GALWAY - Galway Central School District’s Joseph Henry Elementary School Odyssey of the Mind Team won first place in the Spontaneous competition and second place overall at the NYS Odyssey of the Mind Tournament in Syracuse last weekend. As a result, the team has been invited to compete in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Iowa on May 25-28.
Congratulations to all the team members and their coaches, parents, and teachers: Avery Pasieka (2nd grade), Matthew DiPasquale (2nd grade), Edmund Perkins (3rd grade), Avery Menge (4th grade), Theo Friedman (4th grade), Henry Pasieka (4th grade), Emma DiPasquale (4th grade).
The Galway Junior/Senior High School Team came in fourth place overall.
As stated on their website (www.odysseyofthemind.com), Odyssey of the Mind “teaches students how to think in different ways by providing open-ended problems that appeal to a wide range of interests. Students learn how to identify challenges and to think creatively to solve those problems. They are free to express their ideas and suggestions without fear of criticism.
“All the Galway students did an amazing job and demonstrated that the work happening in the Galway CSD Odyssey of the Mind program is some of the best in the state," said Galway parent and Odyssey of the Mind Coach Julie Pasieka.
This will be the first time an Odyssey of the Mind Team from Galway will be competing in the World Finals since the Galway High School Team in 1995.
The trip to the World Finals comes with an expensive price tag. The team has started a GoFundMe to help cover the considerable transportation, housing, and tournament costs.
“Every little bit helps, and the students appreciate the support," said Mrs. Pasieka.
GoFundMe information: gofundme.com/f/help-send-galways-om-team-to-world-finals?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer.
