San Diego - S C I E N C E - O L Y M P I A D

This year's San Diego regional competition will be held on a Saturday (Division B) and on a Sunday (Division C). Read below for general comments and click on the appropriate Division link above for lots of useful information and resources to help you be better prepared for what to expect on the actual competition day.

Be sure to check the Official National Science Olympiad Rule Clarifications for some events. This web site will continue to add clarifications. Please check for updates often.

Basis Science Olympiad Concept: Generally, we follow the Science Olympiad concept that:  Unless something is specifically prohibited in the rules of the event description, it is allowed UNLESS it will go against the intent and spirit of the event.

Every TEAM must provide one adult volunteer.  We can not run the Competitions without them.  They may volunteer on either day - February 2, 2013 at Rancho Bernardo High School, or February 17, 2013 at Del Norte High School.  Volunteers should arrive between 7:30 am – 8:00 am at the registration desks.

General Policy

Question:  Do students need to have their wrist bands (required for participation in all events) on their wrists when they drop things off for Impound?
Answer: No

Impound: Any member of a team may take a device in for Impound.  During Impound, the devices are simply deposited in the Impound room.
Devices must be labeled.  School and team (if applicable)

Two reminders:
1.  All teams from the same school take the written events at the same time, check your Group Assignments list which will be posted in early December.  Match up your group with the Event Schedule B or Event Schedule C.
2.  For the construction events, each team must have its own complete device.

You may NOT use electricity from the host schools for any purpose.

For Mission Possible (B), the teams may bring the TSL (Task Sequence Lists) with them when they are ready to compete – or they may leave the TSL with the device when they leave it for Impound.  No observers will be allowed in the Mission Possible room.  Parents may help their students transport the devices to the Mission Possible (B) room for Impound, but they must leave promptly.

Lab Events (or those with Stations)

Students must quietly stay outside of the rooms until the Event Captains are ready to have them enter and begin.  While they are outside, they may be given instructions, roll calls can be done, answer sheets may be handed out.

If some students are allowed to enter early, they will cruise around and look at as many questions as possible.  This would obviously not be fair.  No observers are allowed in lab events unless escorted by Liz Jablecki, Charles Jablecki or Dorothy Jester.

Students must wear the safety articles required.  If they do not, they will be given the chance to get them so that they can compete.

Most of the above events will be run as lab events.  A few of them may be run as written exams.  Obviously, students taking written exams may enter the rooms early and sit down if other exams are not ongoing.  Again, obviously, all students should get the exams and start on them at the same time.

Volunteers for lab events with stations are not allowed to leave until the event is over.  Years ago a volunteer at the State Competition left a lab event and told his team what was on the test.

For the 2013 San Diego Regional Division B Competition, observers will be allowed to watch the following events:

Boomilever B
Helicopters B
Mousetrap Vehicle B
Rotor Egg Drop B

For the 2013 San Diego Regional Division C Competition, observers will be allowed to watch the following events:

Boomilever C
Elastic Launched Glider C
Gravity Vehicle C
MagLev C (demonstration)
Robot Arm C - as space allows

Observers may not approach or speak to participants while they are competing. 
No coaching is allowed.  Any observer who interferes or becomes loud will be asked to leave.

For all construction events:  You may photograph or record only devices from your child’s school.  You may photograph or record only your own child or, with advance written permission given to the head coach, children from your child’s school.
These restrictions also apply to students photographing and recording other students or devices.

For all other events that are NOT listed above:  No observers are allowed.  Photographs or recordings of the events are not allowed.  Only participants are allowed to enter the testing rooms.  Non-participants who enter testing rooms risk having their children disqualified from the events.

Food Near Competition (B) - Feb 2, 2013

There are several restaurants near Rancho Bernardo High School / Bernardo Heights Middle School.  Here is a list of those restaurants.  You may bring food with you, but it is nice to know what is available in the neighborhood.

Food Near Competition (C) - Feb 17, 2013

There are several restaurants near Del Norte High School.  Here is a list of those restaurants.  You may bring food with you, but again it is nice to know what is available in the neighborhood.

Competition Advice from our Regional Director

1. If you are not sure about which goggles satisfy which event, look at the bottom of the Required and Allowed List (B) or Required and Allowed List (C) on our website.

2. Tell your students that, if a piece of lab equipment is not working correctly, raise your hand immediately and tell the event captain.

3. If your students see another team cheating, they should tell the event captain immediately.  If they did not do that, have them find Liz, Dorothy, or Charles as soon as they come out of the event.  We will see what can be done about the situation.

4. The cell phone numbers for the Regional Director: Liz Jablecki, Treasurer: Dorothy Jester and Arbitrator & Scoring: Dr. Charles Jablecki have been emailed to all Head Coaches and Event Captains. Contact Liz Jablecki if you do not have these numbers. Use these numbers to contact Liz, Dorothy, and Dr. Jablecki during the compeition.

5. We are NOT allowed to be on the campuses before 7:00 AM.  Getting there super early means that you will have to sit in your car.  The Registration area will be open at 7:00 AM.  One coach/school will go there to check in her/his school and to pick up a folder with the required wristbands.  Each participating student must wear a wrist band.  The wristbands will have the team names on them.  Be sure to match up the wristbands with the correct team members.

6. Since we are not allowed to be on the campuses before 7:00 AM, there should not be any team camps set up before then except for those of the host schools, Rancho Bernardo High School, Bernardo Heights Middle School, or Del Norte High School.

7. Parking Directions for February 2, 2013
 Tell your coaches and parents to use Avenida Venusto to access the student parking lot at Rancho Bernardo High School.  There is easy access to the school from that lot.  Do NOT park in front of the school.

8. Check the Competition Map (B) or Competition Map (C) and do NOT park in the areas reserved for event captains and assistant event captains.  The parking areas are very clearly identified

General Comments

ONLY the Head Coach will contact Liz, Dorothy, or Dr. Jablecki with questions.

No advance reservation or holding of seats in the Gyms prior to the Awards Ceremony.

You may bring your own ready-to-eat food.

Devices will be impounded in or near the rooms or areas where the competitions will take place.

1. Impound before competition, in or near area where device will be tested.
2. All devices should have school and team names on them.
3. Before competition starts, check each device for specifications.
4. If so stated in manual, participants must wear goggles.
5. There will be roped off areas.  Observers are allowed only behind the ropes.  Only immediate contestants and event organizers are allowed to be inside the ropes.
6. When a contestant arrives to compete at an impounded event, the Event Captain or an Assistant Event Captain will get his/her device and hand it to him/her for the competition. No coaching is allowed after the contestant begins his/her event.

DIVISION B

2013 Division B comments can be found on the Division B page.

2013 Division B School Winners

Grades 6-9, February 2, 2013

1.  Carmel Valley   
2.  Mesa Verde   
3.  Marshall  
3.  Torrey Hills  
5.  Black Mountain   
6.  Meadowbrook  
7.  Warren  
8.  Oak Valley  
9.  Twin Peaks   
10. Bear Valley  

                                  

Added 02/04/12 Results: 2012 Division B Top 10 School Winners

Added 02/10/11 Results: 2011 Division B Top 10 School Winners

DIVISION C

2013 Division C comments can be found on the Division C page.

2013 Division C School Winners

Grades 9-12, February 17, 2013

1.  Canyon Crest  
2.  Westview   
3.  Torrey Pines  
3.  Rancho Bernardo  
5.  Scripps Ranch  
6.  Del Norte  
7.  University City  
8.  Mount Carmel  
9.  Francis Parker  
10. Pacific Ridge  
10. San Pasqual  

Added 02/18/12 Results: 2012 Division C Top 10 School Winners

Added 02/24/11 Results: 2011 Division C Top 10 School Winners