Olympics and Contests in Grupo Academia Internacional David, Chiriqui

As you might know from our previous articles, at Grupo Academia Internacional, we prepare our students for the future by supporting and increasing their current learning with our methodology, "learning by doing."

If you are still deciding if you should enroll your student in a bilingual school that also provides this type of active learning, we invite you to keep reading this article, where we’re going to highlight the importance of Robotics, Math, and Chess Olympics, followed by Spelling Bee contests.

Why Robotics is the Ideal School Activity for Your Student

Technology is an ever-growing part of our society. Using technology effectively is essential to living alone and being self-dependent. These skills are fundamental for children to learn in an early education stage.

Robotics is a valuable classroom and outside-the-classroom activity. It is also a tremendous after-school activity, as it helps students learn math, coding, and problem-solving skills. Robotics clubs are a popular extracurricular for children, so they're the perfect after-school activity.

Benefits of Robotics After the School Day is Over

Building, programming, and learning to code robots produce an advanced environment where students learn engagingly. 

One way to get students more involved in STEAM outside the classroom is through robotics competitions, such as the National Robotics Olympics. It provides the perfect opportunity for those students who benefit from learning with a more hands-on approach. Besides, it allows students to discover and cultivate their passions for STEAM while in a competitive and constructive atmosphere.

Robotics Olympics at Grupo Academia Internacional, David Chiriquí 

At Grupo Academia International, we are beyond excited for our elementary school students participating in the national Robotics Olympics this 2023.

Competition is a valuable experience for all students as it allows them to explore their potential, enhance their building and analytical thinking skills, and intensify their knowledge in STEAM education.

Watch the full video to take a glimpse of all the participants. 

Mathematics Olympics at Grupo Academia 

Participating in Math Olympiads can provide numerous benefits for your child's future. Some of the most important benefits include:

• Improving Problem-Solving Skills: Math Olympiads involve solving complex and challenging math problems. It helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for success in many fields.

• Enhancing Mathematical Knowledge: Participating in Math Olympiads helps children learn new mathematical concepts and ideas as well as strengthen their existing knowledge.

• Building Confidence: Solving challenging math problems can be difficult, but participating in Math Olympiads helps children build confidence in their abilities in solving complex problems.

• Boosting Academic Performance: Participation in Math Olympiads can improve academic performance in mathematics and other subjects.

This year, about fifteen of our elementary students at AID are participating in the National Mathematics Olympiads.

Watch the full video to take a glimpse of all the participants. 

Chess Olympics at Grupo Academia

Chess enhances the ability of students to interact with their peers.  It also tests their sportsmanship in a competitive environment. More benefits include:

• Chess improves school work and grades. Numerous studies have proven that children obtain a higher reading level, math level, and a more extraordinary learning ability overall as a result of playing chess. For all the reasons mentioned above, chess-playing kids do better in school and therefore have a better chance to succeed in life.

• Chess is fun!!  This strategic game isn't just another one of those board games.  No chess game ever repeats itself, meaning students create more new ideas with each game.  It never gets boring.

This year we had one student from AID participate in the Regional Chess Olympics, sponsored by Pandeportes. 

Take a look at the highlighted post with all the information regarding the tournament.

Spelling Bee Contests at Grupo Academia

Aside from personal life skills, spelling bee participants also gain incredible language-based knowledge and literacy skills.

Students who target their spelling study not only increase their vocabulary but also develop cognitive abilities and learning strategies.

They also gain the experience necessary to develop a healthy sense of sportsmanship and friendly rivalry. Moreover, they learn how to both win and lose with grace.

This year we had two students from AID participate in the Regional Spelling Bee Contest. 

How Grupo Academia Internacional Can Help Your Child Spend More Time Doing Something They Love!

The use of after-school clubs has not only been essential for students in the classroom, but it proves to be an appropriate activity even after the school day is over. Spending the whole day in a classroom might be exhausting for most students. When the day is over, kids want to spend their time doing activities they love. For STEAM students, robotics, maths, or chess can be the ultimate way to spend after-school free time.

After School activities are essential for students to exercise their brains by doing whatever is fun for them, even after a full day of learning. Memorizing subject matter in school is temporarily satisfactory for short-term assignments, but problem-solving, critical thinking, and self-esteem are traits that only strengthen over time.

Creating innovative solutions in a less structured environment allows students to exercise their creativity and establish strong relationships by working on a team. Students that partake in robotics and extracurricular competitions are constantly working on skills and traits that will eventually help them succeed in the future and develop 21st-century skills.

Grupo Academia Internacional has been helping children to develop tech skills since 2009, offering programming classes through fun-based extracurricular activities.

Remember that our classes, activities, and camps are designed to give kids a fun, interactive, and innovative program. It will educate your child, keep them occupied outside of term time, and fuel a passion for technology.

Our Robotics classes run every Friday at 2:30 pm, and our Chess classes run every Tuesday at 2:30 pm, both on our campus in David, and it is perfect for 8-year-old children and older. We’re also currently enrolling for our 2024 academic year.