The Martin County School District recently hosted its annual Cardboard Boat Race at Martin County High School on May 20, 2023, where elementary students in grades third through fifth build and race homemade boats.
The STEAM-related competition started as a community-building activity by two MCSD elementary school science lab teachers 8 years ago. This year’s race included participants from J.D. Parker Elementary, Pinewood Elementary, Crystal Lake Elementary, Jensen Beach Elementary, Palm City Elementary and Bessey Creek Elementary.
Students worked with family members to create a boat completely constructed from cardboard and duct tape. They use these boats to compete against teams from their own schools and from other elementary schools.
Each participating school awards its students in the following categories: fastest overall boat, most spirit, and Titanic award for the most dramatic sinking. District awards included: overall fastest boat, fastest School Resource Officer, fastest Assistant Principal and Fastest Principal.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Bessey Creek Elementary
- 1st Place: Team Boona
- 2nd Place: Water Ways
- Third Place: Galaxy
- Titanic: Grumpy Old Men
- Most Spirit: Water Ways
Crystal Lake Elementary
- 1st Place: A Yacht
- Titanic: Extra Terrestrials
- Most Spirit: Perry the Platypus
J.D.Parker Elementary
- 1st Place: Army of God
- 2nd Place: SS Bam Bam
- Titanic: The Rockstar
- Most Spirit: SS Bam Bam
Jensen Beach Elementary
- 1st Place: Mighty Duct
- Titanic: Wishart Farm
- Most Spirit: Mighty Duct
Palm City Elementary
- 1st Place: US Floater
- 2nd Place: The Jolly Roger
- 3rd Place: USS Grant
- Titanic: There She Blows
- Most Spirit: FL Sink-O
Pinewood Elementary
- 1st Place: Jaws
- 2nd Place: Marauders
- 3rd Place: What Floats Your Boat
- Titanic: Alligator Boat
- Most Spirit: Morris and Bailey
Fastest Overall: Team Boona, Bessey Creek Elementary
Fastest Principal: Head Hawk, a.k.a. Principal Brenda Watkins, Crystal Lake Elementary
Fastest Assistant Principal: Jamie Law and her daughter Noelle, Jensen Beach Elementary
Fastest School Resource Officer: Deputy Dave Williams, Palm City Elementary
The MCSD Cardboard Boat Race is always a fun school family and community event enjoyed by all! Look for more information all throughout the school year about the 2023-2024 event in May 2024! The 2023-2024 competition year will include an invitation to middle school and high school families that would like to compete.
Click here for a link to view all the photos taken on race day: https://drive.google.com/drive...