Fulton Science Academy

1. Fulton Science Academy Academic Teams Policies and Procedures

2. What are Academic Teams?Middle School Academic Teams compete in extracurricular competitions against other schools. They include: • Science Olympiad • Math Olympiad • Model UN • Robotics • Future City • Destination Imagination • Reading Bowl

3. What you should know: • Most middle school and high school students will compete on at least one team • Students can participate in a maximum of two teams. Exception:Students cannot do both Robotics and Math or Science Olympiad. • Remember, a student cannot be on two teams that meet at the same time • Students applying for an Academic Team must complete both the appropriate Academic Team application form and the Academic Team Preference Form.

4. Your behavior matters . . . • All team members and parents must sign the Academic Teams Policies & Procedures . • All school rules are in effect for all Academic Team activities whether on or off campus. • Disrespect of teammates, coaches, and/or property will not be tolerated. • Be considerate of your coaches – we are volunteering to help you! • You can be removed from the team for poor behavior! Parents and students must sign the Polices and Procedures, so please read these carefully.

5. Remember to: • Complete paper Application Form • Complete paper Academic Teams Preference Form if you are applying for more than one team • Complete and Sign paper Academic Teams Policies and Procedures form • Complete onlineClub Selection Form and select the team(s) you are applying for.

6. Science Olympiad Team Presentation 2019-2020 Fulton Science Academy

7. What is Science Olympiad? • National program in which students learn science through active, hands-on participation, with an emphasis on problem solving and team building skills. • Some events require knowledge of science facts and concepts, while others rely on scientific processes, skills, or applications, so students with varying skills can participate. • Not a trivia competition. Students must apply their knowledge. • The cooperation, collaboration, team spirit and good sportsmanship that students develop will be beneficial throughout their lives.

8. Who? Science Olympiad is for students who are passionate about science Why? • Tournaments are fun! They allow students to demonstrate their knowledge as they go head-to-head against students from other schools

9. Science Olympiad Highlights • FSA has a long history of success in Science Olympiad • Qualified and competed in nine National Tournaments (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019) • Last year’s highlights: • 1st Place at Regional Tournament • 1st Place at State Tournament • 25th Place at National Tournament

10. 2019-2020 Goal To place first or second in the State Science Olympiad Tournament in order to qualify for the National Science Olympiad Tournament to be held May 15-16 at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.

11. Science Olympiad Management Team • Head Coaches – • Mrs. Walsh began coaching in 2007. Her son placed 5th in Fossils at Nationals in 2009 and 2nd in 2010. Her Meteorology team placed 4th at Nationals in 2012. • Mrs. Stathos began coaching in 2004. Her son placed 5th in Don’t Bug Me at Nationals in 2007. Her Write It Do It teams placed first in the National tournament in both 2016 and 2017. • Ms. Oliver and other Science Teachers along with Parent and Community Volunteers will serve as event coaches.

12. Middle School Tentative Dates: • South Forsyth Invitational (Cumming, GA) – October 12 • Science Olympiad Coaching Academy – October 18-19 (Centerville, OH) for coaches only • DodgenInvitational (Marietta, GA) – November 16 • Chattahoochee Invitational (Johns Creek, GA) – December 7 • Hopefully one out of state tournament in January • Regional: February TBA – Forsyth Central (Cumming, GA) • State: March TBA - Kennesaw Mountain High School • National: May 15-16– NC State University – (Raleigh, NC)

13. Duke TIP • 7th Graders who plan to take the SAT or ACT for admission to the Duke Talent Identification Program please attempt to schedule around Science Olympiad Tournament dates.

14. Competition Team Size: • FSA will take 1 to 3 teams to Invitational tournaments. • FSA will have 1 or 2 High School Team this year. • Three teams per school can compete in the MS Regional tournament. • Only oneteam per school can compete at the State tournament. • Middle School Team: 6th through 9th graders, maximum of 5 ninth graders. • High School Team is 8th – 12th grades. • Not everyone will participate at regional, state, or national level!

15. Tournament Logistics • Up to 15 students on a team • 23 events with 2 to 3 students competing in each event • A typical tournament has 47 slots to fill for each team • The “average” student should be capable of competing in 3 to 4 events. • Events run simultaneously, so event conflicts happen. • The more events a student carries, the more valuable they are to the team.

16. Competition Teams will be chosen by looking at: • Results from practice tests, invitational and regional tournaments • Competition schedule conflicts • Attendance at weekly event meetings and Saturday studies • Attitude, spirit, leadership • Behavior – see Academic Teams Policies and Procedures • Team success takes priority over individual success

17. Before You Commit: • Dues for Science Olympiad are $150 per student and do not cover travel and tournament expenses. • The time commitment for Science Olympiad is equivalent to participating in3-5 afterschool clubs. Each event meets once per week. • We recommend that Science Olympiad students not participate in other academic teams. • If you choose to participate in more than one Academic Team (Model UN, Math Olympiad, Tech Fair, Destination Imagination), expect conflicts in competition dates. • You cannot do Science Olympiad AND Robotics. • It is difficult to be in both Science Olympiad and Math Olympiad. • Students must select a minimum of 4 academic (i.e., not building) events to study. • Competitive Olympians should expect to spend 10 or more hours per week working on their events, including weekly event meetings, Saturday studies and independent study time • Science Olympiad is a Team competition. No event winners move on to the next level of competition unless the whole team qualifies

18. Keep in mind: Cramming is not an effective strategy for Science Olympiad! • In order to be selected to compete in an event, you must demonstrate some level of mastery. • Just attending Science Olympiad classes is not enough to ensure a competition slot. • The most successful students are those who: • Are not over-committed with other activities • Have the time and motivation to study on their own.

19. What Can I Do for Our Team as a Parent? Science Olympiad is a team effort. Success is much more difficult without your help!! OUR TEAM NEEDS HELP IN FOLLOWING AREAS: • Event coach parents • Competition day volunteers • Fundraising – Hat Day, Pizza Day, Concession stand at Tech Fair and Math Genius, etc. • Publicity/Spirit

20. Who are the Coaches? • Event coaches are teachers, parents or other adults who volunteer to assist students in understanding the rules and scientific concepts for their respective events. • Coaches will hold practices weekly either after school and/or on Saturdays. • Coaches do not have to be scientists or have prior experience with the subject matter. • Consider sharing coaching responsibilities with another parent volunteer.

21. 2019-20 Events

23. Life, Personal & Social Science • Anatomy & Physiology -- Skeletal, Muscular, and Integumentary systems • Disease Detectives – Epidemiology • Heredity/ Designer Genes – All about genetics • Ornithology– Birds • Water Quality– Ecology of Marine and Estuary environments

24. Earth & Space Science Division B • Dynamic Planet – Oceanography • Fossils • Meteorology – Severe Storms • Road Scholar – Map reading • Reach for the Stars

25. Physical Science & Chemistry Division B • Circuit Lab • Density Lab • Crime Busters • Food Science • Machines

26. Technology & Engineering Division B • Mousetrap Vehicle • Boomilever • Elastic Launched Glider • Mission Possible

27. Inquiry & Nature of Science Division B • Experimental Design • Game On • Ping Pong Parachute • Write It Do It

28. Events we need coaches • Ping Pong Parachute • Mousetrap Vehicle • Machines • Mission Possible • Game On

29. What Next? • Turn in Science Olympiad application form by 4:00 PM on Thursday, August 8. • Parents must also complete the on-line club selection form. • We will meet Monday thru Thursdays during club time until we have coaches and have scheduled classes (expected in early September) • Once events are scheduled, classes will meet Monday-Saturday. Some events will be offered during 2nd club period (4:00 to 5:00). • Class schedules are based on preference of the coach.

30. How many events? • 6th graders must choose 3-4 events, one can be a building event • 7th to 12th graders 4-6 events, including one or two building events • To improve you chance of being selected for team membership, fill out your team application carefully and let us know any special interests you have.

31. Working around other clubs/teams • Once our event class schedule is finalized, students will choose their events. • If you are participating in another Academic Team, you must arrange your Science Olympiad schedule around your other team. For example, if you are doing Model UN, you cannot select Science Olympiad events that meet on Mondays and Thursdays during club time. • If you choose Math Olympiad, do not select events that meet on Saturdays. It’s very difficult to manage both Math and Science Olympiad. • You cannot participate in both Science Olympiad and Robotics!

32. For more information check out: National Website: www.soinc.org National student run forum and wiki: www.scioly.org Any Questions?