Students throughout WCSD excel in Odyssey of the Mind competition

Washingtonville pride is district-wide with Odyssey of the Mind! Teams from all grade levels did an exceptional job this weekend at the Mid-Hudson Regional Odyssey of the Mind competition. Round Hill Elementary School’s Division I team and Washingtonville High School’s Division III team both placed first in Problem Number 4 “Life’s a Ball!” 

Check out photos from the day here!

Odyssey of the Mind is a national competition that teaches students how to be creative problem solvers, team collaborators and out-of-the-box thinkers. To join, students must try out at each grade level, as there is only a limited number of spots available. 

Each year, teams are tasked with a problem that requires an imaginative and innovative solution. Teams are able to choose from five different obstacles, ranging from expressive story telling performances to creating complex structures. 

Problem 1: “Off the Rails,” focused on designing, building and operating handmade train vehicles. 

Problem 2: “Lost in Omerland,” involved technical mechanics to build an original robotic animal that has the ability to make people happy.

Problem 3: “Classics…The Epic Quest,” assigned students to create a performance about an original chef character, based on fictional literary characters and events. 

Problem 4: “Life’s a Ball!” assigned teams to build and test balsa wood structures and put on a performance about throwing a party/ball.

Problem 5: “Taller Takes of John Jivery,” assigned teams to create and present a humorous performance about an original tall tale. 

At Round Hill, students brought home first place in Problem 4: “Life’s a Ball!” with their structure holding an incredible 768 pounds. The team received zero penalties and showed careful attention to every rule and detail. The team consisted of Isabel Mendoza, Carly Mae Corbett, Vinny Cirigliano, Jaxson Ryerson, Miles Giorgio, Victoria Torrence and Alexander Melisurgo, coached by Kathleen Vilchez and Caitlin Hulbert. 

In addition to their competitive success, the team was nominated by the entire judges panel for the OMERS Spirit Award! This award recognizes teams that demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship, exemplary behavior, encouragement of others, cooperation, self-respect and appreciation for fellow competitors. It is not awarded for creativity, but for character.

Washingtonville High School Division III team also tackled Problem 4, “Life’s a Ball!” winning first place. This team performed a game show where points were awarded to contestants for having a ball go through the uprights on a football field and hitting a wooden structure. The team also recreated a knife throwing competition.

The team consisted of Luke Broge, Katherine Kornfeld, Kayla Rosa-Cesani, Ezra Richland, Owen Leonard, Cailin Geehern and Samantha Wakeham and was coached by teacher Kenneth Schultz. 

The high school’s second Division III team took on Problem 3, “Classics…The Epic Quest,” earning second place with members Amelia Broge, Eleanor Broge, Avery Flynn, Camryn Flynn, Liliana Graziano, Eva Ridgeway and Lillian Korb. The team, coached by math teacher Brian Ferry, was on a quest to save their grandmother's restaurant by finding the secret ingredient, but the "evil taster" was on their own mission to have the restaurant shut down. 

Taft Elementary School took on Problem 3, “Classics…The Epic Quest,” and placed in fourth out of ten teams. Together, they created a performance that included a poem about an epic quest and a challenge. The team decided to base their skit on an underwater sea adventure to overcome challenges of acceptance and teamwork. 

The team consisted of fourth graders Caroline Crouse, Benjamin Di Pasquale, Camille Elston, Hailey Granata, Carmelina DiNoto, third grader James Sciulara and second grader Aida Versweyveld. The team was coached by Michelle Di Pasquale.

Taft’s second team placed third in “Lost in OMERland.” They were expected to not only write and perform an 8 minute play, but also design, build and operate a “technical trip assistant" that would not only give them navigation directions, but also perform three malfunctions during their performance.

This team was coached by Michelle Zupancic and included fifth graders Sean Ferrigno, Laurelai Graef, Mackenzie Stevens, Beacon Peterson and Lucas Elston with fourth graders Olivia Edwards and Seraphina Hanratty. 

Little Britain Elementary School has two teams this year, with their intermediate team placing second for Problem 3, “Classics…The Epic Quest.” In their quest, Ivy and her sidekick Audrey are two schoolgirls who read about a princess captured by a beast. Using what they’ve learned, Ivy and Audrey rescue the princess from her tower. In the end, everyone is happy, and the beast makes friends.

This team included Kaylee Kliamorish, Elle Clarke, Clarice Caceres, Anthony Smith, Mikayla Campbell, Nicholas Ferry and Avery Bowe, who are in third, fourth and fifth grade. The team is led by head coach Julie Canzone and assistant coach Nicole Oliveira. 

“Our team collaborated creatively and thoughtfully to develop a strong and effective solution,” said Ms. Canzone. “They demonstrated outstanding teamwork and resilience when faced with challenges, supporting one another and staying focused on their goal. By combining their strengths, they worked together to problem solve and successfully write, build, design, and perform their final project with confidence and creativity.” 

The primary team at Little Britain, coached by Giuseppina Curto, consisted of first and second graders Michael Ahrens, Kairo Abreu, Aria Bullard, Emma Cecchini, Anthony Crain, Phoebe O’Kaine and Jayson Silver. They did an outstanding job and were even told by judges that they were the best primary team of the day.

For their long term problem, they had two scientists greet students and lead a geology lesson on volcanoes, and a biology lesson on plant growth. The students participated in class and would ask questions to move the learning forward. A scientist ordered lava rocks and a delivery person brought a comedic element to the stage. 

Washingtonville Middle School Odyssey of the Mind students tackled their problems with stride and pride, placing second and fifth, respectively. The teams are coached by Heidi Leonard and Erin Lapolla.

The Problem 1 team constructed a vehicle powered by a rat trap that visited three locations in Santa's village in hopes of saving Christmas for a little girl. The team included Meaghan Campbell, Ayla Clarke, Kaitlyn Holtz, Gabby Meisner, Ava Wood and Ira Yarlagadda.

The Problem 4 team held a sleepover party in which a jealous little brother sabotaged his sister's school project by stealing it and cruising it under 285 pounds of weight. Members included Jocelyn Adams, Mackenzie Behr, Sonia Bernard, Kate Buchanan, Chiara Camminati, Kaden Peralta and Ella Weiner.

Throughout the Washingtonville Central School District, Odyssey of the Mind teams are not only crafting their creativity and problem solving skills, but are creating friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.