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Click on links below for more information What more can I say? The photos say more than I ever could fit on this page. This was FUN! Well, OKAY, I’ll say a bit more:
WAY TO GO Frederick County Public Schools!!! “All around enthusiastic support,” best describes the experience of working with FCPS in this first FCPS Maryland Science Olympiad Regional Tournament.
Venue? Being a former U.S. Navy person, I knew the moment I saw the glass-like sheen on the Crestwood Middle School floors that this tournament would be first rate. I can’t rave enough about how well our MSO setup team was supported by the Crestwood custodial staff. Listen, there’s some real behind-the-scenes effort going on at the support level to make a tournament come together – especially with the record setting snow fall.
Big names like Crestwood’s administrator, Kathleen Hartsock, Larkin Hohnke of the FCPS Secondary School Improvement, Instruction & Administration Division, and STEM Coordinator, Thomas Mills, were on-site Saturday “making things happen.” Crestwood’s Team Coach, Nancy Stamatakos, and our Tournament Director, Coach Jason Johnson, of the Thurmont team both played key positions (Jason worked tirelessly for MONTHS to make this tournament a reality – “where does he get his energy?”)
Maryland science and technology organizations arrived to judge the technology events. The Northrop Grumman Wright Stuff competition was judged by John Appling from SAIC Frederick, and volunteers from the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the Baltimore Area Soaring Society. The Battery Buggy competition was judged by David Graham of Ft. Detrick’s 21st Signal Brigade, and Chris and Megan Loysen of Edward Jones. The Trajectory Competition was judged by Jeana Colella of Battelle’s “NBACC” National Laboratory. The Junkyard Challenge was judged by one of the original author/creators of this now nation-wide competition, Ryan Michela, of the White House Military Office. Exams were proctored by team coaches.
And what about you TEAMS? Many new FCPS teams bravely ventured into the Maryland Science Olympiad for the FIRST TIME EVER, matching wits with some of the strongest teams in the state. It was quite a sight to see all the coaches and team members apprehensive but ready to give it a try! Nothing warms my heart like the sight of a nervous Science Teacher.
And at the end of the day, science FUN was had by all. It’s all about teamwork!
-Al Causey
Director Maryland Science Olympiad
If you would like to have your comments added here, send an email to info@marylandscienceolympiad.org
Thanks to Jason, Al, and everyone for making our first Science Olympiad an amazing experience for our kids… I have never seen them so excited about science (or anything else, for that matter). We hope this is the beginning of more and more participation in SO in Montgomery County…
Jane Macedonia
Grade 7 Science
North Bethesda Middle School
Hello Everyone!
Thank you for your kinds words, it does my heart good to know that the students had a
great day.
The success of this tournament is a direct result of all of your efforts; each of you
touched this event is some way, and without your "touch" something would have been
missing.
The seeds of STEM excitement we planted Saturday will stay with our students for a
lifetime, and in the future when our students move on to lead the world in innovative
research or continuing medicine may very well save lives. You have done more than you
know for the students of Maryland and Virginia.
I thank you.
Jason O.L. Johnson "Mr. J"
Thurmont Middle School
7th Grade Science Teacher
STEM Coordinator
Science Olympiad Coach/Central MD Tournament Director
As a parent and a teacher for FCPS, I also want to commend you, Jason, for bringing the competition to FCPS. It was a real opportunity to see our students and children in a different environment and competition. What a memorable experience for students to build their love of science! Thanks for all that you do!
Anita Shank
WOW is all I can say! We had a blast at the tournament! Thanks so much for all that
you did to make it such a special day. I can't begin to tell you how proud and
excited the kids are - as am I! They are jumping right into preparations for April!
Thanks fo doing such a wonderful job of organizing this event!
Nancy Stamatakos
Math Specialist
CMS STEM Teacher Leader
Crestwood Middle School