Information Meeting – Thursday September 27th, 7pm in the Seldens cafeteria Students interested in being placed on a team must fill out an Odyssey of the Mind “interest form” by Monday Sept 24th. The interest form is located online at https://fs17.formsite.com/seldenslanding/form23/secure_index.html It can also be found on the SLES website (click on PTA, click home, click on Odyssey of the Mind). Please review the list of this year’s problems and include your preferred choices on the form. The problem synopses are provided below. What is Odyssey of the Mind? Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative, problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together over several months on projects that range from building Team members work together over several months to create a theatrical solution to a “problem” that could be anything from building vehicles, testing the weight-bearing limits of a balsa wood bridge, or collecting samples in outer space. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and world level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.

Odyssey of the mind operates on the premise that creativity can be taught and that teamwork is an important skill for children to learn early. It’s amazing to see these young minds think "outside of the box” to come up with imaginative solutions to their selected “problem.” Over the past few years Seldens Landing has made a strong showing, sending dozens of teams to the regional competition, with a few making it to the state and even world level. The regional competition is typically held in early March, the state competition follows in April, and this year’s World Finals will be held at Michigan State University in May. Coaches Wanted! Each team needs a coach and an assistant coach. Parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or college-age siblings can all become coaches! We cannot form teams without a coach. In addition, the success of Odyssey relies on the volunteer efforts of the parents of every team member. Time Commitment It is up to the coach and team members to decide what they want to make out of their Odyssey of the Mind experience. Generally highly-committed teams put in 2-3 hours a week in the beginning and ramp it up to 4-6 hours a week in December until the regional competition in March. The team coach sets the meeting schedule, but most teams meet once a week. Team members typically have assignments to work on outside of meeting time where the student’s parent acts as an enabler. More Information If you have any questions about the Odyssey of the Mind program at Seldens Landing, feel free to email Sarah Ali-Svoboda at sarahazam@yahoo.com or call at 571-333-0778. For additional information about the international Odyssey of the Mind program, go to www.odysseyofthemind.com

2012-2013 LONG-TERM PROBLEM SYNOPSES All problems have an 8-minute time limit.

Problem 1: Pet Project The problem is to design, build, and run three vehicles that will deliver parts to an Assembly Area. The team will create a signal that lets the audience know which vehicle is about to travel and deliver a part. The parts will be assembled into a pet animal. Once assembly is completed, the animal will perform a trick. The theme of the presentation must include the delivery of the parts, the assembly, and the pet animal. Cost limit: $145 Problem 2: The Email Must Go Through The team's problem is to create and present an original performance that includes a technical representation of messages being sent by email. A Sender character will send three emails: one that requires a return receipt, one with a work of art as an attachment, and one that goes through a SPAM filter. Two of the emails will go to a Receiver character and another will go to an offbeat location. Each email will pass through a central server before reaching its final destination. Team members are not allowed to touch the emails while the server is processing the messages. Cost limit: $145 Problem 3: ARTchitecture: The Musical For this problem, teams will create and present an original performance that includes a replica of a documented architectural structure that was built between 1,000 AD and 1,600 AD. The performance will include three works of art that "disappear" and two characters that go on a quest to find them. When the works of art are found, they will be incorporated into the replica. The performance must also include two songs that are accompanied by some type of choreographed movement. Cost limit: $125 Problem 4: Tumble-wood Teams will design and build a structure made of only balsa wood and glue that will balance and support as much weight as possible. Before weight placement begins, the team will present a commercial that includes the structure rolling down a ramp. The structure will be scored for how far it rolls and for how much weight it holds. The team will integrate the placement of the weights into the performance. Cost limit: $145 Problem 5: It's How You Look at It The problem is to create and present an original humorous performance that includes two characters that act naturally -- to them -- but odd to those around them. One scene will establish the "normal" behavior of one character that, at some point in the performance, finds itself among others who react to the out-of-place behavior. The other character's behavior will stand out too, but this character will end up in a setting where its odd behavior is considered normal. The performance will also include a meter that indicates the degree of odd/normal behavior and a creative scene change. Cost limit: $125 Sponsored by NASA. Primary: Top Sea-cret Discoveries Grades K-2 The problem is to create and present a performance that includes exploring the ocean and making discoveries. Along the way, they will encounter three different types of sea life and a humorous Captain character. Teams will also create an original reason for the ocean's waves and make a silly discovery that they have to help keep secret. Cost limit: $125 © all problems copyright Creative Competitions, Inc. — 2012

2012 – 2013 Theme:

“The Magic of a Moment” Deadline for entries – Friday November 9, 2012 Submit your entries to the SLES front office, with Reflections entry form attached.

Your PTA Contact – Karen Pettit (kjpettit@mac.com)

For complete rules and information, go to the Virginia PTA website at www.vapta.org and click “Reflections Rules, Forms and Information”

ADVERTISE ONLINE in the

Seldens Landing Elementary School Student Directory!

With over 1000 students, 600 families, and 80 staff members, our Student Directory is a great place to advertise your business. This year our printed directory will also be available online providing a direct, 1-click link to your company’s website! Whether you advertise your business or place a dedication ad*, you will be able to directly connect with the entire Seldens Landing community.

*A dedication ad is a message that inspires or recognizes a child or staff member for the 2012/13 school year. ( i.e. Johnny,

Have a great year in kindergarten! Love Mom & Dad)

All ads should be sent electronically (.jpg, .gif, .tif, or hi-res pdf file) to Ellen Fernandez elle@smartneighborhood.net or Kerry Whitney kwhitney1_2000@yahoo.com and should include the following information:

Business Name: _____________________________________ Contact Person: _____________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Telephone: _________________________________________ Ad Size: __________________________ Price: ___________

All advertisement submissions and payments are due October 1, 2012 . *NOTE: All advertisements are subject to approval, and must be appropriate for a family-based audience, spaces not guaranteed until payment is received*

** Don't miss out on premium advertising space for just $25 more. Space includes: Inside front cover, back cover, & inside back cover. All premium spots are for full page ads only. **The above sizing is based on print sized ads L X H (not to scale)

Thank you for supporting the Seldens Landing Elementary PTA!!!

Full Page Ad $100 5” X 7 ¾”

Half Page Ad

$50 5” X 3 ¼ ”

Business Card Ad

$25

3 ½” X 2”

National PTA Reflections®

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NEW!

1

Special Artist Division National PTA Reflections®

2 Ways to Enter … The Choice is Yours!

Enter in Traditional Grade DivisionsQualifying students follow all general and arts category rules, but receive accommodation to submit Reflections

entries in the grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities. They are recognized and awarded

prizes as part of the general student population without regard to special needs or challenges.

Enter in Special Artist DivisionThe Special Artist Division is non-graded and limited to students whose physical, cognitive, or mental health

challenges meet ADA guidelines. Qualifying students entering this division create their own artwork but may

receive non-artistic accommodation and assistance from an adult. At the national level, one Special Artist

from across all arts categories will be selected to receive an Outstanding Interpretation Award. Up to

five additional Special Artists may be selected to receive national Awards of Excellence.

The Special Artist Division is an optional division of the National PTA Reflections Program. Please check with your State PTA Office regarding state availability. For complete guidelines and rules

governing the Special Artist Division and the National PTA Reflections Program, please visit PTAreflections.org.

© 2012 PTA All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. (5/12) •

National Office: 1250 North Pitt Street • Alexandria, VA 22314 • (800) 307-4PTA (4782) • PTA.org

and everychild.onevoice are registered service marks of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.