It’s
time to get ready for science that’s exciting!
The
2007 Science Olympiad is North America’s most prestigious team
science and technology competition. The Ohio State Tournament will happen
on the campus of The Ohio State University on April
12, 2008.
This
is the place for those beguiled by wizardry. Dozens of events invite
great ideas. Students might create their own musical instruments in
“Sounds of Music.” Or they might test their aeronautical
skills in “The Wright Stuff.” Perhaps they’ll take
something simple and make it complicated in “Mission Possible.”
You’ll
be in good company.
Last year over two hundred teams representing more than 4,000 Ohio students
and teachers participated in the fun and learning that are inherent
in the competition. Ohio has been part of the National Science Olympiad
program for 20 years and state participation ranks in the top five out
of 46 states currently involved in this program.
Register
early.
Teams must compete in a regional tournament in order to qualify for
the state competition. Regional tournaments will be held in at least
eight locations throughout the state.
Once
we receive your registration, we’ll send you this year’s
Science Olympiad manual, which includes everything you need to know
about the Olympiad, including tips on how to organize your team. Manuals
are being printed and will be sent as soon as the ink is dry (about
the end of September).
A fifteen person team registration is $173.00. Please note that regional
tournaments will be held in at least 8 locations throughout the state.
Your team must compete in a regional tournament in order to qualify
for state competition. Manuals will be going to the printer the middle
of September. As soon as we receive your registration and the manuals,
we will mail them to you.
Please
read this material carefully and send in the required forms as promptly
as possible. Manuals will not be mailed until we receive your registration.
We encourage your participation in this year’s Ohio Science Olympiad
activities. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact
Sarah Sieling at (614) 292-8571or via e-mail at sieling.1@osu.edu.
I do ask that only coaches/teachers (adults) contact me and not students/parents.
MULTI-TEAM
MEMBERSHIPS
A school team membership fee must accompany the completed membership
application form. Each team membership fee entitles one team to participate
in the Science Olympiad and includes the state tournament. No more than
two teams from an individual school may register, space permitting at
the regional tournament, and each team must pay the full membership
fee. The final determination of space at the regional tournament will
not be determined until a future date to be announced.
Only one team per school may advance from the regional level to the
state level. A $30.00 processing and manual fee will be charged for
any team cancellation.
WHAT
IS THE SCIENCE OLYMPIAD?
The Science Olympiad is a national nonprofit organization devoted to
improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest
in science and providing recognition of outstanding achievement in science
education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished
through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement
of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. The
Science Olympiad Tournaments are academic interscholastic competitions,
which consist of a series of twenty-three individual and team events
students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational
events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of
biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers, and technology.
There is also a balance between events requiring knowledge of science
facts, concepts, processes, skills and application.
Although
Science Olympiad is a competitive event, most events are team competitions
requiring teamwork, group planning, and cooperation. The emphasis is
on learning, participation, interaction, having fun, and developing
team spirit. Coaches and students are reminded of the words of Bill
Koch (Olympiad cross-country ski medal winner) who said “Winning
isn’t everything. The striving for excellence is - it’s
the trying and caring that is important - winning is a bonus.”
DIVISION/GRADE
LEVELS/TEAM COMPOSITION
Currently, there are four Science Olympiad Divisions: Division A1 -
grades K-3; Division A2 - grades 3-6; Division B - grades 6-9. For Information
on Division A1, please contact Sharon Putz at (248) 651-4013
Division
C - grades 9-12. A maximum of five ninth grade and seven twelfth grade
students on a team is permitted. Middle schools may invite five of their
last year’s eighth grade students to be part of the team. There
will be no national or state tournaments for Division A - schools may
wish to initiate local, school district, or regional competitions. For
more information on A1 and A2 divisions, contact (248) 651-4013.
A
team consists of a maximum of 15 students. A maximum of two teams per
division per school may compete. Schools with less than 200 students
may combine with another small school (total attendance of both schools
not to exceed 500 students) in order to create one team of 15 students.
OHIO
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD: HOME SCHOOLERS
Ohio
extends an invitation to the home school community to participate in
the Ohio Science Olympiad. We have received several calls regarding
the eligibility of home schooled students so we have developed
the following guidelines:
1. All
students must participate on a team since Science Olympiad is based
on team activities. Ohio students may participate in either B
Division (grades 6-9) or C Division (grades 9-12). All
students on the same team must be composed of children who work together
on a regular
basis prior to and independent of Science Olympiad.
2. If a
home schooled student is also affiliated with any public or nonpublic
school, the student may ONLY participate on one team and must
choose between the home schooled team and the public or nonpublic
team. Public or nonpublic schools may have rules eliminating
the participation of part time students.
3. A child’s
grade level equivalentency will be determined by birth date. The child’s
grade level will be considered the same as the majority of other
children of the same age level. The child’s age will determine
whether the child is eligible for either B or C Division. A middle
school (grades 6-9) aged child may compete on a C Division team
but a C Division (grades 9-12) aged child may not compete on a
B Division team.
4. If questions
arise that are not covered here, please submit, in writing, your
questions to Sarah Sieling at sieling.1@osu.edu
by November 30 of each school year.
AWARDS
First, second, and third place Olympic style medals will be given for
each event at the state and national tournaments. The Science Education
Council of Ohio will again award places 4-6 medals. In addition, championship
trophies will be awarded to the Division B and C school teams compiling
the most total points during the state Olympiad tournaments. A team
may participate in one or all of the events within its division.
REGISTRATION
INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
(PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
State Competition Registration Fee: $173.00 per team.
Due: TBA
$188 per team if registration and purchase order are postmarked
between dates TBA .
No registrations will be accepted after January 1, 2008.
The
fee includes:
- Eligibility
to participate in the 2008 Science Olympiad Program.
- One
copy of either the Division B or Division C Science Olympiad Program.
- Extra
manuals are available for registered teams for $10 each.
(Note:
Your team must participate in a regional tournament in order to qualify
for state or national competition.)
What
does the registration fee pay for?
- $65.00
goes to the National office to cover costs of administering the overall
program. These costs include training, the development of new programs,
fund raising, printing of the manual, and organizing the national
tournament.
- $105.00
goes to the State office to cover expenses of developing regional
sites, administering registration of teams, communicating with coaches
and directors, organizing the regional and state tournaments. The
registration increase is due to the budget cuts from the State Government
Budget.
Receipt
of Manuals
The manuals are printed by the National Science Olympiad office and
don’t usually go to their printers until mid-September. After
they are printed they are forwarded to the state directors for distribution.
If you believe that a reasonable length of time has passed since
your registration was sent to your school district treasurer and you
have still not received your manual, please call them first before
calling OSU. In most cases, the registration form is still
at the school treasurer’s office. We will not mail the manual
until the registration is received along with payment or a purchase
order.
Regional
Tournaments
Each county has been assigned to a specific tournament. Registrations
will be dated as they arrive. Assignment to each regional tournament
will be determined on a first come basis. No phone registrations will
be accepted. If your regional site is filled, your team will be placed
on a waiting list. If there are openings in any other regional tournament
after the closing date, you will be notified and given the opportunity
to participate at a different site. Position on the waiting list will
be determined by the date on which the registration is received. If
you have a problem concerning your assigned regional date and need to
be placed in another regional, you will be placed on the waiting list.
Your regional participation will be determined after the closing date.
You will be notified by your regional tournament director if
an additional regional fee will be charged.
Regional
Registration Fees
Each regional tournament is funded through different local sources.
Depending on the funding available in your region, it may be necessary
for your team to pay an additional regional tournament fee. You will
receive information about your specific regional tournament and any
proposed fees after we have received your registration. It costs approximately
$15,000 or more to organize and conduct a regional tournament. The Science
Olympiad at all levels relies on donations, grants, “in-kind”
donations, and volunteer effort. Costs not covered by donations or grants
must be provided “in-kind” or passed back to the teams.
You will be notified by your regional tournament director if an additional
regional fee will be charged.
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