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The Broken Arrow Invitational at Oneta Ridge took place this last week-end. Twenty Division B teams and seven Division C team took part in competing in 37 events. Thanks go to the Oneta Ridge faculty, staff, and patrons for their efforts. … Continue reading
The 2017 Mobile Rules App is in stores now and selling like hotcakes! There is an app for each Division (which is more like an e-book in terms of functionality); each are priced at $3.99, lower than the print manual cost.
Description:
Links:
Apple iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/so-mobile-b-17/id1158007813?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/so-mobile-c-17/id1158053433?mt=8
Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scienceolympiad.div_b_17
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scienceolympiad.div_c_17
The Summer Institute sold out last year before June 10th, so plan to register early!
Plan now to attend the July 17-21, 2017, Science Olympiad Summer Institute, held at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. Please Register early as the Institute has sold out early for the past four years!
University Credit: If you are interested in obtaining two (2) hours of Graduate Level Professional Development Credit from the University of the Pacific (Course PEDD 9033), please register online or complete and mail the UOP Course Form. The UOP Registration fee is separate from the Institute fee. The forms are not generally available until after May 1st. Please call the University of the Pacific if you need help at 209-946-2424. See UOP Letter and only contact University of the Pacific with questions regarding credit. Registrants are expected to attend thirty (30) contact hours of instructions and submit a report on how they plan to implement what they have learned related to standards-based student instruction.
Background Information: The annual Science Olympiad Summer Institute (SOSI) is an excellent opportunity for secondary school (grades 6-12) teachers, coaches, event supervisors, tournament personnel and administrators to get the most up-to-date information about all 46 Science Olympiad events. Many Science Olympiad coaches at state and national tournaments attribute their success to concepts learned at the SOSI. Nearly 100% rate the SOSI as very good or excellent and come away feeling as if their “batteries are recharged!” Comments from previous Science Olympiad Summer Institutes:
“This was my first institute and I loved it! The presenters were absolutely fabulous, and I enjoyed the hands-on activities and the discussions with other coaches.”
“I loved the hands-on chemistry opportunities provided in the sessions. Some of the techniques were brand-new to me, so the personal practice and guidance were invaluable! I’ve gained many new resources and ideas for my own classroom as well as for my Science Olympiad students. I plan to return next year!”
“The human resources were the most helpful. I liked the enthusiastic and friendly participants; they were inspiring. I saw competitiveness, but it was in the spirit of bringing out the best in everyone. Thank you!”
Many sessions are presented by by National Event Supervisors and Committee Chairs. The SOSI provides in-depth coverage of all 46 events. Course attendees will experience five days and four nights of sessions and meetings designed to improve any school’s Science Olympiad program and help meet state core curriculum science benchmarks and standards. Registration includes course fee, room and board, and a preview of the incoming Rules for both Division B and C. Educators are eligible to apply for Title 2 Teacher Quality program funds by contacting their school district science curriculum administrator.
Start planning now for the 2016-17 Division B/C tournaments.
So far the Invitational Tournament schedule is:
December 3rd Changed to November 19th– Oneta Ridge MS – Broken Arrow
January 21st – Putnam City North High School – Oklahoma City
February 18th – Southeastern Oklahoma State University – Durant
State Tournament:
March 25th – University of Central Oklahoma – Edmond
School has been out a month, time to start setting up for next school year!
Open your calendar app and block out these two dates:
September 24th, 2016 and March 25th, 2017.
The first date is the annual Science Olympiad Coaches/Event Supervisor Training Conference at UCO. This is a jam packed, all day event full of discussion, sharing, and training over the specifics of each of the 23 events in each division of the 2016-17 Science Olympiad competition. The conference is free and lunch is provided. Details to follow…
The second date is the Oklahoma Science Olympiad State Tournament. This year the tournament will be held a little later in the school year, AFTER the traditional Spring Break. Again, our host will be the College of Mathematics and Science at the University of Central Oklahoma.
The Invitational Tournament schedule is still coming together and we should have a schedule posted before the end of the summer.
Thinking about the events? Here is the latest, updated events chart. A recent change has occurred in the Hovercraft has been placed in both divisions and has replaced Sounds of Music.
Division A is the Science Olympiad program for Elementary aged students. Each school participating in Elementary Science Olympiad Competitive Tournaments or Fun Day/Fun Night events must make a one-time purchase of an Elementary Science Olympiad Manual. There is no national tournament or national membership fee for Division A elementary schools. Once an Elementary Science Olympiad manual is purchased, educators may initiate local, school district or regional competitions.
The 4th Annual Putnam City Schools Division A Science Olympiad Tournament was held April 9th in Oklahoma City at Putnam City High School. The tournament is the culminating activity of a year-long investigation of STEM subjects on the part of 4th and 5th grade students in the districts Gifted and Talented program. Earlier in the academic year, the district’s 18 Division A coaches met with the district’s Fine Arts and Gifted Education Coordinator Jason Memoli, Technology Integration Specialist Jeni James, and district STEM Facilitator Bob Melton to select events and guidelines from the catalog of events found in Science Olympiad’s Elementary Manual. Other events, modified from Division B guidelines were added to make this year’s offering of 17 competitive events.
The real key to the success of the tournament is the involvement of the district’s three Division C (High School) teams and their Coaches.
Event Supervisors from all three Putnam City Division C Science Olympiad Teams
The Event Supervisors for each event are members of the Science Olympiad teams from Putnam City High School, Putnam City North High School, and Putnam City West High School. An adult volunteer is assigned to each venue to assist, but the high school students plan, operate, and score each event. Other high school students, most notably National Honor Society members, assist with any of the logistical aspects of the tournament, and there are many. This year’s tournament involved 375 competitors. The tournament itself attracts over 1200 spectators who spend the day watching the many events held in the gym (MagLev Cars, Straw Airplanes, Aerodynamics, and Bridge Testing), the Bottle Rocket launching outdoors, and the Egg Drop in the school’s two-story atrium.
Interested is starting a Division A program? You really should. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to get elementary-aged students involved with STEM. It can be a part of the instructional day, part of a Gifted and Talented program, a focus in an after school program, there are all kinds of options for bringing the program to fruition in your school. Tournaments can be held within the school, within the district (Putnam City’s model), or within a region.
This is great way to build excitement and awareness for your Division B and Division C teams! Not only do elementary students get to experience the excitement and challenge of Science Olympiad, but their parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, (these youngsters do tend to bring a lot of interested adults with them) get exposed to Science Olympiad as well. Elementary students are in awe of the high school students and look to them as role models. The leadership exhibited by the high school Science Olympiad team members is tremendous and makes this whole arrangements win-win and very worthwhile.
Starting a Division A team is easy, just go to the Science Olympiads store at soinc.org and purchase the Division A Competition manual. One purchase, a lifetime of excited learning.
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