Kids stretch their Imagination for Odyssey
March 24, 2006
By Tom Waring
Northeast Times Staff Writer
Local students love the experience offered by Odyssey of the Mind. The international educational program held its Philadelphia competition on Saturday, and students from five area schools participated.
Some schools won awards. All of the students learned something and had fun. Kiara Rodriguez, a fifth-grader at Solis-Cohen School, took part in a presentation on ancient Egypt. She and her teammates played a queen, servants and dancers to the delight of the judges. They also used colors, props and paintings.
"It’s really fun, and it’s really creative," Kiara said.
Christian Hettinger, a fourth-grader at Edwin Forrest School, played the lead role in the Jungle Bloke division. The Forrest skit included singing and alligators, with Christian playing a character who can talk to the animals. The youngster is drawn to Odyssey of the Mind because it stresses creativity. "It’s something different," he said.
Ryan Wildsmith, a seventh-grader at New Foundations Charter School, was part of a "Stop Deforestation" show that took place in a makeshift Amazon rainforest. His character worked with jaguars to preserve their homes as a businessman instructed two construction workers to begin cutting down trees.
Ryan played the guitar while the animals danced in front of some elaborate props, all geared toward winning favor from the judges.
"We wanted to make them feel like they were in the jungle by adding backdrops," he said.
All of the action took place at Louis Farrell School’s auditorium, library and gym. The aforementioned schools and the host school were joined by Rhawnhurst School to complete the local contingent. In all, 15 schools were represented.
The area winners were New Foundations (first in Division II Ancient Egypt, second in Division II Jungle Bloke), Forrest (second in Division I Geometry Structure and tied for second in Division I Ancient Egypt and Jungle Bloke), Solis-Cohen (tied for second in Division I Jungle Bloke), Rhawnhurst (third in Division I Geometry Structure and fourth in Division I Ancient Egypt) and Farrell (third in Division II Ancient Egypt).
Selected winners will advance to the state competition in Altoona on April 8. Karen Lash, president of the Forrest Home and School Association, last year served as a judge and this year cheered on her school’s team, which included her son Ryan.
After the winners were announced, Lash made some phone calls, and the School District of Philadelphia has agreed to fund the trip to Altoona. Winners there advance to the world championships, which are slated for May 24 through 27 in Ames, Iowa. Odyssey of the Mind was created in 1978 by a professor at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). Teams of up to seven students perform tasks that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their interpretations of literary classics. The preparation for these technical, artistic and performance-oriented missions is done after school. The presentations in front of judges last for eight minutes.
While the program has been in existence for 28 years, the Philadelphia chapter is in only its third year. Solis-Cohen was part of the pilot program three years ago. Teacher Jen Litzke, the school’s coach, was proud of her students’ effort.
"I think they did great," she said. "It’s all about having fun."
Patricia Epps, principal at Forrest, said her students are excited to take part, adding that the program is a great educational tool.
"It helps them think critically, and they have to create the whole script themselves," she said.
Ashley Redfearn Neswick, a coach at New Foundations, explained that her school has participated in Odyssey of the Mind for six years, the first five in a southeastern Pennsylvania chapter. She said the students gather after school and on Saturdays. They learn to work together and to develop social and cooperative skills. The students do everything — write plays, sew costumes and design and build props.
"This is like an enrichment program," Redfearn Neswick said.
Harold Kurtz, a retired Philadelphia principal and superintendent in New Jersey, is the city’s coordinator for Odyssey of the Mind.
Kurtz calls Odyssey an "amazing program," pointing to its focus on developing teamwork and brainstorming to solve problems.
The coordinator thanked the program volunteers and teacher/coaches for their commitment.
He also noted that the students showed tremendous dedication in preparing their presentations.
There were no losers at the citywide competition, in his opinion.
"Every kid who makes it is a winner," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com
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March 24, 2006
By Tom Waring
Northeast Times Staff Writer
Local students love the experience offered by Odyssey of the Mind. The international educational program held its Philadelphia competition on Saturday, and students from five area schools participated.
Some schools won awards. All of the students learned something and had fun. Kiara Rodriguez, a fifth-grader at Solis-Cohen School, took part in a presentation on ancient Egypt. She and her teammates played a queen, servants and dancers to the delight of the judges. They also used colors, props and paintings.
"It’s really fun, and it’s really creative," Kiara said.
Christian Hettinger, a fourth-grader at Edwin Forrest School, played the lead role in the Jungle Bloke division. The Forrest skit included singing and alligators, with Christian playing a character who can talk to the animals. The youngster is drawn to Odyssey of the Mind because it stresses creativity. "It’s something different," he said.
Ryan Wildsmith, a seventh-grader at New Foundations Charter School, was part of a "Stop Deforestation" show that took place in a makeshift Amazon rainforest. His character worked with jaguars to preserve their homes as a businessman instructed two construction workers to begin cutting down trees.
Ryan played the guitar while the animals danced in front of some elaborate props, all geared toward winning favor from the judges.
"We wanted to make them feel like they were in the jungle by adding backdrops," he said.
All of the action took place at Louis Farrell School’s auditorium, library and gym. The aforementioned schools and the host school were joined by Rhawnhurst School to complete the local contingent. In all, 15 schools were represented.
The area winners were New Foundations (first in Division II Ancient Egypt, second in Division II Jungle Bloke), Forrest (second in Division I Geometry Structure and tied for second in Division I Ancient Egypt and Jungle Bloke), Solis-Cohen (tied for second in Division I Jungle Bloke), Rhawnhurst (third in Division I Geometry Structure and fourth in Division I Ancient Egypt) and Farrell (third in Division II Ancient Egypt).
Selected winners will advance to the state competition in Altoona on April 8. Karen Lash, president of the Forrest Home and School Association, last year served as a judge and this year cheered on her school’s team, which included her son Ryan.
After the winners were announced, Lash made some phone calls, and the School District of Philadelphia has agreed to fund the trip to Altoona. Winners there advance to the world championships, which are slated for May 24 through 27 in Ames, Iowa. Odyssey of the Mind was created in 1978 by a professor at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). Teams of up to seven students perform tasks that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their interpretations of literary classics. The preparation for these technical, artistic and performance-oriented missions is done after school. The presentations in front of judges last for eight minutes.
While the program has been in existence for 28 years, the Philadelphia chapter is in only its third year. Solis-Cohen was part of the pilot program three years ago. Teacher Jen Litzke, the school’s coach, was proud of her students’ effort.
"I think they did great," she said. "It’s all about having fun."
Patricia Epps, principal at Forrest, said her students are excited to take part, adding that the program is a great educational tool.
"It helps them think critically, and they have to create the whole script themselves," she said.
Ashley Redfearn Neswick, a coach at New Foundations, explained that her school has participated in Odyssey of the Mind for six years, the first five in a southeastern Pennsylvania chapter. She said the students gather after school and on Saturdays. They learn to work together and to develop social and cooperative skills. The students do everything — write plays, sew costumes and design and build props.
"This is like an enrichment program," Redfearn Neswick said.
Harold Kurtz, a retired Philadelphia principal and superintendent in New Jersey, is the city’s coordinator for Odyssey of the Mind.
Kurtz calls Odyssey an "amazing program," pointing to its focus on developing teamwork and brainstorming to solve problems.
The coordinator thanked the program volunteers and teacher/coaches for their commitment.
He also noted that the students showed tremendous dedication in preparing their presentations.
There were no losers at the citywide competition, in his opinion.
"Every kid who makes it is a winner," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com
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