Science Olympiad Starts for 6th & 7th Grade Students(sign up in Ravenna)

Dear Middle School Families,

I am excited to share that I will be serving as the Head Coach of our middle school Science Olympiad team this year! I am honored to have the opportunity to continue our school's strong Science Olympiad tradition and look forward to working with our students throughout the season.

Science Olympiad is a fun and challenging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) competition where students work in teams of two to prepare for a variety of science and engineering events. Some events are knowledge-based and focus on topics such as anatomy, ecology, chemistry, weather, or astronomy. Other events are hands-on and involve designing, building, and testing devices or solving engineering challenges. There are also events that emphasize experimentation, problem-solving, and technology.

Throughout the season, students attend weekly practices, work with their event partners, and prepare for competitions. Our team will compete in several invitational tournaments before participating in the Illinois Regional Tournament. Science Olympiad is a wonderful opportunity for students to build teamwork, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills while exploring science in fun, engaging ways. With a wide variety of events, there is something for every student, whether they enjoy building, experimenting, researching, or applying what they have learned.

This year's practice schedule is as follows:

• 6th and 7th Grade: Mondays from 3:30–4:30 p.m., beginning October 19
• 8th Grade: Thursdays from 3:30–4:30 p.m., beginning October 22

Also, this years first Invitational will be held at Marie Murphy on Saturday, December 12th.

Additional information about registration, event selection, competition dates, and expectations will be shared as we get closer to the start of the season.

I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning, teamwork, and competition. If your child enjoys science, engineering, problem-solving, or simply trying new challenges, I encourage them to consider joining Science Olympiad. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

6th and 7th Grade students who are in Model UN fall session may attend Science Olympiad on Thursdays from October 22 through November 12 so students can participate in both clubs if they wish.

Sincerely,

Rhodi Hotaling