Students are participating in the coding phase. (CSDCEO)
Secondary school students from across the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien (CSDCEO) gathered at The Nation Sports Complex in Limoges on Thursday, May 14, for the annual Problem-Solving Olympiads.
The friendly competition brought together students from Grades 7 through 12 to showcase their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through a series of coding and robotics challenges.
Working in teams, students were tasked with solving complex problems by designing, programming, and adjusting robots to complete specific objectives. The competition encouraged participants to demonstrate creativity, logical thinking, teamwork, and technical precision.
Alongside the robotics events, a chess tournament was also held during the day. Organizers said the additional activity highlighted other forms of problem-solving, including strategy, concentration, and anticipation, while maintaining the same spirit of friendly competition.
“The Problem-Solving Olympiads are a flagship activity that allows our students to develop transferable skills while enjoying a positive experience in an authentic and enriching learning environment,” said Lyne Racine, Director of Education and Secretary of the CSDCEO.
“Whether through robotics challenges or the chess tournament, our students are demonstrating their ability to think critically, collaborate, and innovate. These initiatives align fully with our commitment to fostering deep learning in connection with the priorities outlined in our 2025–2030 strategic plan,” she added.
The day concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing the teams that achieved the highest scores in the coding and robotics competition.
In the Grade 7 and 8 category, first place went to Thomas Simard, Nathan Desforges, and Wesley Gauthier from École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet. Second place was awarded to Adrien Labelle, Liam Borris, and William Quesnel from École secondaire catholique de Casselman, while Mégan Clément, Félix Charlebois, and Lucas Lalonde from École secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury finished in third place.
In the Grade 9 and 10 division, Xavier Turcotte, Léonard Bourgon, and Quinn O’Brien from École secondaire catholique Embrun captured first place. Timéo Cholette, Cédrik Perron, and Tobias Pigeon from École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet placed second, while Benoît Jean-Louis, Yanick Jean-Louis, and Alexandre Bergeron from École secondaire catholique de Casselman earned third place.
Among Grade 11 and 12 students, the top honours went to Lorianne Lavigne, Renée Laflèche, and Étienne Quivet from École secondaire catholique Embrun. Jacob Viau, Noah St-Denis, and Maxime Bourgon-Clairoux from École secondaire catholique Le Relais placed second, while Dimitri Séguin and Yannick Simard from École secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury finished third.
The annual event continues to provide students across the school board with opportunities to strengthen STEM-related skills through hands-on learning and collaborative competition.
