Cypress Creek to Host its 5th Science Olympiad for Florida Schools as teachers prepare for FCAT

Cypress Creek to Host its 5^th Science Olympiad for Florida Schools as teachers prepare for FCAT-Science.

The 2003 Florida Science Olympiad will be held at Cypress Creek High School, 1101 Bear Crossing Drive, Orlando, Florida, on Saturday March 8^th, 2003 from 9 - 3 pm. Florida Science Olympiad will be hosting 50 schools from all reaches of the state.

The Florida Science Olympiad is the state chapter of a national competition revolving around events from every science disciplinary field including physics, chemistry, earth science, and biology. The Olympiad has two divisions: Division B for middle school students, grades 6-8; Division C for high school students, grades 9-12. Although schools may enter as many teams as they choose, each team must consist of a maximum of fifteen members, and a coach. Events incorporate multiple skills ranging from communication to problem solving in groups. Every team participates in up to twenty-three different events. Specific events include: Robot-Ramble (a robotics event), Bottle Rocket Launching, Bridge Building, Egg Drop, Mission Possible (a Rube Goldberg-like project), Science Crime Busters (a CSI-like event), Write It Do It, as well as Sounds of Music (students make their own musical instruments, play then and explain the science behind them.) Many of the events have been correlated to the Sunshine State Standards, which are used as the basis for the new FCAT-Science test being administered for the first time in March.

Winners of the events are awarded medals. Two overall school winners from middle and high school divisions will earn the opportunity to represent Florida at the 20^th Annual National Science Olympiad, this year held at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio on May 10^th, 2003.

"Never in your life will you see so many students so excited about academics and science. They are excited about it because Science Olympiad makes learning fun." said McKee at a recent interview. “The best thing is that teachers use Science Olympiad activities as a great way to prepare the students for the new FCAT-Science test that is taking place in March.”

MEDIA OUTLETS: Please contact the following for coverage and interviews:

Mike McKee
Cypress Creek High School
1101 Bear Crossing Drive
Orlando, Florida 32824
407-852-3400 ext. 2728
mckeem@ocps.net