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Honoring, congratulating and recognizing Julia R. Masterman School Team for their 2019 Odyssey of the Mind State Championship and wishing them success as World Finalist at the Odyssey of the Mind International Competition.
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WHEREAS, Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem-solving competition that engages students in challenges involving a combination of engineering, art, and performance; and
WHEREAS, Odyssey of the Mind has been encouraging students around the world to "think outside the box," teaching students to work together as a team to solve challenging problems in a productive way since 1978; and
WHEREAS, The Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to think divergently by providing open-ended problems that appeal to a wide range of interests. Students learn how to identify challenges and to think creatively to solve those problems. They are free to express their ideas and suggestions without fear of criticism; and
WHEREAS, The Julia R. Masterman School’s Odyssey of the Mind team competed in the program's Division III (9th-12th grades) in a problem called "OMER to the Rescue, Again”; and
WHEREAS, This problem challenges students to construct and drive an original vehicle that must fit into one or two small suitcases. The vehicle must be assembled to accomplish various creative rescues before being disassembled and re-packed and then reassembled before participating in a hero's parade; and
WHEREAS, The Masterman School Team comprises students from a number of Philadelphia public schools including Masterman High School 10th-grade student, Drew Brown; Central High School 12th-grade student, Tillie Donover; Masterman High School 12th-grade student, Louise Iodice; Masterman High School 12th-grade student, Abigail Leighton; Science Leadership Academy 12th-grade student, Sofia Powers; Central High School 10th-grade student, Ariel Weinbaum; and Central High School 12th-grade student Rose Weinbaum. The team is coached by parent Brett Mandel and by parent and Powel Elementary School teacher Chris Powers; and
WHEREAS, After placing first in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Competition held at Pennsbury High School on March 2, 2019, the team placed first in the Pennsylvania State Finals held at Pocono Mountain East High School on April 6, 2019; and
WHEREAS, At the Pennsylvania State Finals, the team placed first in each of the competition's three scoring categories to best their rivals. The team has earned their trip to compete at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals to be held at Michigan State University May 22-25, 2019; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honor, congratulate and recognize the Julia R. Masterman School’s Odyssey of the Mind Team for their 2019 Odyssey of the Mind State Championship and wishing them success as World Finalist at the Odyssey of the Mind International Competition.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Julia R. Masterman School’s Odyssey of the Mind Team as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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