Welcome to RLC PTO Science Olympiad 2018 Parent Information Session

What is VASO – Division A It is a sister organization to the Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO) A friendly competition designed for 3-5 grade students to experience STEM This is an introduction to middle school (Division B) and high-school (Division C) Science Olympiad programs 

School Team Structure A team is defined as a group of students residing within the same school attendance zone and from the same school Teams may not be comprised of students from different schools that attend the same after school activity A team may be any number of students up to a total of 45 students. Students in grades 3-5 are eligible to participate in division A. Smaller groups within a team may HAVE students from MIXED grade levels or same grade level. VASO writeS and runS THEIR own competition based on and mirroring, if possible the Science Olympiad competition No relation to National or State level competitions

VASO Important Dates Mid-November Release of Event Topics December 15 School registration opens January 15 School registration closes January 18 Event rules released January 21 Schools notified of team commitment to sponsor an event February 12 Student/Parent Registration opens March 1 Deadline for turning in event tests for review and editing March 11 Team roster due April 1 Student/Parent Registration closes Tournament (2 day) Date - April 2018 TBD *All dates are subject to change

Science Olympiad 2016 Events 3 Categories *number and type of events subject to change   EVENT TYPE NUMBER OF EVENTS TEAMS EVENT DETAILS EXAMPLE Building Events 8 Events Maximum Number of Participants per event per School = 6 (3 Groups of 2 students) https://sites.google.com/site/vasodivisiona/2015-event-information/build Engineering Enigma - Students will demonstrate their engineering skills by building and testing a device for given materials. The nature of the device will remain secret until announced by the Event Supervisor to the students behind closed doors. All students from the same school must participate at the same time. Testing Events 9 Events https://sites.google.com/site/vasodivisiona/2015-event-information/2014-clarifications Anatomy - Teams will demonstrate their understanding of the digestive system and food borne illnesses. This event may cover the parts of these systems and their functions. Multiple Student Events 3 Events Maximum Number of Participants per event per School = 6 to 10 (3 Groups of 2 students/2 groups of 5 students) https://sites.google.com/site/vasodivisiona/2015-event-information/2015-team-events Pentathlon - Five physical skills are interspersed with science questions in an obstacle course that will be run in a relay race style where each student passes the baton or tags the next student. A sixth physical skill and science question may be performed by the group.

Tournament Schedule VASO tournament is one to two days long Tournament schedule assumes that there will be 25 schools registering Teams will be able to sign-up for a time to compete in Pentathlon and all tech events, once the tournament schedule is published. All students and coaches will receive wrist bands. Students will need to show these bands at each event.

Awards and scoring Division-a does not have any team awards. This allows students the flexibility of trying events, without the pressure of filling all events for a good team score. The top 10 performing pairs of students in each event earn medals. Scoring varies by events. Each event description explains criteria used for scoring that event. There are also individual impact awards for students that, in the mind of an Event Supervisor, have shown the most Olympic spirit.

Sample Schedule

Volunteer & Coach If assigned an event, Each school will provide 1 Event Supervisor that will write the event test and run the event, and at least 3 adults to help with the event where needed Schools with 20 or more students will provide 1 additional volunteer for every 5 students or portion thereof; e.g. schools with 21 students agree to provide 5 volunteers - 4 to run the event and a 5th to help where needed Volunteers helping with an event must stay with the event supervisor until all exams have been graded Parents may not volunteer for an event where their child participates For every event we will need at-least one coach. Please indicate when signing up a group of two kids - which parent of the two kids will be the assigned coach and name of the volunteer (18 years of age)

Volunteer Opportunities Running an event Facilities Scoring Room Supervisor Room Meet and greet table Cleanup Setup Awards ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Co - Coordinator, Table Mom

EVENT Coaching The students retain control of the process of preparing for a Science Olympiad event. This means that they should have the last word about how something will be done. Coaches can best prepare their teams for the competition by teaching underlying principles and skills, suggesting ideas, and advice on methods, tools or materials to accomplish the task. Individual team will bear cost of materials that they may use to do a practice drill at home. It is recommended that coaches and their teams meet once a week or so to practice for their event.

Event Writing guidelines (event Supervisor) Student ages are 8-10 years on day of event Do not write a test that will take longer than 30 minutes (the more you assign, the more you have to grade) Have a way to break ties Do not deviate from the rules Make it as hands-on and fun as possible Do not write questions that need an essay to answer unless there is no other way to find out what students know

RLC PTO - Science Olympiad Registration First come First Serve (subject to VASO cap of 45 students per school) Fee is due at the time of registration Per student fee is $45 - to cover registration, RLC VASO T-shirt and other event and administration costs If any money is leftover - it will be used to recognize school winners No Refunds School Registration End Date - TBD (around January 15, 2018) Registration – online and via checks (payable to “RLC PTO”)

Next steps… Research more on the events at https://sites.google.com/site/vasodivisiona/home an email will be sent in the next couple weeks that gives registration opening date and link for online registration. Complete registration when it opens by filling in student details along with the registration fee. Plan on teams’ meetings beginning jan 2018 for the final competition in april 2018 Get kids excited and ready to have fun while they learn!!!