Southern California State Science Olympiad

This tab contains information about the Southern California Science Olympiad events

All teams must register in order to participate at the state, and national levels.

Event » Event Updates

Event Updates

Dear Everyone,

The date of the CA State Science Olympiad program is quickly approaching and we look forward to seeing all of you on April 10, 2010 at Valencia High School. The Planning team and Directors want to thank you for your patience with the recent program venue changes which were required on very shot notice.

We also want to take this opportunity to provide some final reminders that will make the upcoming program both enjoyable and a great learning experience. The “reminders and updates” are listed below for your review and incorporation into Team planning.

Valencia High School & District Support for State Program
- Valencia Staff Thank You: Please be aware that this year’s program has been made possible through the wonderful support of the Placentia Yorba-Linda USD district and Valencia HS staff. Be aware that V.P.’s, Rick Lopez, Joey Davis and Principal Jim Bell. All will be on-site during the day to help with the program logistics and needs. If you have the chance, please let each of them know how appreciative you are of their support. They have devoted a tremendous amount of time to make this program possible.

Keeping the campus clean and litter free will be one way to shown them our appreciation. Trash bags will be available at the Registration Area for team use of their camp sites.

Food Service Options
- A wide variety of food purchase options are being made available by Valencia’s Grad Night Committee for our Science Olympiad participants and visitors. Breakfast, lunch and dinner items will be available for purchase. Your support of these vendors is appreciated and all proceeds from sales will be used to support the school’s upcoming Grad Night program

In addition, there are multiple food options the area surrounding the Valencia campus. Additional food options are also available in the area surrounding CSU Fullerton campus, which is located 2 miles due west.

Gate Opening and Team Camp Setup Access
- The grounds crews have been instructed to allow team’s access to the grass areas to begin set up of team camp sites in the early morning. Please be patient to allow the custodial staff to open entrances to their campus on April 10^th. Be sure to not block driveways, park in restricted areas in the drop off areas of campus.

Impounds Drop Off Area
- Please refer to the Campus Map for the location of the Bradford Parking lot which is located near the Bradford Ave. parking area. This is one of the main entrances to the campus. Both sign and staff members will be in this area to help direct students.

Please check the Event Schedule for the exact room locations and times of impounds for different events.

Registration Area
- The registration area will be open to coaches at 8:00. Only coaches are asked to be present in this area to help minimize congestion. Your cooperation and help will expedite the registration process for all teams.

Maps and Schedules
- Attached is the Pre-Final Schedule and the map again. We do not expect any changes at this point, but if there are any, we will notify you at registration in the morning. Please print these maps off for your team members, parents, and guests. Only limited amount of these maps will be provided at the registration table.

Parking
- There are multiple parking areas around the campus. The Bradford Avenue parking lot provides a limited number of parking spaces and other sites may need to be explored if additional parking is needed. Check you campus map for other locations.

Please be aware that the parking areas on the backside of the campus (Kraemer MS parking areas) are available but only permit ‘foot traffic’ to the Valencia Campus. The gate adjoining these two schools will be unlocked for this purpose. This will allow for access to additional parking and access to the program locations just off of the Bradford Ave.

Please be aware that another program will be taking place on the campus in the gym areas and parking by both sets of concurrently running programs may require parking further away to find an open lost or street parking.

Be aware that parking in this area may have “restricted” parking areas on the streets surrounding the campus. Please obey the posted signs as Placentia Police may l issue tickets for anyone not obeying the ‘posted regulations”

Conduct & Olympiad Spirit
- Please go over the Science Olympiad code of conduct and expectations for conduct and sportsmanship of all students.

Don’t forget that the events are to demonstrate the skills of students and not friends or family members. Please remember that the competition area is only for participating students and there are strict standards of conduct for anyone outside of the event areas. Please remind friends and other team support friends to support your efforts and not to interfere with hand-signals, taking or handling of projects once in the event area.

Emergencies
- Life threatening situations should call 911

Other less serious situations should be reported to an Olympiad staff member and a report made to those in the Registration/Information Booth areas. A First Aide Kit will be kept in this area in case a need arises.

Awards Ceremony
- The awards ceremony will be held in the Auditorium. Seating is limited to 900 people and parents and families members are requested to allow student participants and elderly for have first access. Due to fire code regulations standing or sitting in the aisle is prohibited.

The Awards Ceremony will begin (see Event Schedule) to begin at 6:00 PM and be finished by 7:30 PM. The Scoring and Arbitration Team will process results as soon as possible to enable all awards to be presented.

Parent Volunteer
- Volunteers do not have to check in at the Registration area on April 10^th. Assignments and duties have already been provided and volunteers should proceed to their event location at least 15 minutes before it is scheduled to start.
- If someone would like to provide additional time and support for an event please check with the Registration area to see what event support options may be available.

Final Rule Updates (Attached is a document will every State Clarification sent to the Coaches)

Ornithology (B/C)

REMINDER: The 3/31 clarification stating that the official list can be written on and marked overrules the 3/30 clarifications stating that the list cannot be written on.

Due to confusion as to what resources can be written on and what cannot, it is summarized below:

The field guide, the official list, the tabs extending outside of the field guide, the 1 double sided 8.5” x 11” sheets can be written on.

The only things that are not allowed to be written on are the parts of the post it notes that are inside of the field guide. This is to ensure that participants do not put so many post it notes in their field guide that they effectively have more than 1 sheet of 8.5" x 11" blank writing space.

Mousetrap Vehicle (C)
The scoring clarification for the lane bonus sent 4/5 has been modified and the manner the event will be scored has been finalized and updated. The final ruling for this event is described below and will overrule any rule clarification posted on the National Web Page.

Rule Update: 4.09.10

The Lane Bonus will be awarded for vehicles whose fixed point remains within the inside tape edge defining the 1.50 meter width, and within the inside edge of the starting line to the inside edge of the 10 meter line. The lane bonus will be awarded even if parts of the vehicle cross the starting line; as long as the fixed point does not cross the inside edge of the starting line on the return run. No Lane Bonus will be awarded if the fixed point crosses the inside edge of the starting line on the return run, even if the vehicle rebounds back within the defined lane.

Picture This (C)

Two clarifications, previously sent on 3/23 and 3/31 contracted each other. Below are the two clarifications:

3/23: Question: Are teams allowed to draw a picture representing the subject area of the item to be drawn? e.g. a beaker for chemistry terms
Answer: No, according to rule 3c, all other symbols are not permitted unless they represent the word(s) given.

3/31: Question: Is drawing "contextual" words allowed? e.g. an outline of an ocean with fish to indicate marine biology?
Answer: Completely allowed, and encouraged since it shows creativity!

The 3/31 clarification is the correct one- drawing “contextual” words IS allowed.

Technical Problem Solving (C)
The two clarifications posted regarding Technical Problem Solving (B) on 4/5 should have been for Technical Problem Solving (C) since this event does not exist in Division B.

Good Luck and we look forward to seeing each of you tomorrow!

Peter and Ed,
on behalf of the entire Southern California State Science Olympiad Planning Committee and Staff