What Do the Parents Do? As with all kid events, the more parent involvement we have, the better success for the kids and for the club overall. However, with Science Olympiad, this is not just a standard line; the truth is that parent involvement is very much needed for our team’s ongoing success!

 

At the weekly meetings:

• For the Science Geeks – We need parents who have any skill or interest in any of the event areas; to assist students in studying for the topic – there are ideas such as having flashcards, quiz bowls – anything that can help the students learn, and keep them on task.

• For the Non-Science Parents – we need help at the meetings for general crowd control. These are Middle School students, and many things compete with their interests. Time management is not a strong skill, and social chattering can easily fill an entire meeting.

 

In between meetings:

• At Home – We need parents to stay aware of what your student is doing to complete the work for their events at home. For each study event, the students should be making a “cheat sheet” – one page covered back to back, with information about their topic. The students can show you their work, so you can keep track of their progress. For building events, the students will be needing to spend time building at home – possibly with parent support, or with another adult from the team who is helping with that event.

• Outside of Home – we need parents to help with building events. There are some adults who are already helping with these events  – but more are welcome. Major work on building events is often done on weekends.

 

At the Northmont Invitational: As the host school, Northmont is responsible for all aspects of running this Invitational. We will need parent volunteers all day – for tasks such as helping with parking, with team registrations, with food concessions, running events, monitoring our team’s home room, tabulating scores, etc. Most volunteer tasks can be signed up for in 1-2hr shifts – but we need parents to move from shift to shift, to help all day.

 

At Other School Invitationals:

• Transportation Assistance: We usually carpool to get to events. We need parents to offer room in their vehicles. We do ask kids riding to pay $5 for gas in a carpool. (See more info in the “Cost and Commitment” section)

• Team Home-Room Support: We need parents to assist in monitoring in the homeroom, making sure students are going to their tests at the appropriate times, and with all of the required materials (the schedule and list of materials will be posted at every Invitational)

• Running Events: Since we will have three teams competing at each Invitational, Northmont will be asked to run three events. We need parents to step up to this task, so that Jim can be more available to help the students during the day. Event Running is not too hard – it includes passing out the tests, or timing scores, and tabulating scores.  

 

For the Overnight Invitationals: Chaperones: Some families go as a unit to overnight events, but others have work/other commitments, and only send their student. We need parents to offer as chaperones for the unaccompanied students. We will put three students in a room with one adult (all same sex) – and ask that three students pay a bit more, to pay for the adult’s share of the room.

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