What is Destination Imagination (DI)? ✩ FUN ✩ Engaging ✩ Teamwork ✩ Problem Solving ✩ Creativity ✩ Friendship Bel levue Schools Destina tion Imagination Destination Imagination What is DI? Young people can access their creativity and confidence through hands-‐on discovery and teamwork. By participating in DI teams, students can gain experience in successful teamwork strategies. In performing competitive “Challenges,” students can build life-‐long problem-‐solving skills. Destination Imagination is very difficult to describe. The best way to understand the program is to try it out. Each team will select a Challenge to work on for the season. DI Challenges are released in mid September, approximately 6 months before the regional tournament. Challenge details (including scoring) are detailed in each Team Manager manual. These are not available online. What is the role of the Team Manager and me – the parent? The Team Manager is more of a facilitator than a coach and is there to support the process. The students lead and make independent decisions, as trial and error are part of the DI learning experience. Parents need to respect the Destination Imagination experience -‐-‐ students will learn through this experimentation. The Team Manager is not a teacher – so the teachers will take on a different style and manner when leading a DI Team. We are so excited to have your child be a part of the DI family in Bellevue. We have the largest program in Washington State and are thrilled about building a community of creativity, problem solving, teamwork and FUN! For parents interested in becoming a Parent School Coordinator or needing clarification on DI roll out at your school, contact BSD Parent Liaison: Leslie Feller [email protected] Prospective or Current DI Team Managers (teachers/coaches) contact: Kristi Stroyan – DI Team Manager Leader [email protected] **REVISED** PARENT GUIDELINES Destination ImagiNation will begin in October and will culminate at the Regional Tournament on a Saturday in March. A large component of DI is teamwork; therefore the team will agree on their Team Challenge with their Team Manager. We will make every effort to not have same grade teams work on same challenge. 1. Parents are not permitted to be in the room while the teams are meeting – no exceptions. The national and regional DI organization is very strict that all work must be done by the teams and the teams only. Parent ‘interference’ is dealt with by region DI officials. Please, even if you want to, don’t make suggestions to your child about their challenge research, production, or solutions. 2. Checks have been deposited. If DI seems like a bad fit for your child, you can drop after the 2nd session and we will open up spaces for any wait-‐listed participants. No refunds will be available after the end of October. 3. The teams and parents will be expected to attend the day-‐long (8am-‐5pm) regional tournament. 4. There may be an occasional “field trip” for a given team. Drivers are needed as the Team Manager is not allowed to transport students. The Team Coordinator will schedule the field trip. 5. Team formation. Teams were formed by days available and balanced based on skill sets. If a team is high functioning this year, they may stay together for subsequent years. The District Coordinator is Kristi Stroyan. If any changes need to happen (for balance), she will contact the School Coordinator who will notify parents. 6. Communication and boundaries. Anything child specific and personal can be handled one on one with the Team Manager. Please do not share with other parents. If you have a problem with your Team Manager, please contact the Team Manager directly – if further support is needed contact the District Coordinator, Kristi Stroyan. 7. Each family is expected to take one volunteer position for each child in the program. See details on volunteer page. 8. The journey. The real gift of DI is the process. This is a very unique and powerful program that relies on three things: 1) Team Manager training/engagement (we want to keep them happy and eager to continue as DI TM’s); 2) Student involvement – students should be EXCITED to go to DI meetings every week and engaged in the team work; 3) Parent support – we need parents to understand DI, step up and volunteer, and support our wonderful Team Managers – one BIG happy family. 9. THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE: DI is a student driven activity – no parent or adult interference can occur. (And this is what students love about it.) Our recommendation is try not to ask any details about the Team Challenge – that way you will not be tempted to suggest, coach, solve, etc. If any ‘interference’ is suspected, a team is disqualified at the regional tournament. This would be such a disappointment for your child and all students on the team.