Pinckneyville Odyssey of the Mind
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Hello! Our names are Addie, Claire, Elisa, Emma, Kylie, Molly, and Sophie (in the order pictured below), and we are an Odyssey of the Mind team from Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners, GA.

After winning the GA State Finals last year in the elementary school division, we then went on to win the World Finals, a competition that included over 70 teams from other states and 11 other countries around the world! We have again been working very hard since September to prepare for this year's Odyssey of the Mind competitions, creating an original play (including the script, sets, props, costumes, and make-up) with absolutely no help from adults and a budget of only $125 (because those are the rules!).

Our hard work once again paid off when we were awarded FIRST PLACE at both the regional competition in February and the Georgia State Finals earlier this month, despite being a team made up of 6th graders and one 4th grader — some of the youngest competitors in the middle school division! That means we have again qualified for the World Finals and a chance to defend our title of World Champs in a new age division at the end of May in Michigan, and we are so excited!!

Getting seven team members and our volunteer parent coach -- along with all of our props, costumes, and sets -- all the way to Michigan is no easy task, and it comes with a significant cost. We are hoping to raise money to help with the registration fees, lodging, meals, transportation, trailer rental, etc. The competition takes place from May 22-25, so we would like to get funding in place by May 17th if possible.

Pinckneyville Middle School is a public school located in Peachtree Corners, GA, just outside of Atlanta, and is part of the Gwinnett County Public School District. Although our team is linked to the school, all practices are held off school grounds and outside of school hours, and we are coached by a parent volunteer. We are all involved in other school and community activities, so the many, many hours we have spent building sets, creating costumes, writing the script, and practicing our performance have all been in addition to our other responsibilities and commitments.

Some people might not understand exactly what Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) is, so we are including the official description as well as a link to their website for anyone who would like to know more:
“[OotM] is an international creative problem-solving program that engages students in their learning by allowing their knowledge and ideas to come to life in an exciting, productive environment. Participants build self-confidence, develop life skills, create new friendships, and are able to recognize and explore their true potential. OotM proves that students can have fun while they learn.” https://www.odysseyofthemind.com

The competitions consist of the performance of our original skit based on the exact set of required elements given (the "long-term problem") as well as performance of the "spontaneous problem," in which teams are asked to perform random tasks on the spot with no prior preparation, such as creating a bridge out of unique materials that can actually support weight. So, in effect, it's a great combination of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with the arts (STEAM)! It also requires a lot of teamwork and good communication.

It is an honor once again to be one of the teams from all over the world that will be competing at the World Finals and to represent Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and the state of Georgia! We sincerely appreciate any assistance, large or small, that you can provide as we prepare to make the long trek from Georgia to Michigan! All donations collected will be withdrawn at the end of our fundraising campaign and deposited into a bank account created by Jeff Ebert (a team parent); these funds will then be distributed equally among the team members and volunteer parent coach. We thank you for your support!

After winning the GA State Finals last year in the elementary school division, we then went on to win the World Finals, a competition that included over 70 teams from other states and 11 other countries around the world! We have again been working very hard since September to prepare for this year's Odyssey of the Mind competitions, creating an original play (including the script, sets, props, costumes, and make-up) with absolutely no help from adults and a budget of only $125 (because those are the rules!).
Our hard work once again paid off when we were awarded FIRST PLACE at both the regional competition in February and the Georgia State Finals earlier this month, despite being a team made up of 6th graders and one 4th grader — some of the youngest competitors in the middle school division! That means we have again qualified for the World Finals and a chance to defend our title of World Champs in a new age division at the end of May in Michigan, and we are so excited!!
Getting seven team members and our volunteer parent coach -- along with all of our props, costumes, and sets -- all the way to Michigan is no easy task, and it comes with a significant cost. We are hoping to raise money to help with the registration fees, lodging, meals, transportation, trailer rental, etc. The competition takes place from May 22-25, so we would like to get funding in place by May 17th if possible.
Pinckneyville Middle School is a public school located in Peachtree Corners, GA, just outside of Atlanta, and is part of the Gwinnett County Public School District. Although our team is linked to the school, all practices are held off school grounds and outside of school hours, and we are coached by a parent volunteer. We are all involved in other school and community activities, so the many, many hours we have spent building sets, creating costumes, writing the script, and practicing our performance have all been in addition to our other responsibilities and commitments.
Some people might not understand exactly what Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) is, so we are including the official description as well as a link to their website for anyone who would like to know more:
“[OotM] is an international creative problem-solving program that engages students in their learning by allowing their knowledge and ideas to come to life in an exciting, productive environment. Participants build self-confidence, develop life skills, create new friendships, and are able to recognize and explore their true potential. OotM proves that students can have fun while they learn.” https://www.odysseyofthemind.com
The competitions consist of the performance of our original skit based on the exact set of required elements given (the "long-term problem") as well as performance of the "spontaneous problem," in which teams are asked to perform random tasks on the spot with no prior preparation, such as creating a bridge out of unique materials that can actually support weight. So, in effect, it's a great combination of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with the arts (STEAM)! It also requires a lot of teamwork and good communication.
It is an honor once again to be one of the teams from all over the world that will be competing at the World Finals and to represent Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and the state of Georgia! We sincerely appreciate any assistance, large or small, that you can provide as we prepare to make the long trek from Georgia to Michigan! All donations collected will be withdrawn at the end of our fundraising campaign and deposited into a bank account created by Jeff Ebert (a team parent); these funds will then be distributed equally among the team members and volunteer parent coach. We thank you for your support!
Fundraising team: Pinckneyville Odyssey of the Mind (5)
Jeff Ebert
Organizer
Tamara Betteridge
Team member
Brenda Banks
Team member
Lisa Dommert
Team member
Nicole Coffin
Team member