March 04, 2010

Results are now final. The only change is in Bio-Process Lab (B Division), York Chester should have received a 19, not an NS. This does not change the overall results. FPOWs will be contacted shortly.

February 28, 2010

Full tournament results posted below:

As a reminder, please DO NOT email us asking if you qualify as a First Place Overall Winner. We will contact your coach after scores are final if you qualify, and your school and event will appear here: State Tournament FPOW Qualifiers

COMBINED Division B Varsity and JV results (please read First Place Overall Winners Policy)
COMBINED Division C Varsity and JV results- matches medals awarded (please read First Place Overall Winners Policy)
WEIGHTED Division B results (Varsity and JV separate- matches medals awarded)
WEIGHTED Division C results (Varsity and JV separate, medals awarded based on combined due to too few JV teams)

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2010 Hickory Tournament Spirit Award winners!

B Division: Table Rock Middle School
Excerpts from their nomination forms: "Very polite. Respectful to event leaders. Loaned goggles to a team in need. Understood the rules and competed fairly and honesty, with integrity"

C Division: Crest High School
Excerpts from their nomination forms: "Excited and considerate! Very fun and enthusiastic. They came with their bells on! Very polite, courteous. Great spirit, painted faces, and team colors everywhere! Helped clean up other people's messes without being asked. Helped event officials."

This team had 6 people. They were only able to compete in 14 of the 23 events, and still earned more spirit nominations than any other team just from those events, which is very difficult to do. Congratulations to them!

February 8, 2010

Good morning again coaches. Here are maps to help you navigate your way to and around CVCC. Be aware of the traffic circle above the MPC complex.

http://www.cvcc.edu/About_Us/Main_Campus_Map.cfm
CVCC Floor Map
Restaurant Map

As always, let me know if you have any questions.
John 

February 8, 2010

Greetings Coaches,

I need to remind you of a few more points in preparation for the tournament at CVCC on February 27th.

Event Times and Schedules

Please note that we have changed the event times for some events from the Tentative Schedule. Here are the events that we moved B Division: Dynamic Planet, Ecology, Fossils, Ornithology, Under Pressure, Write it /Do It; C Division: Cell Biology, Ecology. We moved these events to better accommodate the number of B Division teams and the room space needed for them, some specialized labs at CVCC, and our event leaders. We were also trying to avoid having too many similar events in the same time period. Several of you have asked me about this -- I have attached schedules to remind you of the times we are running events at Hickory. This is the same schedule you should have received from me attached to an earlier email and posted on the Hickory Tournament Website. There are some room changes, those events are in bold in case you have already printed schedules.

Food Service

As in past years, concession food is not available on the CVCC campus. I have attached a map of local restaurants. While vending machines are located around the campus for your use, please do not ask the CAD building receptionist for spare change!

Rooms/Buildings

We will be using the CAD, MPC, and REP buildings this year. The Robert E Paap Education building (REP, also known as Paap building) is located across the street from the CAD building. We will have signs to direct you there. Remember, elevators are off limits to students. There are stairways on both ends of the CAD building.

Home bases for Division C will be the upper and lower lobbies of the MPC and the bleachers of the MPC gym; space is on a first come, first served basis. Home bases for Division B will be selected classrooms of CAD and REP buildings. I have attached a list of homeroom assignments based on the requests that were sent into me. We will trust you to share space as evenly and as fairly as possible. If you do have to spread out and camp out elsewhere, please keep your areas clean and leave as you found them. Because CVCC lets us use their facilities for no charge and because the time we officially have the buildings before they are closed is limited, you must be cleaned out of your home bases before the awards ceremony begins; if you have left a mess behind, you may not receive any medals at the awards ceremony!

Impounding

Please note we will be impounding materials for the following events:
Battery Buggy (B) , 8:00-9:30, MPC Gym area
Food Science (B/C), 8:00-9:30, CAD 429 (4th Floor Science Reading Room)
Junkyard Challenge (B), 8:00-9:30 and 11:45-12:30, REP 202A/B
Trajectory (B), 8:00-9:30 and 11:45-12:30, MPC Gym area
Mission Possible (C) 8:00-9:30, REP 202A/B
Mousetrap Vehicle (C) 8:00-9:30 and 11:45-12:30, MPC Gym area Trajectory (C) 8:00-9:30, MPC Gym area

Please do not impound during the opening ceremonies. If you have an afternoon impound event, we request that you impound in the morning if at all possible.

Check In Packets

In order to conserve paper on our end, your check in packet will only contain the welcome letter, wristbands, and student certificates. We will have a limited number of maps and schedules at check-in. Please download and share with your students (and their parents/guardians) the room maps, restaurant maps, and tentative schedule. It is up to you to make however many copies you deem necessary.

Medals for C Division

This year, we have 1 JV C Division team. We are provided medals for JV teams if we have 4 or more JV teams in a division. Instead of JV teams earning separate medals from varsity in the C division; JV and varsity will place together for medals. This is the same system we have used in years past. B Division will have varsity and JV teams earn medals separately.

Problem Events

Last year, several teams were not allowed to participate in Egg-O-Naut because they did not have the proper type of bottle. If you plan on participating in this event, be sure to use carbonated beverage (NOT WATER) bottles.

Because of construction time as described in the event rules, we will cut off the walk-in time for Junkyard Challenge at 2 PM. If your team plans to participate in that event, please have them begin the event by 2 PM. If this will be an issue for your team, please let me know ASAP.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, problems, or concerns. I am here to try to offer you the best regional tournament in terms of events, facilities, services, and support possible.

John R Kiser
Science Coordinator Division of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton NC 28655 Phone: 828-448-3168 

January 15, 2010

Greetings Science Olympiad Coaches!

It's hard to believe the Hickory tournament is around a month away. In preparation for the tournament, please note the following items. If you have questions that are not answered from the information listed below, please email John Kiser at jkiser@wpcc.eduor call 828-448-3168 or 828-448-0083. Thanks for helping us continue to offer the Hickory Regional Science Olympiad Tournament.

A WORD ON EVENTS AND EVENT NAMES

Some events that are listed in the coach's manual are not being offered in NC on a state or regional level. The 23 events you see for your division are the events that will be offered at both your regional and NC state tournaments. There are some changes in the time periods where we offer events at the Hickory tournament. I have attached a copy of the regional schedule with tentative room assignments, please print as many copies as you need to for your students and their parents. If you are concerned about the later start times this year, we cannot access the gym to set up for the tournament until Saturday morning due to a Basketball tournament. The time was pushed back to allow us to better set-up the gym facility for opening ceremonies and building events.

EVENT UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS

Please check the state website:

http://www.sciencenc.com/Tournament_information/events_list_2010.cfm frequently for a list of event updates, clarifications, and corrections.

PARKING AND TRAFFIC

The most convenient parking on tournament day will be on the west end of campus around the Multi-Purpose Complex (MPC), across the street from the MPC, and the lot south of the C. A. Dunbar (CAD) building. Maps and directions to campus buildings will be coming closer to the tournament.

Please note that CVCC has recently installed a traffic circle and several raised speed humps/crosswalks. Please be sure your bus driver exercises caution going around the traffic circle and going over the crosswalks.

CHECKING IN

Check in will open at 8 AM. Please do not arrive at CVCC before 8 AM, buildings may not be unlocked and tournament leaders may not have arrived yet either. Please stop by the information / check-in table in the lower lobby of the Multi-Purpose Complex to check-in your team(s) and pick up your Coach's Check-In Packets and wristbands. Packets will contain a Coach's Letter and 18 student certificates for each team. In order to save paper, a limited number of additional schedules and maps will also be available at check-in.

Please be sure you have the official completed team roster ready to be turned in when you check in. You should also have the conduct policy completed and signed when you check in. Lastly, each student needs a signed photograph/video waiver; please have the waivers collected in a large envelope before the tournament. Should a student not want their picture taken for privacy reasons, please notify us at check-in so your student can have a special wristband. Failure to have the roster, conduct policy, or photo/video waivers may result in your team not being able to participate in the tournament. All these forms are located at the Hickory Tournament Information Page:

http://www.sciencenc.com/Tournament_information/Hickory/hickory.cfm

This year we will be impounding devices/materials for several of the events. Impounding for Battery Buggy, Junkyard Challenge, Trajectory, Mission Possible, and Mousetrap Vehicle will take place from 8:00-9:30 in the MPC Gym area at the event site; Food Science will be impounded from 8:00-9:30 in the CAD building (room TBA, I will let you know before the tournament).

Due to confusion last year, there will be no sign in times for building events. Building/Walk in events will be handled on a first come, first served basis. I suggest that you not plan for a student to do two regular events back to back and expect them to complete a walk in event in between the regular events. While we will make every effort to accommodate extreme back-log situations, there may be unforeseen circumstances that arise where this is not possible. Keep in mind that time slots must be adhered to make the day run smoother, allow for switching between events, and to allow the closing ceremonies to start at a reasonable time.

DURING THE DAY

The home bases for middle school teams will be located on the CAD building 3rd floor and the REP building 2nd floor. The home bases for High School teams will be the upper and lower lobbies of the MPC and bleachers in the MPC. We do ask that you not block aisles or hallways wherever you set up camp.

Please remember that Catawba Valley Community College has offered their facility at no charge once again and we all need to show our appreciation by keeping the campus clean. The majority of our tournament will be held this year in the relatively new CAD building. Deposit trash in appropriate containers and check your areas to make sure everything has been cleaned up before leaving. We will be checking to see if you have cleaned up this year - please do not leave a mess. Due to the late start this year, the CAD and REP buildings will not be open this year after the closing ceremonies are over. You must be cleaned out of your home base 15 minutes before the beginning of the closing ceremonies. If your rooms are not cleaned out, you may not receive any medals or trophies. Keep in mind all campus buildings and grounds are nonsmoking. Food will not be available for purchase on the CVCC campus. Maps to local restaurants will be available on-line at the tournament website and at the MPC information desk/check in table.

Due to MPC policies, we request that you not have the following inside the MPC building: gum, M & Ms, lifesavers, lollipops, suckers, skittles, popcorn, nuts, masking/packing tape, flames, and unsecured balloons.

BEHAVIOR POLICIES

Please be sure you have read ALL regional tournament policies at:

http://www.sciencenc.com/Policy_information/index.cfm

We ask that you, your students, and any parents / guests that are accompanying you behave properly and respectfully to other competitors, coaches, and event leaders.

Because of several problems in prior years, elevators are off limits to students unless under the supervision of a coach /parent, the student is on crutches or in a wheelchair, or unless the student is carrying large and/or heavy equipment. We did not like making this policy, but there have been several abuses of elevators in previous years. Also, do not obstruct hallways, roadways, or parking lots. Classes and otheractivities are taking place besides the Science Olympiad. Any student who is caught abusing the elevators or obstructing hallways, roadways, or parking lots may be disqualified from the entire tournament. If there are issues with large numbers of competitors from the same team/school; the entire team/school may be disqualified.

Also regarding the elevators: we have had incidents of students walking to other floors to ride (and jump!) on the elevators. We will have hall monitors circulating around to prevent this this year. Last year, there were also issues with students abusing rolling chairs and racing down the hallway. This is not acceptable behavior and students caught doing this may be eliminated from the tournament.

In years past, we have also had issues with students writing obscene answers or writing the wrong names (like Bill Clinton and George Bush) on tests. Please remind your students that obscene or disrespectful answers or deliberately incorrect names will result in immediate elimination from the event (possibly from the entire tournament). A score of Poor Sportsman ship will be received if this happens.

DURING THE EVENTS

Please remind your team members to take all required and allowed materials (such as safety glasses, writing instruments, calculators, etc) to their events. Please read the event rules about what is required, allowed, and not allowed for each event. If your students do not bring the required materials, then they will be at a disadvantage and may not be allowed to participate in the event. For safety reasons, some events have specific safety clothing requirements. Students that are not wearing proper safety clothing will not be allowed to participate in those events.

During an event, the use of cell phones, I-pods, BlackBerries, I-Phones, graphing calculators, and other electronic devices not explicitly mentioned in that event's rules is cause for immediate disqualification from that event!

Keep in mind the opening and closing ceremonies and many events are held in the MPC gym; please do not wear shoes that will not overly scuff or damage the gym floor.

If you have a JV team, please be sure to emphasize to your students to clearly indicate that they are the varsity or JV team when filling out event answer sheets. Also, remember that students cannot switch from JV to Varsity (or vice versa) during the tournament. Your JV and Varsity teams CANNOT work together during events. You will be receiving wristbands to help your JV and Varsity students remember which team they are on.

Events held in the MPC Gym are open to spectators (parents, coaches, etc) and that events in classrooms are closed to spectators - only students participating in the event can be in the room! The exception is Mystery Architecture - this has traditionally been a walk in event in the gym, to free space in the gym, this event will be held in REP 202 and will be a walk in event.

If you have a student that may require special testing conditions, please let me know ASAP.

DURING AND AFTER THE AWARDS CEREMONY

Lost and Found items should be turned into the Information/Check in desk in the MPC. If you think a student has lost an item, be sure to check before you leave.

If your team places and advances to the state level, you must complete the appropriate forms before you leave CVCC.

WHAT I NEED FROM YOU BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT

VOLUNTEERS

If you have parents, assistant coaches, or other teachers who are interested to see what goes on behind the scenes at a tournament, we would also welcome their help as a volunteer. We would like for each school to provide us with 2 additional volunteers, to help either the morning or afternoon events. Please have your volunteers register, either by emailing me directly or by going to:

http://www.sciencenc.com/Volunteer_info/volunteer_registration.cfm

Please be sure that you select the Hickory region.

HOME BASES

Middle school coaches, please email your preference to building and/or teams you will be sharing a room with. All coaches, if you would like to switch locations (middle school in gym or high school in CAD) also let me know.

EVENT ESTIMATIONS

If you have a small varsity or JV team, and you are reasonably sure your team won't be participating in some events, give me a heads up as to what those events will be. This won't prevent you from changing your mind and assigning a student to those events; it just helps us get a better estimation on how many teams to reasonably expect for certain events.

Thank you

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns.

John Kiser
jkiser@wpcc.edu
828-448-0083 or 828-448-3168