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 two Saturday's, one for Division B and one for Division C. Click on the appropriate Division link for lots of useful information and resources to hlep you be better prepared for what to expect on the actual competition day.

DIVISION B

Saturday, February 4, 2012 -Division B Regional Competition will take place at Rancho Bernando High School and Bernardo Heights Middle School.

Proposed 2012 Division B Event Schedule. Check here prior to the competition for any changes to the Event Schedule.

2012 Division B Competition Map

2012 Division B Team Camp Map showing where each school will have its camp during the Division B Competition on February 4, 2012

Be sure to check the Official National Science Olympiad Rule Clarifications for some events. This web site will continue to add clarifications, so you should also check it just before your Competition day.

E8 Food for Sale during Competition

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.

Be sure to check regularly for updated information.

Added 01/22/12 Every TEAM must provide one adult volunteer.  We can not run the Competitions without them.  They may volunteer on either day - February 4 at Rancho Bernardo HS, or February 18, 2012 at Del Norte HS.  Arrive between 7:30 – 8:00 am at the registration desks.

Question:  Do students need to have their yellow wrist bands (required for participation in all events) on their wrists when they drop things off for Impound?
Answer: Yes, because we need to know that they are participants.

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 Assignment.  Match up your group with the Event Schedule B.
2.  For the construction events, each team must have its own complete device.

Added 01/13/12 The coach of the Rancho Bernardo HS Science Olympiad team will raise money by selling the following on that campus:
Coffee and tea in the AM,
Pizza and cup of noodles at lunch time, and
A lunch special -- 2 slices of pizza and a drink for 4 or 5 dollars. 

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

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

Added 01/12/12 2012 Division B Team Camp Map showing where each school will have its camp during the Division B Competition on February 4, 2012

Added 01/03/12 from Regional Director:
All B devices impound between 7:15 AM - 8:00 AM.
Impounded Devices: Keep the Heat B, Mission Possible B and Storm the Castle B

For Mission Possible, 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.
Devices will be impounded between 7:15 AM — 8:00 AM   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. -
       must be received between 7:15 AM -  8:00 AM.

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.

Lab Events (or those with Stations)- February 4, 2012
Anatomy B, Awesome Aquifers B, Compute This B, Crime Busters B, Dynamic Planet B, Food Science B, Forestry B, Keep the Heat B, Microbe Mission B, Optics laser shoot B, Rocks and Minerals B and Water Quality B

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 Rosemary Anderson.

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.                                  

Added 11/14/11 from Regional Director:
For the 2012 San Diego Regional Division B Competition, observers will be allowed to watch the following events:
Bottle Rocket B
Mission Possible B
Mousetrap Vehicle B
Storm the Castle B
Towers B

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.

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

Added 02/01/11 Food Near Competition

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.

Added 01-15-11 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 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 me or Rosemary or my husband 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, Associate Director: Rosemary Anderson 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, Rosemary 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.  For Division B, 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 HS and Bernardo Heights MS.

7. Parking Directions for February 5, 2011
 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 and do NOT park in the area reserved for event captains and assistant event captains.  The parking areas are very clearly identified

DIVISION C

Saturday, February 18, 2012 -Division C Regional Competition will take place at Del Norte High School.

Proposed 2012 Division C Event Schedule. Check here prior to the competition for any changes to the Event Schedule.

2012 Division C Competition Map. Chedk here prior to the competition for any changes.

2012 Division C School Camp information.

Be sure to check the Official National Science Olympiad Rule Clarifications for some events. This web site will continue to add clarifications, so you should also check it just before your Competition day.

Basic 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.

Be sure to check regularly for updated information.

Added 01/26/12 Information from the Coaches & Event Captain Meetiing Jan. 25, 2012
GENERAL: DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OF ANYTHING OR ANYBODY OTHER THAN YOUR OWN STUDENTS AND TEAM!
No cell phones in events.
For all tests:  Each question is worth the same amount; there are no penalties for wrong answers.
Station Events:  Once you have done a station you can NOT go back.
Check the website for updates.
Contact Liz if you see anything incorrect.
On all devices have the team and school name on the device in INK.
Problems on the day of the Competition should be told to the to Head Coach of the school.  ONLY the Head Coach will contact Liz, Rosemary or Charles with questions.
No advance reservation or holding of seats in the Gym prior to the Awards Ceremony.

Added 01/22/12 Every TEAM must provide one adult volunteer.  We can not run the Competitions without them.  They may volunteer on either day - February 4 at Rancho Bernardo HS, or February 18, 2012 at Del Norte HS.  Arrive between 7:30 – 8:00 am at the registration desks.

Question:  Do students need to have their yellow wrist bands (required for participation in all events) on their wrists when they drop things off for Impound?
Answer: Yes, because we need to know that they are participants.

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 Assignment.  Match up your group with the Event Schedule C.
2.  For the construction events, each team must have its own complete device.

Added 01/12/12 You may bring your own ready-to-eat food.

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

Added 01/03/12 from Regional Director:
Impounded Devices: Gravity Vehicle C impound 12:00-12:30 PM and Thermodynamics C impound 7:15 AM-8:00 AM

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.

Lab Events (or those with Stations)- February 18, 2012

Dynamic Planet C, Forensics C, Forestry C, Microbe Mission C, Optics laser shoot C, Protein Modeling C, Rocks and Minerals C, Sounds of Music C, Technical Problem Solving C, Thermodynamics C and Water Quality C

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 Rosemary Anderson.

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.

Added 11/14/11 from Regional Director:
For the 2012 San Diego Regional Division C Competition, observers will be allowed to watch the following events:
Gravity Vehicle C
Helicopters C
Robot Arm C
Towers C

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.

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