Two Jefferson Village School Odyssey of the Mind teams qualified for the world finals this year. JVS teams have qualified for the World Finals three out of the last four years.
At the state tournament on March 26, the two JVS teams placed first and second in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade division. They were the only two teams competing in that division.
JVS Librarian Kathy Peabody and parent Pam Grotton coach the team, and according to Peabody, “there were only two teams competing in that division because the tournament director believes it had to be the hardest question.”
“We chose number four – we didn’t know it had the least competitors,” Peabody said.
The JVS third through fifth grade team placed fourth at the state tournament, but did not qualify for world finals.
The first place team consists of Abby Farrin, Brady Grotton, Thilee Yost, Brooke Stewart, Andrea Call, Jordan Moore and Avery Bond. The second place team is Michaela Peabody, Courteney Peabody, John Henry, Alyssa Smith, Michaela Sprague and Gabe Solorzano.
The JVS third through fifth grade team is Emma Solorzano, Lily Solorzano, Ben Carter, Lucas Grotton, Dylan Grotton, Nick Huber and Michael Sprague.
“I’m very proud of all the work they’ve done,” said JVS Principal Peter Gallace. “It’s quite an accomplishment.”
At the world finals, to be held this year at the University of Maryland, the kids will compete against more than 1000 teams from around the world in a student competition that encourages imaginative problem solving.
For this year’s main problem – which is the same at both the state tournament and world finals – the students had to build a tower out of balsa wood that weighed no more than 18 grams and was at least eight inches tall. The tower was also required to be hinged, which could be made out of any material the kids chose.
Unfortunately, the JVS teams thought that meant their tower had to fold in half. Actually, the tower had to fold in thirds and have at least two hinges.
“The first thing that happened at the tournament was that both of our teams’ towers got disqualified,” Peabody said. “That was a tough way to start the tournament.”
The JVS teams were not discouraged, however, and worked hard through the other two parts of the competition – performing a skit and solving a spontaneous problem.
“They didn’t panic, they held their heads high and did their best for the rest of the day,” Peabody said. “We’ve got some really smart, creative kids.”
For this year’s spontaneous problem, which the kids have three minutes to solve with no prior preparation, the kids were given a string, a sock, a rubber band, a length of tape and a collection of assorted balls. They had three minutes to hang as many balls as possible from the string.
For example, “my kids put all the baseballs in the sock and attached it to the string with the rubber band,” Peabody said.
Now, the teams’ focus will turn to solving the problem of how to pay for their trip to Maryland in May.
The trip will cost about $15,000, Peabody said, which they will need to raise from a variety of fundraisers in the coming months.
So far, they’ve planned: a bottle drive for Sat.-Sun., April 2 and 3 beginning at about 9 a.m. Peabody also mentioned if anyone wants to drop off bottles, Rapid Redemption on Rt. 17 in Windsor is accepting them for JVS.
Also planned is a chili, chowder and soup supper at Lincoln Academy on Sat., April 16 from 5-7 p.m.; two car washes on Sat., April 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Farrin Properties on Bus. Rt. 1 in Damariscotta, and the other at the Jefferson Fire Station from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and, the kids are selling tea and coffee to their families and friends.
The tea and coffee is from Baxter Tea Company in Gardiner, and the kids get 40 percent of all their sales. According to Peabody, coffee is $12, iced tea is $8 and makes about six gallons, and loose tea is also offered and is $9 for an assorted bag.
In what may be an ideal metaphor for the current economic times, the kids are also raising money by working as brilliant little lawn care workers. Anyone can hire these talented, smart hardworking kids to mow, rake or clean up their lawns.
Anyone interested in contributing to the teams’ trip, or seeking more information on Odyssey of the Mind or their fundraisers, should call Kathy Peabody at JVS at 549-7491, or email her at kpeabody@aos93.org, or call Gayle Yost at 512-0034.
