Saturday, April 9th, Princeton Junior School’s Odyssey of the Mind teams competed in the New Jersey State Finals at Princeton High School. There, both teams qualified to advance to the World Finals taking place at Iowa State University, May 25 - 28. The Grade 6 Team competed in Division II against other NJ Middle School 6th, 7th & 8th grade students and placed second in their long term problem, Escape VrOom. The Grade 5 Team competed in Division I against Elementary students and placed third for their Matryoshka Structure. They had the added prestige of being honored with a Ranatra Fusca Award for demonstrating outstanding creativity and “ingenuity that [even] seasoned judges had never seen.” This accomplishment is a true testament to the perseverance and determination of these students, under the supervision of their exceptional coach, Zach Floyd. The entire Princeton Junior School community is overwhelmed with joy and pride for their ‘OMers’!
Odyssey of the Mind (OM™) has been a leader in education for over 40 years, teaching students how to use their natural creativity to become problem-solvers. This international program is designed to help students at all levels to reach their full potential as individual learners and team members. Founder, Dr. C. Samuel Micklus (‘Dr. Sam’ to OMers) believes students' interests should be incorporated in learning, that there are always new uses for old items, the way you ask a question is everything, and, above all, learning should be fun!
Princeton Junior School has been educating globally-minded, empowered and joyful learners in the Princeton area for nearly forty years as well. Like OM, the school is dedicated to fostering a love for learning, and their mission of nurturing curiosity and challenging students to become confident, capable, and creative problem-solvers makes the Odyssey of the Mind program a natural fit for PJS students.
As this is only the school’s second year participating in the program, and the first year in-person, advancing to the World Finals is a truly incredible achievement. The trip to Iowa, along with other expenses associated with the competition, will be costly - but the teams are not deterred. As OM founder, Dr. Sam, once said: "Never say you can't. Say you can, but it will be difficult.” The team’s coaches have started a fundraising campaign to generate awareness and fund the necessary capital to travel to the competition and are optimistic they will raise the much needed money. PJS students and coaches are looking to family, friends and the community to support their quest to compete in the World Finals. To help PJS on the “Road to Iowa” use this link to make a donation in support of the teams. Follow the PJS OMers’ journey on their facebook page, The Road to Iowa: A Princeton Junior School Odyssey. To learn more about Princeton Junior School and their International Baccalaureate elementary program with an expertise in early childhood through Grade 6 click here. For more about Odyssey of the Mind™, a program designed to help students use their natural creativity to become problem solvers, you can click this link.
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