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Archive for Kathy Jacob

Spontaneous Scrimmages — Register Now!

Vermont Odyssey of the Mind will be hosting two Spontaneous Scrimmages.  Teams will have an opportunity to participate in a mock spontaneous challenge and receive feedback on their performance.  Teams will be presented with each of the three types of spontaneous problems, verbal, hands-on, and verbal/hands-on.  The scrimmage will last one hour.  Registration is required and space is limited.

There are four sessions to choose from:

Northern Spontaneous Scrimmage:  Session 1, Jan. 7, 2017

9:00 – 10:00, Mater Christi School, 50 Mansfield Ave., Burlington

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/reg/registration_step.php?g=ootm&s=reg&c=15098

Northern Spontaneous Scrimmage:  Session 2, Jan. 7, 2017

11:00 – 12:00, Mater Christi School, 50 Mansfield Ave., Burlington

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/reg/registration_step.php?g=ootm&s=reg&c=15099

Southern Spontaneous Scrimmage: Session 1, Jan.21, 2017

1:00 – 2:00, Mill River Union High School, 2321 Middle Road, North Clarendon

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/reg/registration_step.php?g=ootm&s=reg&c=15108

 

Southern Spontaneous Scrimmage: Session 2, Jan.21, 2017

1:00 – 2:00, Mill River Union High School, 2321 Middle Road, North Clarendon

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/reg/registration_step.php?g=ootm&s=reg&c=15109

 

Also, Coaches are invited to meet with their Problem Captains from 10:00 – 10:45, January 7, 2017, Mater Christi School.  This is your chance to ask any questions you may have about your problem prior to the tournament.  No registration is necessary.

Registrations Now Open!

Workshops and scrimmages coming up in the next couple of months:
Here are the links to register for them, and some other key dates.  Be aware that space is limited, and participation will be on a first come, first served basis.

 

Saturday, December 10, 2016   8:00 AM – 9:00 AM     Balsa Training  Mater Christi School, Burlington  (no registration needed)
Saturday, December 10, 2016   9:00 AM – noon          “Performance Polish” & Spontaneous Workshop, Mater Christi School, Burlington

 

Saturday, January 7, 2017         9:00 AM – 10:00 AM    Northern Spontaneous Scrimmage:  Session 1, Mater Christi School, Burlington  Northern Spon. Scrimmage 1
Saturday, January 7, 2017         10:00 AM – 10:45 AM  Coaches’ Meeting with Problem Captains, Mater Christi School, Burlington  (no registration needed)
Saturday, January 7, 2017         11:00 AM – 12:00 PM  Northern Spontaneous Scrimmage:  Session 2, Mater Christi School, Burlington  Northern Spon. Scrimmage 2

 

Friday, January 20, 2017  Tournament Registration Deadline  (Please don’t wait until the deadline to register!)

 

Saturday, January 21, 2017       1:00 PM – 2:00 PM     Southern Spontaneous Scrimmage:  Session 1, Mill River Union High School, North Clarendon
Saturday, January 21, 2017       2:00 PM – 3:00 PM     Southern Spontaneous Scrimmage:  Session 2, Mill River Union High School, North Clarendon

 

Saturday, February 4, 2017  Payment Deadline (Please don’t wait until the last minute!)

 

Saturday, March 4, 2017           9:00 AM – 12:30 PM    Judges’ Training, Mater Christi School, Burlington (This needs to be done when you register your team for the tournament.)

 

Saturday, March 18, 2017        8:00 AM – 6:00 PM       Vermont Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament, Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg

COACHES’ TRAINING

All coaches — whether new, veteran, or just thinking about it — for Odyssey of the Mind are strongly encouraged to attend one of two possible training sessions for this year’s Odyssey of the Mind program.  It is helpful to hear, or hear again, the foundation of what makes OM the quality creative problem-solving program for which it is known.  Learn what coaches can do, and more importantly, what they cannot do.  Meet and share with a support group of other coaches who have “been there, done that”.

Attend either one of the two training sessions.  Registration is not necessary, but a note sent by email is appreciated (vtootm@accessvt.com).

* October 8, 2016, Mater Christi School, 50 Mansfield Ave., Burlington, 9:00 AM to noon

*  November 5, 2016, Mill River Union High School, 2321 Middle Road, North Clarendon, 9:00 AM to noon

 

 

A NEW SEASON OF ODYSSEY CREATIVITY BEGINS!

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program that is geared towards stimulating creative (out-of-the-box) thinking and developing team-work skills in young people. By challenging them with interesting, fun, and open-ended problems, they build solutions that meet the criteria, but break the mold of the “normal” everyday answer, while learning valuable life-long skills.

This is our 38th year of offering the Odyssey of the Mind program to Vermont students. Schools, community organizations, and home school groups are encouraged to check us out! We look forward to meeting you and your team at our events this year.

Check out this year’s problems:

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/materials/2017problems.php

You can register your school’s membership right now at:

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/registration/default.php

Returning this year will be a workshop to develop skills in spontaneous problem solving and polishing performances.  Check out our Events Calendar for the date of this event and our other trainings for coaches and judges, as well as the Spontaneous Scrimmages for teams.

Our State Tournament will be held at Champlain Valley Union High School, March 18, 2017.

First place, second place, and Ranatra Fusca winners are eligible to compete at World Finals held at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, May 24 -27, 2017.  We encourage all teams to mark their calendars and make plans now to meet us in Michigan!

Best Wishes for a wonderful, creative year of problem-solving!

Kathy Jacob, Association Director

2016 State Tournament Results

Congratulations to our Vermont Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament Competitors for an excellent performance demonstrating creative thinking, problem solving, and teamwork.

Tournament results can be found here:

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/competitions/2016/14017_scores_menu.html

 

 

Tournament Schedule and Handbook

The 2016 Vermont Odyssey of the Mind will be held March 19, 2016 at Champlain Valley High School, in Hinesburg, VT.  Competition begins at 8:00 AM and continues throughout the day.  The schedule of teams competing can be found here:

VCQ 2016 VT State Tournament Schedule

For more information on preparing for Tournament Day, see the Tournament Handbook:

VCQ 2016 Tournament Handbook

 

Scholarship Application Available Now

VTOOTM Scholarship Application Available Now!
Omers and former Omers that are High School Seniors and college or post-secondary freshman are invited to apply for a $500 scholarship.  All applications are due by March14, 2015.  Applications may be accessed here:

State Tournament – Register Now!

The Vermont Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament will be held March 19, 2016 at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg. To avoid a late fee, register your team by midnight  January 23, 2016. The fees are the same as last year, with a slight change in the payment schedule.  We are giving a payment period of two weeks after the registration deadline, but instituting a late payment fee.  The registration fee is $50 per team if registered by midnight of January 23, 2016 for Div. 1, 2 and 3.  Primary teams are $20.  All teams are required to provide a judge, including Primary teams.  If registering after 1/23/16 the fee is $100.  Payment is due by February 6, 2016.  If paid after that date, a $50 late fee will be assessed.  The Judge Waiver fee is $50 per team.

Judges’ Training is March 5, 2016, Mater Christi School, Burlington

 

Here are your registration links:

Team Registration:

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/members/team_login.php

Judge Registration:

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/judges/assoc_tournaments.php?assoc=VT&region=State

Spontaneous Scrimmage – Register Now!

Give your teams an opportunity to put their spontaneous problem solving skills to the test — registration is now open for a Spontaneous Scrimmage.  This scrimmage is designed to give teams practice and feedback on how to improve their spontaneous problem skills. All team members (not just 5) may participate. Coaches will be able to observe their team members in action solving each of the three types of spontaneous problems – verbal, verbal/hands-on, and hands-on. Registration is limited to the first 12 teams to register for each session. Six teams will participate during the first hour and six more during the second hour.

We are offering two dates and locations:

  • January 9, 2016, Mater Christi School, 50 Mansfield Ave., Burlington.                              10:00 – 6 teams;  11:00 – 6 teams.
  • January 16, 2016, Mill River Union High School, 2321 Middle Road, North Clarendon.                 1:00 – 6 teams; 2:00 – 6 teams

Registration links:

Northern:  http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/reg/registration_step.php?g=ootm&s=reg&c=14369

Southern:  http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/reg/registration_step.php?g=ootm&s=reg&c=14014

 

Performance “Polish” and Spontaneous Workshop

This workshop is for coaches and team members and is designed to improve the overall presentation skills of a team’s performance. Registration is required and is limited to the first 12 teams.

  • Learn about the importance of Style and how it affects the overall score.
  • You be the judge – Practice scoring Style elements to understand how different levels of style affect the overall score
  • Find out what “Team-created” elements mean and how to fill out the Style paperwork.
  • Ask questions about how spontaneous works at the tournament
  • Train with actual Vermont Officials and Judges
  • Gain valuable tips for doing better in spontaneous
  • Learn what spontaneous will be like at the tournament
  • Take the mystery out of spontaneous
  • Have some fun!

Registration is limited to the first 12 teams.  Register here:  http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/reg/registration_step.php?g=ootm&s=reg&c=14013