LDSB Students Place at Skills Ontario

Limestone Learning Foundation
LDSB Students Place at Skills Ontario
Posted on 05/12/2023
LDSB Winners at Skills OntarioNineteen elementary and 32 secondary Limestone District School Board students participated in the Skills Ontario Competition on May 1-2, 2023, at the Toronto Congress Centre, resulting in two first-place finishes, three second-place finishes, and one third-place finish.




Elementary: 
LEGO Robotics 7-8 – 1st Place  Module Vanier
Oliver Chang 
Tony Cinanni
Cléo Collins
Laurence Miller

Construction 7-8 – 2nd Place  Welborne Avenue PS
Rohit Sheth
Ryan Pearce
Daniel Egwobon

Secondary: 

Heavy Equipment Service – 1st Place  Napanee DSS
Lane Fretts 

Auto Painting – 2nd Place – Napanee DSS
Joe Yeomans 

Hairstyling – 2nd Place – LCVI
Sierra Whan 

Auto Collision Repair – 3rd Place – Napanee DSS
Luke Van Hoek


"I was really excited because I did not expect us to win," said Cléo Collins, a member of the four-person robotics club at Module Vanier that won first place in LEGO Robotics category. 

"The lady who took our photo told us to smile, and she didn't need to tell us that," laughed Laurence Miller.

The pair shared that the LEGO Robotics competition involved each team attempting to build a bot with a moving crane-like hook. The goal was to use the hook to move various items, but the bot itself was not allowed to move.

"It was kind of difficult but not really," said Laurence. "It was a big coincidence because the Thursday before, we had built a crane [in robotics club] that could lift objects."

"It's really fun because you get to build something, program it, and at the end it works or it doesn't," said Cléo. "It's simple but difficult in its own way."

"It tests your knowledge, creativity and patience," Laurence agreed. "It was fun to see the creative ideas that other teams came up with."


Lane says while competing in the Heavy Equipment Service category, he was tested on electrical circuits, hydraulic circuits, engine work, precise measuring and more.

"It was pretty exciting, especially at the Ontario level," he says. "It takes a bit to make it there and to win, so it's a big deal. 

"I want to thank my teachers for supporting and encouraging us, and the board for providing programs with stuff like this," he adds. "It's an awesome experience and looks great on a resume."

Once he graduates from NDSS, Lane plans to continue his studies in the generator service technician program at Fleming College.

Sierra, who placed second in the Hairstyling category, says she too is grateful to add this experience to her resume.

"I definitely wasn't expecting to place second because there were so many people in the competition, and I've only been doing this for eight months," she says. "My thoughts after were about how many opportunities this could open up for me."

As a student in the LCVI hair apprenticeship program, Sierra now works at a salon where she started as a co-op student.

"As a little kid, I loved playing with my mom's hair, my grandma's hair," she says. "It's always something I've enjoyed doing. [Winning second] makes me feel pretty successful."

To view an album of photos from the event, please visit the LDSB Facebook page. For more information about learning opportunities like this, please visit LDSB Expanded Opportunities.

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.