District Students Place at Regional Science Olympiad

Four Beverly Hills schools joined more than 100 public and private schools to compete in the Los Angeles County Science Olympiad, an annual science and engineering skills tournament that was held Saturday at Occidental College.

Akin to an academic track meet, the Science Olympiad consisted of 60 events at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Students were grouped into 15-person teams that faced a wide range of challenges: bridge building, designing a mousetrap, creating a protein-cell model, solving a crime using forensic tools and more.

El Rodeo and Horace Mann sent elementary and middle school teams. Hawthorne sent a middle school team and Beverly Hills High School sent a team. The principals from all four schools attended to provide encouragement.

The El Rodeo elementary team earned a silver medal and the Horace Mann elementary team brought home a bronze. Final results at the middle and high school levels are still being tallied.

Students spent months conducting research and doing science experiments to prepare for the event. Parent teacher associations provided financial and organizational support, with parents volunteering as coaches and mentors.

“The Science Olympiad provides a true, in-depth, interdisciplinary learning experience,” said El Rodeo PTA parent Cindy Dubin, who has organized the school’s team since 2005. “It has provided an invaluable form of enrichment to all four of my own children and I hope to hundreds of others. It also brings together families from across the school community who otherwise might not interact."

This year’s Science Olympiad marked Horace Mann’s first participation in many years.

“The Horace Mann PTA made it a goal this year to emphasize science and technology, both in the classrooms and in our extracurricular activities,” said PTA parent Tina Wiener, who helped organize the team.

"Watching the students come together as a team is an example of the sense of community created by our PTA efforts," said Horace Mann PTA parent Eleonora Goldberg. "This opportunity would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our principal and teachers.”

Indeed, Hawthorne principal Toni Staser said middle school science teacher Lori Schwartz spent “hundreds of hours” preparing students for the event.

If you have not joined the PTA at your child's school, consider doing so now. District parents are quick to focus on the challenges facing our schools, but there are many instructors and administrators who want to enrich the academic experience of our students.

Patch sends its appreciation to all the parents, teachers and principals who spent their valuable time supporting our students at the Science Olympiad.