CUPERTINO MIDDLE SCHOOLSCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM 2012

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

What…is Science Olympiad?

• Science Olympiad is a science event where we study, build and practice for one (or more!) competitions in Pleasanton, Fresno, and Orlando (FL).

• There are 23 events, 18 study events and 5 building events.

• There are 15 people per team, with up to 5 alternates. However, Cupertino Middle can send more than one team, so everyone is encouraged to participate.

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

What…am I committing by joining?

• Science Olympiad isn’t just a lunchtime “club.” We are a team. Just like in sports, each person must put in their best effort, especially if we want to destroy our rivals (Challenger, Arden, etc.).

• At the start of the season, we expect you to come to after school practices twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) and for a quick check-in at the beginning of lunch (Friday).

• We also expect that you work or study at home and outside of full team practices with the teammates whom you share events with.

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

What…exactly IS an event?

• Each event requires two to three participants from the 15 team members.

• What you do in an event varies on the event. You might have to simply take a written test on the human body, investigate a crime scene, identify a tree, or create a model of an aquifer.

• You never have to compete in an event alone, almost every event requires two people from the team, and you can work together to dominate. (The only exception to this is the event Write It Do It.)

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

What…exactly IS an event?

• Events are grouped into the following categories: (Life, Personal & Social Science), (Earth & Space Science), (Physical Science & Chemistry), (Technology & Engineering), and (Inquiry & Nature of Science).

• There are typically two kinds of events. Study events, in which you study a topic at practice, then go to competitions and show off your stuff through written tests, or other hands-on activities. And Build events, where you construct your project at practice, then bring it in to competition and impound it. You will then perform/present it to a judge or two.

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

Where and When…is practice?

• At the start of the season, we expect you to come to after school practices twice a week (Wednesday and Friday) and for a quick check-in at the beginning of lunch (Friday).

• As competition approaches, daily after school practices may be called in addition to the Friday lunch check-in.

• At the start of each practice, please come to Mrs. Enright’s room, room 3. As the season gets rolling, our team may separate by events and you may end up working in the woodshop, on the blacktop, on the field, in the library, or taking over the science wing (Rms 3, 6, 7,etc.)

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

Where and When…is competition?

• Regionals BARSO – Pleasanton (Feb 18, 2012)• States NorCal – Fresno (TBA)• National NSO – Orlando, Florida (May 18-19, 2012)

• Please check these dates with your calendar NOW, not a week before competition. It would be sad if you studied hard, then realized you couldn’t go. Make sure these dates don’t coincide with sports competitions, or Solo Ensemble for A Band members (as it did in 2009).

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

Why…do Science Olympiad?

• Earn personal medals!– Last year:

• BARSO – 21 Medals (7 First Place)• NorCal – 15 Medals (2 First Place)

– This year:• We want everybody to walk away with at least one (or more!) medals. = 47

Medals Per Team• Build strong friendships (okay…that’s kind of cheesy but its true.)• Free food at practices.• Get ahead in your science class.• Be a part of a team that will win and know that you personally

worked hard to help make that happen.• If we make it to Nationals, you have the opportunity to win

scholarships and you get to go to FLORIDA!!!• If we don’t make Nationals :( but we make State, we still get to go

to FRESNO!!!

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

Who…do we need?

• YOU!!! Invite your friends too!• Your science teacher’s help! Ask if they would like to

support our team through after school help with events, or simply opening up their class room for our use after school.

• You PARENT’s help! We need donations of FOOD (snacks). <--- Extremely Important!!! Especially if one of your parents works in the field of science, we could use their help in a study event, or a build event. We also need parents to help create practice tests, judge events and transport the team and projects to competition.

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

2012 Event Table• Anatomy• Awesome Aquifer• Bottle Rocket• Compute This*• Disease Detectives• Dynamic Planet• Experimental Design• Fermi Questions*• Food Science• Forestry• Keep the Heat• Meteorology

• Microbe Mission• Mission Possible• Mousetrap Vehicle• Optics• Reach for the Stars• Road Scholar• Rocks and Minerals• Science Crime Busters• Storm the Castle• Tower Building• Water Quality• Write It Do It

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

*These events may be interchanged with the other at the State Competition.

Important Links• Soinc.org

– Official National Science Olympiad Main Website• NorCalScienceOlympiad.com

– Official State Science Olympiad Website• Barso.org

– Official Regional Science Olympiad Website• Rm3MrsEnright.PBWorks.com

– Official Cupertino Middle School Science Olympiad Blog and Wiki

• Scioly.org– Many practice tests and tips

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011

LET’S HAVE A GREAT SEASON!

M.P. 9/2/2010M.S. 8/17/2011