Loma Verde Elementary Takes Third At NorCal 'Odyssey' Competition

Novato CA

13 April, 2022

1:56 PM

Description

NOVATO, CA — A team of Novato elementary school students earned high marks at problem-solving competition. Loma Verde Elementary School's Team Balsa took third place at the annual Odyssey of the Mind NorCal Section Championships last month. The team for the first time in school history qualified to compete in the World Finals next month, but has decided not to attend, Loma Verde team teacher/coach Karen McCormish said. The World Finals are scheduled to be held May 26 in Ames, Iowa. Loma Verde sent three teams to the March 26 competition in Brentwood. Team Balsa was tasked to design and build a structure out of only balsa wood and glue. The special task required nesting structures, such as Matryoshka dolls, and included a theme of storage. The team was also required to test the structure by adding Olympic-­size weights. "It's very exciting to place and qualify for the Worlds Finals. I'm so proud of the students," McCormish said. "While it would be exciting to go and compete at the World Finals, the team has decided not to attend this year."