Brick by brick . . .

Westfield Washington Schools’ young builders shine in Lego House Competition

Future architects, engineers, and designers took their first steps toward becoming “Life-Ready” at the annual Lego House Builders Competition.

Westfield Washington Schools students from all six elementary schools – Carey Ridge Elementary School, Maple Glen Elementary School, Monon Trail Elementary School, Oak Trace Elementary School, Shamrock Springs Elementary School, and Washington Woods Elementary School – competed and showcased their building skills.

Student teams, supported by their dedicated Lego coaches, practiced their building skills and learned from local professionals in architecture, construction, interior design, and engineering. During the competition, students worked in pairs to construct Lego houses within 60 minutes, adhering to specific design criteria and applying the skills they developed during their practice sessions. After the construction, the teams tapped into another skill set as they presented clearly and effectively to judges. The entire experience required students to demonstrate collaboration, communication, creativity, and perseverance.

Students were honored with certificates of achievement at four levels: Master Builder, Advanced Builder, Skilled Builder, and Novice Builder, recognizing their accomplishments and growth.

“This competition is an incredible opportunity for our students to experience hands-on learning and explore potential careers in design and construction,” said Karen Gorgan, WWS Instructional Coach and event coordinator. “It fosters creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking – essential skills for future success.”

The event would not have been possible without the dedicated support of community judges and volunteers. A special thank you to this year’s judges:

• JR Pettit, Project Superintendent at CORE Construction
• Kathryn Roche, Interior Designer at Schmidt Associates
• Jonathan Haggarty, Executive Vice President at Meyer Najem Construction
• Jenny Davy, Manager of Orientation and Training Services, Integrity Learning Center
• Mirlege Castor, Project Engineer at Garmong Construction
• Will Wingfield, Road Project, and Planning Study Communications Expert
• Ron Hitch, Manager of Control Systems at Allison Transmission
• Susan Ottinger, Textile Specialist, Seamstress, and Librarian
• Tyler Herring, Ball State Architect Graduate
• Danielle Carey Tolan, Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff for the City of Westfield
• Michelle Walker, Special Education Teacher, and Aspiring Treehouse Designer
• Colin Schermann, Preconstruction Manager at Meyer Najem Construction

A special thank you to Adult Host Libby Baud, Assistant Principal at Maple Glen Elementary, Student Hosts Lily Bullard and Leo Mestrich, fourth graders at Maple Glen, Judging Coordinator Jane Hitch, Principal at Oak Trace Elementary, and all the parents who came to cheer on our builders.

Westfield Washington School Team Coaches

• Jody Simms, Carey Ridge Elementary School
• Karen Grogan, Maple Glen Elementary School
• Emily Wong, Monon Trail Elementary School
• Mattie Stautzenbach, Oak Trace Elementary School
• Tiffany Timme, Shamrock Spring Elementary School
• Sandy Nerney, Washington Woods Elementary School

“The collaboration between our schools and community professionals highlights the strength of our community and the value we place on real-world learning experiences for students,” said Dr. Paul Kaiser, Superintendent of Westfield Washington Schools.

The WWS Lego House Builders Competition continues to be a shining example of the district’s commitment to fostering creativity and ensuring that every student is “Life-Ready.”

For more information about Westfield Washington Schools and future events, visit wws.k12.in.us.

Photos provided by Westfield Washington Schools