Discovery Middle School Academic Team Competitions
Shelley Lebiedzinski, Academic Coordinator
The following are brief descriptions of the team opportunities for academic competitions available at Discovery Middle School. To have a successful program, we need energetic and capable student participants. From the first practice to the awards ceremonies, DMS academic competitions are challenging and fun. We are very proud of our State qualifiers over the years. Our programs have been very successful, but we need you to continue our success!
***SOME DATES ARE APPROXIMATE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
Please contact the competition coaches with questions or to sign up!
The INDIANA ACADEMIC SPELL BOWL involves sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. Each school selects a team of eight students to compete in a written spelling contest. Contests take place at area sites in October with the final competition taking place at the State Spell Bowl Meet. Discovery has had great success in Spell Bowl, including state placements the last seven years including two first place finishes! In order to prepare for the meets, students study from a list of 1500 words and are expected to be at practices as determined by the coach. Our Spell Bowl team won the State Title last year! Any student interested in participating should contact the coach about signing up soon.
Coach: Nancy Nash (nnash@phm.k12.in.us)
Practice starts:Mid-September
Area Competition: October 22, 2013
State Competition: November 16, 2013
MathCounts is a national competition with full scholarship awards for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. A school team of four plus four other individual mathematicians will compete at Notre Dame in February. DMS teams have advanced to the state competition yearly since 2002 and have placed at the state level each year. Individual students may also qualify for the state competition. One DMS student won a full college scholarship to Purdue University for his excellence in MathCounts. Students are nominated to participate in MathCounts.
Coach: Chris Kirgios (ckirgios@amberian.com)
Practice starts: September 27, 2013
Local Competition: February (a Saturday yet to be determined)
State Competition: March 8, 2014
MathCounts website: www.mathcounts.org
The Indiana ACADEMIC SUPER BOWL will emphasize "Latin America" this year. Discovery competes in five separate areas: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Interdisciplinary. The core subject teams have up to five members each. The teams practice separately. All DMS students are welcome to participate. Coaches determine team members based upon: attendance at practices, scores on tests over Super Bowl materials, practice contribution, work ethic, and attitude.
Academic Super Bowl provides the opportunity for students to learn and study with other students in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. Competition and preparation are both enjoyable and challenging.
DMS teams have done well in Academic Super Bowl. In 2013, the math team won the state championship. All interested students should contact the respective coach and listen to announcements for more information about sign-ups as practice dates get closer.
ENGLISH TEAM Coach: James Howard(jhoward@phm.k12.in.us)
Practice starts: mid-October
MATH TEAM Coach: TBA
Practice starts: TBA
SCIENCE TEAM Coach: Matt Reininga (mreininga@phm.k12.in.us)
Practice starts: mid-October
SOCIAL STUDIES TEAM Coach: James Howard(jhoward@phm.k12.in.us)
Practice starts: mid-October
INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM Comprised of members from the other teams.
Regional Competition: May 3, 2014 (Saturday)
Parents are always welcome to volunteer their expertise assisting
with any of our competitions.
If you are interested, please contact the coach or the Academic Coordinator:
Shelley Lebiedzinski, Academic Coordinator
