Grayson Cluster Students Again Head to the World Odyssey of the Mind Tournament

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem solving competition and for the second year in a row, students from Grayson Elementary School have proven they have what it takes to compete at the World level. A fourth grade team from Grayson Elementary School and one from Couch Middle School and Bay Creek Middle School in the Grayson Cluster are hoping to bring home titles at the end of the month. They've done their part, now they need some help from the communtity.

“I believe Starling also has a team that qualified,” said
 Tammy Lee, who is helping get the word out about fundraising efforts and helping get the teams prepared. “This is a very strong showing for the Grayson community which was very well represented at the State level as well.”

Lee said the World Tournament will take place from May 22-May 25, 2013 at Michigan State University. Fundraising efforts included a yard sale this past weekend and several fundraisers by Brusters, including one today, Tuesday May 7 by purchasing a cup of Bruster's Blue or Watermelon Ice during lunch. Each cup is only $2.00 and 50 percent of the proceeds will go towards the Grayson Cluster’s Odyssey of the Mind team trips to the World Tournament. Other fundraisers by Bruster’s fundraiser contributions to the team include a Scoop Night from 6 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, with 10 percent of all sales being donated as well as a Blue Ice Day at Grayson elementary on May 17.

“Team members are also writing letters to local businesses to promote the Odyssey of the Mind program and request donations for the trip,” Lee said.

The fourth grade team competed in Division I (3-5 grade) Problem 5 "It's How You Look At It," Lee said.

“Teams begin brainstorming ideas and reading through problem requirements at the beginning of the school year. There are about five pages worth of details and ideas that must be included in what becomes a less than 8 minute performance completely put together by the kids,” she said. “Their ideas become a script, props are built, and costumes are designed. Again this is all done completely by the seven children. They also practice for the other portion of the tournament called Spontaneous. It is just as it sounds, teams go behind closed doors without the coach. They have no idea what type of problem they will need to solve until they get in the room with the judges. The team has about 5 minutes to think of a way to solve the problem, which can range from verbal add on stories, verbal responses with props or building with common items to achieve a certain goal like tallest, holds weight etc.” 

Lee said the regional tournaments are held in the different locations in Georgia.

“We competed in the Parkview Tournament. Our team placed fourth and the top five moved on to the State Tournament at Columbus State University. We competed there on April 6 and placed first allowing us to advance to World,” Lee said, adding that the fourth grade team is the same team that made it to the World Tournament in Iowa last year.

This year’s team is made up of the following students:

• Aiden McNeill-10
• Gabby Lee-10
• Jason Walker-10
• William Grube-10
• MaryElizabeth MacDonald-10
• Maia Pilof-10
• Carter Phillips-10

A photograph of the eighth grade team from Bay Creek and Couch Middle is included here as well.