In case you're curious how we fared at the end of our season...
Dear Team. We finished 9th overall among 13 top notch teams, right behind Naperville North. Ahead of them was Libertyville who was just behind University of Chicago Lab School and IMSA. This year the top five are going to state. That means U of C Lab school is staying home as our Region’s Alternate team. I had an interesting conversation with the U of C Lab coach while we were waiting to hand out medals. After he first very generously complimented those of you he saw in events, he told me their science team competes in three other programs like Science Olympiad including WYSE, an Engineering focused program and one built around the Environment. Guys, we finished three behind them!! Spirit Award; the only award that really matters. Twenty years from now it won’t matter how many medals we had clinking around our necks at the end of the day. But it will matter for eternity that we treated one another in God honoring ways. Matt. 22:37-40, “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Studying God’s creation (science) is one way to love the Lord with all our mind. (We can appreciate God’s handiwork as well as improve our ability to care it.) But the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors. That, my dear team, was on display in full glitter gel color today. Before awarding this honor Dr. Thuys said that, in addition to the standard qualities of sportsmanship, wearing team colors, etc., the reason we won the spirit award was, “…showing appreciation to the judges.” Imagine that! Sophia told me when they presented their thank you card to the Experimental Design Supervisor she replied like this. “Your team picture is cute but you’re blocking your school logo on the wall.” Sophia replied, “That’s not our school.” Then another judge in the room said, “They are the homeschool team.” Jake told me one of his judges picked up the thank you card from where he had it under the table thinking it was litter or something. Then after she looked at it she appreciated the gesture. Devon and Riley went back to the Wind Power room with their thank you card that had been left in the homeroom. Their judge was impressed by the effort behind that sentiment and hung around chatting with the guys. So how did we place in our events? We earned six medals with one seventh place finish just out of the running. Here is the results summary with a few comments. (Oh, those powerhouse teams that came in ahead of us? They actually ranked behind us in a number of our medaling events so I’m including that for our medalists in parentheses.) 1st – Astronomy, Jake. By himself. In a room where there was questionable activity going on. In the middle of a long day. You did great, Jake. We’re all proud of you. 4th - A&P, Matthew & Rachel. Who knew there was so much to skin, hair, and nails? Who did? You did! Way to go. (You came in ahead of Metea, Lyons Township, IMSA, U of C Lab and all the teams below us.) 4th - Bridge Building, Jake & Leo. All the sand in the bucket! All the sand! For one brief shining moment anyway. (You came in ahead of Libertyville, U of C Lab, Waubonsie, Metea, and all the teams below us.) 4th - Wright Stuff, Jake & Kurt. One good flight and one flash in the pan. Still, it was a beautifully engineered device. We have high hopes that both of you will continue to soar for the clouds in future. (You came in ahead of Waubonsie, Lyons Township, Libertyville, Neuqua, Naperville North, and all the teams below us.) 4th - Write It Do It, Nekijilyn & Jonathan. This is a very respectable finish among a very competitive field. WIDI is a skill all of us need to develop as it becomes a resource in so many areas. The fact that you landed in 4th, writing / building a device with pieces you haven’t worked with before, illustrates you have the skill. (You came in ahead of Libertyville, Waubonsie, Neuqua, U of C Lab, IMSA, Metea, and more.) 5th – Forensics, Sophia& Rachel. This is the highest finishing place our team has earned in this event, an event MOMR didn’t think we’d ever have a chance in. (You came in ahead of Libertyville, your lab partner-friends from Neuqua, U of C Lab, IMSA, and all the teams below us.) That’s six Regional medals for our little team; a nice collection of bling, indeed. We know it is true that some medal places can be separated by as little as .001. So, finishing in 7th is also very respectable. Each of these helps the team score overall by not dragging us down. (The top five teams that are going to State had eight 7th place finishes.) 7th - Wind Power, Devon & Riley. Did you all hear Congressman Foster’s comment about going home after competition or waking up the next day with ideas on what maybe could be done differently? Over the course of this season the Wind Power device has undergone a significant evolution; after each competition. One more time out and this device would have been in strong medal contention. (You came in ahead of Lyons Township High School, the 2nd place overall team.) Eighth place is also a good result. Think of where you each were when the season started. It is also worth mentioning that all the rest of these actually did finish in the “not last” category. It’s a good starting point. I sincerely hope we can grow from here. Well done everyone. 8th - Disease Detectives, Rachel & Jake. 8th - Electric Vehicle, Leo & Jack. 8th – Fossils, Kurt & Jack. 9th - Chem Lab, Jake & Sophia. 9th - Game On, Greg & Devon. 9th – Hydrogeology, Kurt & Nekijilyn. 9th - It’s About Time, Leo & Sam. 10th - Air Trajectory, Sophia & Jonathan. 10th - Cell Biology, Matthew & Nekijilyn. 10th - Dynamic Planet, Kurt & Jake. 10th - Experimental Design, Sophia, Rachel, & Greg. 10th - GeoLogic Mapping, Jake & Sam. 10th - Green Generation, Sophia & Rachel. 10th - Protein Modeling, Matthew & Sam. 10th - Robot Arm, Leo & Jack. 11th - Invasive Species, Devon & Riley. With such an exciting day going on I think one of my favorite moments happened at about 3:15pm when we were all in the homeroom after the testing was done. You guys were chatting, parents were talking, little kids were playing on the floor, and there was science-y stuff all over the room. It felt cozy like hanging out after a family holiday meal. Thank you all for competing together with such a spirit. That plaque, special as it is, does not convey the spirit of community you all so easily project. It is an honor to be considered among you. Blessings, Mrs. Guo
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Brenda G.Enjoying the journey through my kids' childhood as a home educating mom. (And no, I don't have time for a blog but sometimes you just gotta write.) Archives
April 2019
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