Walpole Science Olympiad

Saturday, March 24, 2018, Walpole Middle School Science Olympiad team, made up of twenty six 7th, 8th, and 9th graders, won the State Championship for the second time in two years at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. With the win, Walpole will represent the State of New Hampshire in the National Science Olympiad Tournament at Fort Collins, Colorado on May 17th and 18th, 2018.  We are seeking help in funding the $25,000 to help cover transportation and housing costs.

As their coach, I am so proud of every one of these kids for their year long commitment and all they have learned through their failures, reiterations, and ultimate successes.  They have battled through the extreme expectations of their events, challenges of partner dynamics, endured long hours after school, faced exhaustion, sickness, being overbooked, even entertained some creeping thoughts of maybe Sci O is not what they want to be doing right then,  AND YET THEY HAVE STAYED WITH IT to follow through on a commitment and earn the well deserved achievement.  I am so impressed by what these young people have given to the program. Their quest for learning and ability to take on the rigor of high school and college level material is mind boggling to me.  Meanwhile, the students  seem completely unfazed by it all.

In addition to the immense amount of science content,  there are so many intangibles that students take away from being on this team.  Through STEM, students learn the design process, the scientific method, develop study and organizational skills, but also build perseverance and a willingness to face and try what seems an impossible task.  Not one student has given up this year.  Even the independence of navigating  some elite college campuses during the competitions lets them see themselves as future co-eds.  It gives them a vision and a confidence that will set them apart from their peers.

“I won a gold medal and am going to the Nationals. That means to me that I am important.  I actually felt important and that was a first for me.” –Walpole 8th Grade Science Olympian

As a team, we raised over $7000 through out the year to allow us to fund the program and go to the Dartmouth, Cornell, and state tournaments as well as run one of our own.  To continue to fundraise, we have many mini events planned:  Rent-a-kid for spring clean up, a spaghetti dinner, a Paint Night, Movie Night for our primary kids, Science Night for grades K-5, a letter writing campaign, grant writing, car washes, bake sales, flower sales and more.  We are trying hard to reach our goal, but we need your help.  We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us in the past.  Any help, large or small will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for thinking of us.