OM Teams Participate in State Competition
May 11, 2005

Valwood School sent two Odyssey of the Mind Division II Teams to the State competition held in April at Georgia State College and University in Milledgeville. Odyssey of the Mind is an educational program that promotes creative thinking and problem solving.  One group of seventh graders worked together to solve the problem "In Your Dreams." For this problem, the team created a performance that included a dream that, at times, was cheerful, non-sensical, and nightmarish. The nightmare included a monster, designed and built by the team, which changed in appearance and performed various tasks, including two designed by the team. This team won first place at the region competition held in Savannah in March and third at the State competition.  They also were awarded the "OMER's Award" for meeting and exceeding the goals of the Odyssey of the Mind creative solving competition.  The team was coached by Dr. Ginger Macheski. Team members were Noah Adler, Robbie Burnett, Morgan Coleman, John Elliott, Luke Kelly and Mary Catherine Macheski-Preston.

Valwood's second team of middle schoolers graders solved the problem "Get the Message?"  For this problem the team will presented an original performance that included a story told three times, each time using a different method of communication: a primitive method, an evolved method, and a futuristic method created by the team. The team created signals that represented a stage in a process of the Earth system, which they displayed for each communication method.   This team won second place at the region competition held in Savannah in March and fifth at the State competition.  The team was coached by Carol Selph.  Team members were Rachele Cross, Jessie Glassmire, Allison Peaslee, Katie Querin, and Kelsey Rowland.

Click here for photos