brief power outage interrupted the workshop, students quickly adapted, shifting to unplugged demonstrations and interactive discussions. Their calm, creative response reflected flexibility and resilience, skills that define real-world problem-solvers.
The experience also strengthened students’ leadership and mentorship abilities. They learned to adjust their teaching for different age groups, foster curiosity, and model teamwork and patience, showing what Deep Learning looked like in action.
STEM and Deep Learning: Building Skills for Life
These experiences reflected the OCSB’s commitment to Deep Learning, where students moved beyond memorization to develop essential global competencies such as communication, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, character, and citizenship.
At St. Mother Teresa High School, learning was rooted in purpose, innovation, and care for others. Students proved that when curiosity met courage, the results were extraordinary, preparing them not only for future careers but also for lifelong learning and leadership.
showcasing creativity and collaboration beyond the classroom
