St. Augustine’s Public Montessori School’s Odyssey of the Mind Team recently showcased their talents at the OM World Final Championships at Iowa State University.
Team members included Isaac Hellmuth, Kelsey Young, Charlie Jones, Leif Czajkowski, Luke Daniello and Espinoza Proffitt.
According to parent Crystal Jones, despite an onslaught of challenges, the St. Augustine team ranked 17th out of 45 teams present.
“Transportation mishaps led to broken props, and last-minute script revisions were necessary after a teammate was unable to attend,” she said. “The team rallied, displaying remarkable adaptability and determination. Students added new tools, rebuilt props and scripted new performance lines, illustrating their commitment to overcoming obstacles.”
"From the challenges of transportation to the last-minute adjustments due to unforeseen circumstances, these students exhibited incredible growth and teamwork," team coach Kimberly Hellmuth said. "Their resilience and ability to think on their feet truly shined during their performance."
Adding even more color to the already memorable adventure, on the day of their performance, the St. Augustine team, parents and volunteers were jolted out of bed at 4:45 a.m. by tornado sirens.
Jones described the team as resilient in the face of technical difficulties, “ad-libbing lines and adapting to changes seamlessly.”
“Ultimately, their efforts were recognized with solid scores, placing 11th for their long-term performance and 17th overall,” she said. “The team attributes their success not only to their creativity and problem-solving skills but to the unwavering support of their coaches, parents and community.”
Team parent and coach Alicia Young expressed her pride. "Their journey exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and perseverance that we strive to instill across our school."
“The team extended their gratitude to their coaches, Kimberly Hellmuth and Alicia Young, for their guidance and encouragement throughout the competition,” Jones said. “They also expressed appreciation to the parents, community members, and local sponsors whose support made the extraordinary journey possible.”
What is Odyssey of the Mind?
Simply stated, Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that promotes creative problem-solving skills for students in kindergarten through college. Born from the innovative teachings of C. Samuel Micklus, a Rowan University teacher of creative problem-solving, creativity is the impetus for learning.
Micklus’ syllabus included constructing a vehicle without wheels, designing and testing a mechanical pie thrower and making a flotation device to safely cross a lake. The solutions attracted the attention of students, educators and the media.
In 1978, Micklus offered a competition for middle and high school New Jersey students to solve problems, dubbed Olympics of the Mind. The program was widely successful.
By popular demand, Creative Competitions Inc. was formed. Upon formation of a Worlds Final Competition, CCI organized local nonprofits to administer the program countrywide. The title was changed to Odyssey of the Mind to represent a journey of creative discovery for solving problems.
Today, thousands of students compete in the OM World Finals. The annual global event gathers 800-plus teams and nearly 6,000 students from the U.S., Canada, South Korea, China, India, Japan, Singapore, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, France, Germany and Switzerland. Sponsors include the American Society of Civil Engineers, Microsoft, NASA, INK! (Investing in Kids) and more.
“World Finals includes teams from as far away as China, Germany, Mexico, India – as well as Canada’s continued presence!” notes the OM website. “Twenty thousand people travel to World Finals – teams, parents, coaches, and volunteers; proving that creative thinking is universal, and that OM is the positive force that brings them together.”
OM’s creative, critical thinking, problem-solving program blends writing, design, construction and theatrical performance to solve long-term problems with real world skills. The website described OM as bringing the classroom to life through teamwork, budgeting, time management and public speaking.
“This international program is designed to help students at all learning levels grow as individual learners, grow as team members, and to reach their full potential,” they said.
St. Augustine’s Montessori School Director Diane Dodds described OM as a program of enrichment prior to the World Competition.
"Our school added Odyssey of the Mind this year as critical thinking enrichment for our students,” she said. “Montessori students are accustomed to problem-solving and hands-on exploration.
“Participating, let alone progressing through the levels to the Worlds competition, is such an accomplishment,” Dodds said. “The entire school community is so proud of our upper elementary students for their perseverance and grit."
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