Science Olympiad F.A.Q.
Q: What is Science Olympiad?
A: Science Olympiad (SO) is a nationally organized science competition which exists to augment the science curriculum in our schools. With coach guidance, students work together using hands-on activities to explore multiple science disciplines.
There are 23 different events. BMMS students typically select between 2 and 4 events to study over the course of 4 months (see BMMS regional competition eligibility requirements coming soon)
All BMMS SO students are invited to compete at our BMMS Science Olympiad Competition Day scheduled Dec 10, 2011. Results from this competition will be used to help identify students prepared to represent BMMS at the Regional SO Competition scheduled at RBHS on February 4, 2012.
At Black Mountain, SO is an extracurricular program and entirely run by volunteers.
Q: Who can participate in Science Olympiad?
A: Any interested student at Black Mountain Middle School is able to participate in SO. Last year 147 students registered and collectively had fun studying approximately 1500 hours of science.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The registration for joining SO at Black Mountain is $40. This money goes to pay the registration fee for all six teams from our school at the San Diego Regional Science Olympiad competition. The fee also covers a T-shirt for all participants, BMMS SO Day, and breakfast at the Regional Competition in February. It is important to note that if your student participates in a building event, there may be significant additional costs.
Q: How do I choose which events to take?
A: Students are encouraged to select between 2 and 4 events based on topic preference and practice schedule compatibility. Students are only allowed to study 1 building event. All registered students will be invited to compete at BMMS SO Day.
Q: How do I qualify for regional competition?
A: There are three minimum requirements for a student to be considered for a team at the regional competition. 1) Students must be enrolled in and able to compete in at least two events which do not conflict on regional competition day. 2) One of these two events must be an academic event. 3) Follow all school, BMMS SO, and National SO general rules outlined on the registration packet and on our website. These are minimum requirements, they do not guarantee placement.
Q: Why do I have to take at least one academic event?
A: Out of 23 events SO only offers 5 building choices and they are in high demand. The majority of the events are academic and so interest in those classes is more spread out. This requirement improves student interest across all 23 events yet still allows students to select their favorite from the list. A perk is that our regional teams will improve their competitiveness without significantly compromising student choices.
Q: Can I just study 1 event?
A. Yes, and you can even compete at BMMS SO day in December, but be aware that you will not be considered for regional team placement.
Q: How much time will it require?
A: Generally, about two hours per week for each event. Academic events meet for 1 hour per week, with an hour of studying/homework each week. Building events generally meet for 2-3 hours per week. Check with the individual coaches for time requirements. Classes begin in mid-Sept and continue until February’s regional competition day. In December there will be a BMMS SO Day where all students will be able to compete. Once regional teams have been announced (generally in January) students who are not selected for regional competition are welcome to attend classes, but are no longer required to do so.
Q: What is BMMS SO Day?
A: This event is our school wide Science Olympiad Competition. It is organized and run by our own parent volunteers in our SO program. Starting in 2008 more students have wanted to participate than can be accomodated at the Regional competition. Only 90 students are allowed to represent BMMS at the regional competition (6 teams of 15 students). Too many prepared students were unable to compete. Instead of limiting enrollment in the program, Black Mountain has decided to have our own SO Competition in December. This will be open to all Science Olympiad students and will be conducted as closely as we can to the regional competition. We encourage all students to compete in this as not only will it be great practice for the regional competition, there will be medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place performance in each event and results will be used to help select our regional teams.
Q: What defines a regional team?
A: Throughout the practice season and on BMMS SO Day students study specific events and compete within that one event in pairs or as individuals. A regional team is very different. Regional teams comprise of no more than 15 students who compete against other teams across the entire 23 event spectrum. Successful regional teams prepare each student in differing combinations of 3 or 4 events to maximize both detailed knowledge needed to be competitive in each individual event AND a broad based team knowledge across all events for overall competitiveness. BMMS is allowed to send a maximum of 6 such teams to compete at the Feb regional competition (maximum 90 students)
Q: How can I boost my chances of being picked for one of the 6 regional teams?
A: We will be selecting students for regional competition using a rubric. Click to here view.
The rubric is based on the number of events practiced, coaches' evaluation (the attendance, citizenship/behavior and mastery) of each event practiced, and results from BMMS SO Day. Other factors include how your events fit into the competition day schedule and the ability to place you on a team where your event knowledge fulfills the needs of the team. Grade level and previous SO experience are also factors in the selection process.
You can significantly boost, but not necessarily guarantee selection by: 1) Learning 3 or 4 events -especially if one or more has low enrollment (less than 12 students). Make sure the events you study do not have conflicting testing times on competition day. The 2010-11 schedule is on the "Events" tab on this site. 2) Earn a recommendation from your coaches based on your mastery of the subjects. 3) Perform well in multiple events on BMMS SO Day.
None of these strategies guarantee selection for the regional competition. Because each team may only have 15 students, the head coach looks for those students that make it easiest to cover all the events for a given team. The BMMS school competition is designed to foster a broad based love for science and recognize individual student achievement in individual events, but the SO teams we send to regional event will be designed to out-perform our competition.
Q: When will I find out if I am on a team that will compete in February?
A: Students will find out on or before January 20.
Q: When is the Regional competition?
A: It will be February 4, 2012. If you will not be free on that date, please notify the head coach. You should not be considered for the regional team.
Q: What is the State Competition and how could I qualify for that?
A: If Black Mountain earns a spot at the state competition, only 1 team of 15 students will be selected in early March. Usually the state competition is in mid-April. Team selection is heavily based on regional competition results in addition to all other criteria listed previously.
Q: How can my family help SO this year?
A: You can help by volunteering to be an event coach, planning our BMMS SO Day, or by volunteering on school and regional competition days. You can also help by making a donation of materials or money to the program. Employer donations are always accepted to this tax deductable program. A committee member can give you the tax id # for BMMS SO. This is an all volunteer program and virtually all families find a way to help.