The Odyssey of the Mind Program was a success at Bainbridge-Guilford for the 2020-21 school year.  Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem solving competition. The program is offered to all interested students at the Greenlawn Elementary School and at the Junior - Senior High School. We had five teams that endured many struggles and persevered this year, as competitions were not held in person. All NYS competitions were done virtually. Teams had to create their solutions, record them and then submit them online to NYSOMA, along with all their paperwork and description of the team’s solution. These solutions were scored for both regional and state competition.  Bainbridge-Guilford had the most teams represented at our region 13 competition. Thank you to all the teams and coaches for working through the struggles of this year and representing us so well. 

he Odyssey program divides students into different divisions based on their ages.  We have one team competing at the Division I level, which is open to students in grades K-5.   Mrs. Cuozzo’s team selected Problem 3 - Classics…OMER and the Beanstalk. Odyssey of the Mind gives the description of the problem. Storybooks come alive when a special bean grows into a magic “beanstalk” that takes a youngster into a storybook land. There, a creative host will guide them around as they meet different storybook characters and encounter objects from selected stories that exist together in this mystical land. Teams will use ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda to create works of art relating to the stories. A set piece or prop that grows or appears to grow and an original Life Lesson learned by the youngster in storybook land will be part of the performance. This team did all their hard practices in person and took FIRST at the regional level. Team members include Ryan Bachman, Aaron- Michael Caffery, Cameren Cuozzo, Lucia Hall, Solara Spinella, and Lance Stewart.

We had 3 teams that competed at the Division II level. This Division is open to students in grades 6-8. Our first Division II team, coached by Mrs. Hinman chose to do Problem3 – Classics…OMER and the Beanstalk. (See description above). This team did all their practices and recorded their solution via Zoom, taking FIRST at the regional level. Team members include Keelan Ammon, Alexis Bergstrom, Connor Bergstrom, Leigh Fitzgerald, Gabriella Giordano, Carleigh Judd, and Merren Lorimer.

 

Also competing at the Division II level was Mrs. Madugno and Ms. Morris-Schinn’s team have selected Problem 5 – Superhero Socks: A Cliffhanger Beginning. Get ready for a story that begins with a cliffhanger “ending.” A Superhero is in peril and needs help to escape. Just as all hope seems lost, the Superhero puts on a pair of Super Socks that give the hero a special power. The Superhero uses the power to escape and fend off an adversary who caused the cliffhanger situation. Teams will also create an extreme weather setting, a humorous character, and a sound effect that occurs whenever the character activates the Super Socks. With a mixture on in person & virtual practices this team took SECOND at the regional level. Team members include Owen Degan, Ashlyn DiMorier, Harpo Hardt, Ethan Germond, Ethan Morris, Ashley Madugno, and Aubrey Schinn. 

Our last team competing in Division II coached by Mrs. L. Miller also took on Problem 5 – Superhero Socks: A Cliffhanger Beginning.  (See description above). This team had a combination of in person practices and virtual practices bringing home FIRST at the regional level. Team members include Carly Finch, Shaylyn Fitzgerald, Mariah Miller, Clare Sullivan and Erinne Sullivan.

Division III level is open to students in the grades 9-12. This year’s Division III team coached by Mrs. Burton chose Problem 4 – It’s a Trap! Oh no, it’s a trap! Or is it? In this problem, teams will design and build a structure made of only balsa wood and glue, if desired, that holds as much weight as possible after it is used to trap a moving object. However, an oblivious character will unwittingly avoid traps it does not recognize in a humorous performance. The performance will also include a narrator character that alerts the audience to the action and the traps. This team took on the challenge and worked in person to receive their FIRST place win. Team members include Trevor Bachman, Owen Fleming, Rahim Meghani, Aiden Vermilyea, Gabe Walley, and Owen Walley.

Though all the teams did excellent at the regional level they did not place on the state level. We did have two teams decided to make some adjustments to their solutions and participate in the Virtual World’s Final. We wish Mrs. L. Miller & Mrs. Couzzo teams the best of luck.