An adventure for WCDI - 4/18/04

Greetings family, I would like to share one of my daughters most recent achievements. Alexandra and I have been involved in a program called
  "Destination Imagination", through the school, over the last 3 years. This program consists of teams, grades 1-12, between 5-7 kids of equal ages per group that perform against other kids from other schools, in the same age group, from all over the region. Alex's team WCDI (We Can Do It), and I, one of the coaches, began our work in late September.  The objective of the competition is to choose one of six  DI 'challenges' set forth by the organization, which are also offered to all teams around the world. In our state there are 19 countries that participate.  The kids must take the challenge that they have chosen, and create an 8 minute skit, all of the dialogue, the props, etc., without the influence of the coaches. We are merely there to help them build on their ideas by asking questions and showing them how to use tools, build props, sew, and more. Then the goal is to resolve the 'challenge' chosen, in the most creative way possible, while using all means necessary within the guidelines that are laid out in great detail.

Seven months later....they were ready, well mostly.  The team that Alex is on consists of 3 boys and 3 girls in the fourth-grade.  The three girls have been on this team since we started three years ago. Two of the boys came last year and one other this year. In the first year of competition, at the tender age of seven, the kids did a fine job but chose not to compete.  They just wanted to have fun and see how it all worked before they jumped in to being judged. The second year, the at the ripe-old age of eight (third-grade), they competed and took second place in the regional tournament. This win sent them on to compete at the state level, but were disappointed when they didn't beat the older teams in their division. (fourth & fifth-graders) This ended their season of eight months of training. However, they were ecstatic that they got as far as they did in their first year of competition. 

This year, their third year together, they competed at the regional level and won by a HUGE margin. Then, on Saturday, April 17th, 2004, we went off to the state competitions where we competed with the best-of-the-best of Minnesota.  This time things were different! At the mature age of nine,  they were determined to show the older students that they were not going to be denied this time. The team competed  and took a strong second place! The top two winners of each category go on to the national level to compete for Global domination! This level is the 'Global' level and is the final stage of the journey.  In May we head off to Knoxville, Tennessee to compete with all of the best teams from around the world!  Of course, they expect to win there. My guess is that they won't be denied. 

There is of course, much more work to be done.  We now have one month to figure out how to improve upon what they now have.  Meanwhile each of the kids' parents must figure out how to raise upwards of $2,500 each to get them to Knoxville, Tennessee.  Please keep us in your prayers and send us any good fundraising ideas you may have!  We'll keep you posted.

Jeff Harris

Jeff Harris is the son of Peggy (Geffre) Murphy.

Back to www.GeffreFamily.com

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last modified: 02/24/08.