The week of September 5th, Cathedral’s science department held a meeting to survey student interest in participating in Science Olympiad competitions. According to Anatomy teacher Mrs. Mary Snyder, over 80 students attended the meeting. The teachers leading the charge include Mrs. Mary Snyder, Dr. Michaela Bertch, Ms. Lorin Helbling, and Mr. Mike Wallace.
The Science Olympiad is a national competition for middle schools and high schools. The categories range from forestry to robotics to optics, according to Dr. Bertch. Students compete in teams of fifteen, and they can choose to participate in either one event or multiple events. There are various events to compete in for the 2012 competition, including Chemistry labs, bottle rockets, microbe missions, and thermodynamics.
This is Cathedral’s first year in the competition, but other schools near CCHS, like Torrey Pines High School and Canyon Crest Academy, have been competing for years.
Dr. Bertch said, “We have been looking for something challenging and fun, while trying to avoid science fairs.” She said a student letter this summer encouraged CCHS to be a part of this fun competition, and it seemed like a good fit.
Mrs. Snyder, who has coached Science Olympiad teams at other schools, is enthusiastic that Cathedral is finally participating. “Previous students I’ve had were always surprised by how much fun it is. They were always eager to come back the next year.”
Science Olympiad will take place during President’s Day weekend in February, so students will have some time to prepare. Meetings will begin in October and they will occur twice a month.
Those interested who missed the informational meeting are encouraged to stop by Mr. Wallace’s room to pick up a student interest survey within the next week or so. The next meeting is set to take place sometime in mid-October.
For more information, the teachers involved will be setting up a Moodle page regarding the competition, according to Mrs. Snyder.
Joining the Science Olympiad team allows students to way to learn more about science, make new friends, and of course, have that extra something to add to college resumes.
“The competition isn’t just written science. It’s very diverse and hands-on,” said Dr. Bertch.
Any student who loves science or who just wants to learn can stop by and join the team.
Mrs. Snyder said, “It’s a fantastic opportunity to do hands-on science and learn about topics we don’t get to teach during school. It’s something you just get hooked on.”