During the Odyssey of the Mind regional competition held over Spring Break, Falls Church City Public Schools fielded 17 teams (14 from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and three from Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School). MEHMS had two third-place teams, and TJ had a second-place and a first-place team.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international competition that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. The regional competition took place March 31 at West Potomac High School in Alexandria.
All teams are coached by parent volunteers. Teams solve one of five problems.
The first place team of Felix Barth, Kurt Barth, Colson Board, Parrish Pipestem, Daniel Trauberman and James Trombo, all third graders, won the “OohMotional Vehicle” problem. Completed in just four months, the self-named Loch Ness Monsters were challenged to build a ride-on vehicle to travel a course using two propulsion systems and displaying four emotions and present their solution in a themed performance including props and a special effect.
The team, coached by Valerie Barth and Amy Trombo, will compete at the state tournament in Newport News on April 14.
