JLCCS hosts inaugural Pinewood Derby Day

May 1—They say, "it takes a village to raise a child" and James L. Collins Catholic School was fortunate to have a community of support to host their first Pinewood Derby. The school-wide event was the culmination of STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

Students in 4th through 8th grade have acquired these skills during weekly class time at James L. Collins Catholic School's new SmartLab that opened in Fall 2023. Learning in the SmartLab utilizes unique educational processes that allows students to explore high-interest topics at their own pace. Incorporating technology, such as student-friendly computer CAD programs, allows students to engineer their own designs and then produce those designs on a 3D printer.

Focusing on the engineering process, the students began by investigating how engineers work to solve problems. Each student from the Prekindergarten 3-year-olds to the 8th graders considered aspects of race car dynamics as they drafted their design for their own race vehicle. The completed drawings were then sent to "manufacturing". To manufacture the cars, a team of volunteers who used the individual designs to shape blocks of wood to resemble the student's ideas. The wooden vehicle bodies were then returned to the school for finishing. The older students sanded their vehicles by hand and applied a base coat of paint. All students were then given a wide variety of decorating options with which to further customize their cars, including buttons, stickers, feathers, paint markers, pompom balls, and even googly eyes! Once the wheels were attached, the students were ready to race!

Students took charge of event logistics such as creating the trophies that were handed out on the CAD program and printing them on the 3D printer. Other students used their artistic skills to produce decorations to transform the gym into a race way. JLCCS had amazing community support to launch this event which included monetary gifts, materials for the students to work with, race track necessities, and even helping hands came together to make this an event enjoyed by all.

Scout Pack 258, based at First Baptist Church in Corsicana, loaned their 8 lane, aluminum race track and timer to JLCCS for the event. This high-tech pinewood derby track made it possible for these scaled cars to race up to 200 mph. The computerized finish line helped to determine the winner of the last race within 0.001 of a second. Volunteers Joe Delane and Jim Standlee acted as the track maintenance crew.

Event computer electrical engineer duties were performed by Mr. Mark Dillman. Gift card prizes from Wal-Mart and Braum's for the winners of the races as well as for various categories of the car show portion of the event were provided by Corley's Funeral Home and Mrs. Green, the second grade teacher at JLCCS. Building supplies, hand tools, and safety equipment were generously provided by Harbor Freight and Gilfillan's Hardware. Additionally, monetary gifts were made from McKee Lumber and Jerry's Body Shop to support this event. Chuck's Paint and Body was also a sponsor for the event.

The school was thrilled to have special guest judges including Mrs. Lisa Dillman from Navarro College and Chief Dugger and Master Sargent Gibbs with the JROTC unit at Corsicana High School. Many parents and family members of the staff and students of JLCCS lent their time, skills, and energies to help make this an event to remember.

The Pinewood Derby Day was filled with excitement as all of the students in the school were able to compete. For their generous support, several businesses were offered a car kit to create their own race vehicle to be displayed and raced in a special sponsor's race at the end of the event. The sponsor's race was a highlight of the day's activities as was the special Challenge Race in which randomly selected students raced their vehicles against the principal's race car. Gilfillan's Hardware was the sponsor champion.

The overall grand champion for the Derby was Emilia Thapa, a second-grade student. Second place went to Yaretzi Lopez and third place went to Bella Valencia. The Pinewood Derby was coordinated by Mrs. Jennifer Standlee, the school's STEM SmartLab teacher.