Education
Pinckneyville Middle School Win State Odyssey of the Mind and Head to World Finals
This girls team is heading back for the 4th time seeking a 3rd win
If you haven’t heard, the Pinckneyville Middle School Odyssey of the Mind just placed 1st at the Georgia state competition and have been invited to represent Georgia at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Orlando in June.
Some people might never have heard of Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) or do not understand exactly what it is, so here is the official description as well as a link to the Odyssey website for anyone who would like to know more.
“[OotM] is an international creative problem-solving program that engages students in their learning by allowing their knowledge and ideas to come to life in an exciting, productive environment. Participants build self-confidence, develop life skills, create new friendships, and are able to recognize and explore their true potential. OotM proves that students can have fun while they learn.”
The competitions consist of the performance of an original skit based on the exact set of required elements given (the “long-term problem”) as well as the performance of the “spontaneous problem,” in which teams are asked to perform random tasks on the spot with no prior preparation, such as creating a bridge out of unique materials that can actually support weight. So, in effect, it’s a great combination of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with the arts (STEAM)! It also requires a lot of teamwork and effective communication.
“The Pinckneyville MS team is made up of 7 girls, including two of ours, with my wife Lisa Dommert as their coach. They’ve really helped put Peachtree Corners and Georgia on the map among thousands of Odyssey teams from around the world. They’ve placed first in the world twice already, besting 71 world finalist elementary school teams in 2018, placed 4th among over 60 world finalist middle school teams in 2019, and reclaimed the top spot among over 60 world finalist teams in 2020. They are shaping up to be one of the most dominant teams in state history and one of the few to consistently beat the Chinese and Polish teams who have been very strong in recent years,” supporter and parent Travis Dommert said.
It is an honor once again to be one of the teams that will be competing at the World Finals in Orlando and to represent Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and the state of Georgia! They sincerely appreciate any assistance, large or small, that you can provide as they prepare to make the journey to Orlando! All donations collected on their GoFundMe page will be withdrawn at the end of our fundraising campaign and deposited into a bank account created by Jeff Ebert (a team parent); these funds will then be distributed equally among the team members and volunteer parent coach.
The girls will also be fundraising on Saturday, May 8 in front of Sprouts Market in Peachtree Corners, from 2-4 p.m. They thank you for your support!