Final Notes

This is a copy of the letter sent to all coaches approximately 1 month prior to competition: Forms referenced here are found on the the Downloadable Files page.

The Florida Science Olympiad is quickly approaching! I hope all your plans are moving forward smoothly in preparation for the competition. To help with preparations, I have included a set of forms and information you will need to make your trip a successful one:

Enclosed, you should find:

þ Copy of the 2003 Schedule

þ Directions to the school

þ Map of the school

þ Final Registration form

þ Florida Science Olympiad Code of Conduct

þ Web Page and Press Authorization Forms

þ Sample Event Card

þ Breakfast/Lunch Items

The schedule is different from previous years. Each school must be present at the event during its assigned times and must be present at the beginning of the time period. For example school B-04 must be at Bottle Rockets at 9:00 a.m. Late entrants will not be allowed. In an effort to remain consistent with other states and the national competition, the schedule was posted in advance in an effort to help you avoid scheduling conflicts when assigning your students to different events. Keep in mind that in engineering events, you can have another student cover for the one who built the device. This gives you more flexibility in scheduling some students. No other schedule changes are available.

q MOST IMPORTANT: Be sure students know your school number for the Florida Science Olympiad.

Your school number is X-00. MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THIS! Our biggest problems of the past have been when students from a school do not know their number – and there are two or more teams from the same school!

Please write down the student's name, home address and have him/her sign the form. This will be turned in on the day of the competition.

If a judge indicates there is a violation on the device, the student can fix it PRIOR to the close of the impound time period. The judge will not indicate what is specifically wrong, just that there is a violation.

Please inform them that cheating, or perceptions of cheating will be dealt with strictly and immediately. These will be turned in on the day of the competition.

q Distribute one copy of the Web Page and Press Authorization Form to each student.

Students DO NOT have to sign this form, but if they do, pictures taken of them can be placed on our web site for promotional purposes. Also, several media outlets, including your hometown newspaper have been contacted to promote your school's participation. Only students who have signed this form are permitted to be photographed or interviewed. The form will be kept on file. These will be turned in on the day of the competition.

This card is used by judges to score the events. Students will receive an Event Card upon arriving to an event on March 8^th. Be sure each student understands how to complete the bottom portion PRIOR to arriving to an event. ENCOURAGE students to print neatly.

New this year, McDonald’s will be serving food all day on campus, beginning with breakfast at 8 am, and continuing with lunch and snacks throughout the day. Students should bring money for food. If you are driving into town, you can avoid stopping on the way since breakfast will be available when you arrive.

On the day of the competition, please arrive at school no later than 7:45 am. A registration table will be set up outside the cafeteria. I will meet with all coaches in the Teachers Lunch Room, located inside the cafeteria, at 8:10 am. There will be a general assembly of everyone in the cafeteria at 8:30 am for the Welcome Show. After this time, students should immediately drop off all devices which need to be impounded. They will have up to 30 minutes after the end of the Welcome Show to do this. The impound–events will start after this 30 minute period of time.

All events will conclude by 2:45 pm and the Awards Show will begin as soon as possible in the Cafeteria. We have plenty of room for all who participated during the day. But if you must leave, please feel welcome to do so PRIOR to the start of the Awards Show. The Awards Show is optional.

I hope everyone has a great day! This is such a great opportunity for students to shine in the arena of academics! Good luck to everyone!