Send RES OM Team to World Finals

On March 17, 2018 over forty teams of students from elementary, middle and high schools across Vermont competed in the Odyssey of the Mind (OM) State Tournament. OM is a team-oriented, open-ended problem-solving competition where student teams work for over 5 months to formulate and present a solution in the form of an 8 minute performance before a panel of judges. Teams also compete in a spontaneous problem at the tournament where they have to solve a problem on the fly using their creativity.  The students must be the source of every aspect of the solution and its presentation. No outside help from coaches, family, friends, or other students is allowed.

This year Richmond Elementary School (RES) placed to go to OM World Finals at the end of May in Iowa. The all-girl 3rd grade team was awarded 1st place in Problem #5 (the theatrical problem) entitled A Stellar Hangout.  The team presented an outstanding solution involving original creatures from original planets hanging out eating original intergalactic foods and looking for a priceless treasure. The girls achieved extraordinary scores on both aspects of the competition.  Their Long Term problem score was considerably higher than the rest of the teams in their division– a feat that doesn’t happen often in our State filled with very creative young minds. Their spontaneous score was second highest by only one point difference. The team is insanely proud of their accomplishments and  thrilled with the opportunity to present their solution at World Finals.

OM is an international educational program whose mission is to provide creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Through solving open-ended problems, students develop creative-thinking skills that can be applied to real-life situations. Teams from throughout the U.S. and more than 20 other countries participate in the program. https://www.odysseyofthemind.com/  

No outside assistance is allowed for OM solutions, however, outside assistance is needed now to help send the team to Iowa to compete at World Finals. The team is now faced with the creative challenge of raising $9,000 in 1.5 months - a very short period of time - to fund their trip. Please help this group of creative OMers get to Iowa. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated - every little bit counts.

Thank you so much!

OMers: Elise, Geneviève, Kate, Lila, Noelle and Penny

And Coach Denise