Fairfax HS wins VA State Science Olympiad competition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And Fairfax beat TJ!

So what!
So top talent does SO anyways. It's true in TJ and it's true in Longfellow.

Why are you so defensive about this? "So what?" Were you a competitor? From the sounds of your reply, perhaps at the elementary school level?

[Anonymous]

CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

'
'Hey TJ apologist, TJ fields 3 competitive teams every year. There is plenty of interest, and it is very difficult to make the State team. TJ seems to always finish in the top 2 in the state. The fact that they have not won the past 2 years is because there are many strong science students in NoVa that don't attend TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

[Anonymous]

TJ offers tons of science activities for kids so So isn't a big deal there. The kids on the teams spend very little time working in SO compared to what I've seen at middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ offers tons of science activities for kids so So isn't a big deal there. The kids on the teams spend very little time working in SO compared to what I've seen at middle schools.

You really think anyone is going to buy this? "Ah yes, we're at TJ and we have lots of opportunities, so we don't care if we do well at SO." It's funny how it's such a huge deal for you guys when TJ does well and really unimportant when it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Believe what you want. I know when people want to know things and when they have an agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

DC #1 went through Carson to TJ. DC #2 attends Carson. Carson does not have a SO team. Which seems really strange, because generally, if it's STEM, Carson has 300 kids try out for it. (Or pretty much anything academic-- debate had at least a couple hundred kids also try out for 11 7th grade debate slots). And Carson parents are very involved in running the extracurricular academic teams. So, if there was any interest, they could likely find a parent to run it, so their kid could be on it. Because TJ admissions. But I have not heard of there being any interest. I have no idea why, but Carson does not have, and does not seem to want, a SO Team. MathCounts, TSA, TARC, Debate, FLL (through independent teams), MUN, etc-- all huge at Carson. Not SOL. (Also not OOTM-- Carson usually has a handful of few teams, but there is not a lot of interest).

Ditto with TJ and SO. TJ must have a SO team, if they are listed as competing. But, it is just not the big deal that a lot of the other academic teams are. Again, debate, MUN, Physics, Bio and Chemistry Olympiads, AMCs, HackTJ, various science fairs, It's Academic, etc. are all a huge deal. But not SO. Like at Carson, OOTM exists, but is not a big deal.

I'm guessing there is something about the SO competition itself that makes it less appealing to the Carson/ TJ crowd?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

DC #1 went through Carson to TJ. DC #2 attends Carson. Carson does not have a SO team. Which seems really strange, because generally, if it's STEM, Carson has 300 kids try out for it. (Or pretty much anything academic-- debate had at least a couple hundred kids also try out for 11 7th grade debate slots). And Carson parents are very involved in running the extracurricular academic teams. So, if there was any interest, they could likely find a parent to run it, so their kid could be on it. Because TJ admissions. But I have not heard of there being any interest. I have no idea why, but Carson does not have, and does not seem to want, a SO Team. MathCounts, TSA, TARC, Debate, FLL (through independent teams), MUN, etc-- all huge at Carson. Not SOL. (Also not OOTM-- Carson usually has a handful of few teams, but there is not a lot of interest).

Ditto with TJ and SO. TJ must have a SO team, if they are listed as competing. But, it is just not the big deal that a lot of the other academic teams are. Again, debate, MUN, Physics, Bio and Chemistry Olympiads, AMCs, HackTJ, various science fairs, It's Academic, etc. are all a huge deal. But not SO. Like at Carson, OOTM exists, but is not a big deal.

I'm guessing there is something about the SO competition itself that makes it less appealing to the Carson/ TJ crowd?

Total speculation. I assure you there is plenty of interest is SciOly at TJ. The school has 1700 students passionate about science. There is way more interest there than any of the other FCPS schools. TJ's teams are always competitive. It is much more difficult to get on the team at TJ than any other FCPS school.

The middle school teams, I find, are much more passionate about it. Maybe because the want TJ and a strong performance may help. I would assume they would at least consider SciOly for fun at TJ if they get in.

I suggest you attend a Sci Oly event. It is amazing. Usually takes up an entire Saturday. Volunteer to help out.

The HS participants are there, for the most part,because they like science, it's fun, and they love earning medals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

DC #1 went through Carson to TJ. DC #2 attends Carson. Carson does not have a SO team. Which seems really strange, because generally, if it's STEM, Carson has 300 kids try out for it. (Or pretty much anything academic-- debate had at least a couple hundred kids also try out for 11 7th grade debate slots). And Carson parents are very involved in running the extracurricular academic teams. So, if there was any interest, they could likely find a parent to run it, so their kid could be on it. Because TJ admissions. But I have not heard of there being any interest. I have no idea why, but Carson does not have, and does not seem to want, a SO Team. MathCounts, TSA, TARC, Debate, FLL (through independent teams), MUN, etc-- all huge at Carson. Not SOL. (Also not OOTM-- Carson usually has a handful of few teams, but there is not a lot of interest).

Ditto with TJ and SO. TJ must have a SO team, if they are listed as competing. But, it is just not the big deal that a lot of the other academic teams are. Again, debate, MUN, Physics, Bio and Chemistry Olympiads, AMCs, HackTJ, various science fairs, It's Academic, etc. are all a huge deal. But not SO. Like at Carson, OOTM exists, but is not a big deal.

I'm guessing there is something about the SO competition itself that makes it less appealing to the Carson/ TJ crowd?

I know that Rachel Carson MS competed in Science Olympiad in 2012, and was state champion in 2004.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

DC #1 went through Carson to TJ. DC #2 attends Carson. Carson does not have a SO team. Which seems really strange, because generally, if it's STEM, Carson has 300 kids try out for it. (Or pretty much anything academic-- debate had at least a couple hundred kids also try out for 11 7th grade debate slots). And Carson parents are very involved in running the extracurricular academic teams. So, if there was any interest, they could likely find a parent to run it, so their kid could be on it. Because TJ admissions. But I have not heard of there being any interest. I have no idea why, but Carson does not have, and does not seem to want, a SO Team. MathCounts, TSA, TARC, Debate, FLL (through independent teams), MUN, etc-- all huge at Carson. Not SOL. (Also not OOTM-- Carson usually has a handful of few teams, but there is not a lot of interest).

Ditto with TJ and SO. TJ must have a SO team, if they are listed as competing. But, it is just not the big deal that a lot of the other academic teams are. Again, debate, MUN, Physics, Bio and Chemistry Olympiads, AMCs, HackTJ, various science fairs, It's Academic, etc. are all a huge deal. But not SO. Like at Carson, OOTM exists, but is not a big deal.

I'm guessing there is something about the SO competition itself that makes it less appealing to the Carson/ TJ crowd?

Total speculation. I assure you there is plenty of interest is SciOly at TJ. The school has 1700 students passionate about science. There is way more interest there than any of the other FCPS schools. TJ's teams are always competitive. It is much more difficult to get on the team at TJ than any other FCPS school.

The middle school teams, I find, are much more passionate about it. Maybe because the want TJ and a strong performance may help. I would assume they would at least consider SciOly for fun at TJ if they get in.

I suggest you attend a Sci Oly event. It is amazing. Usually takes up an entire Saturday. Volunteer to help out.

The HS participants are there, for the most part,because they like science, it's fun, and they love earning medals.

The thing about TJ is the students have so many options to chose from. At some other schools, that is not the case. So, the best stem students might be in science olympiad at Fairfax, but that is not the case at TJ. Plus the work load at TJ is much heavier such that kids do not have the time.

I have volunteered to help in division B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

DC #1 went through Carson to TJ. DC #2 attends Carson. Carson does not have a SO team. Which seems really strange, because generally, if it's STEM, Carson has 300 kids try out for it. (Or pretty much anything academic-- debate had at least a couple hundred kids also try out for 11 7th grade debate slots). And Carson parents are very involved in running the extracurricular academic teams. So, if there was any interest, they could likely find a parent to run it, so their kid could be on it. Because TJ admissions. But I have not heard of there being any interest. I have no idea why, but Carson does not have, and does not seem to want, a SO Team. MathCounts, TSA, TARC, Debate, FLL (through independent teams), MUN, etc-- all huge at Carson. Not SOL. (Also not OOTM-- Carson usually has a handful of few teams, but there is not a lot of interest).

Ditto with TJ and SO. TJ must have a SO team, if they are listed as competing. But, it is just not the big deal that a lot of the other academic teams are. Again, debate, MUN, Physics, Bio and Chemistry Olympiads, AMCs, HackTJ, various science fairs, It's Academic, etc. are all a huge deal. But not SO. Like at Carson, OOTM exists, but is not a big deal.

I'm guessing there is something about the SO competition itself that makes it less appealing to the Carson/ TJ crowd?

Total speculation. I assure you there is plenty of interest is SciOly at TJ. The school has 1700 students passionate about science. There is way more interest there than any of the other FCPS schools. TJ's teams are always competitive. It is much more difficult to get on the team at TJ than any other FCPS school.

The middle school teams, I find, are much more passionate about it. Maybe because the want TJ and a strong performance may help. I would assume they would at least consider SciOly for fun at TJ if they get in.

I suggest you attend a Sci Oly event. It is amazing. Usually takes up an entire Saturday. Volunteer to help out.

The HS participants are there, for the most part,because they like science, it's fun, and they love earning medals.

Do you have a kid at TJ? I'm guessing not if you think Science O,ympiad has the best and the brightest during it out to get on the team. I'm also guessing you have not had a kid go through Carson recently. DD competed in SO in ES, so we are familiar with the program. We specifically looked for it at Carson starting 2014, and it was not offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

DC #1 went through Carson to TJ. DC #2 attends Carson. Carson does not have a SO team. Which seems really strange, because generally, if it's STEM, Carson has 300 kids try out for it. (Or pretty much anything academic-- debate had at least a couple hundred kids also try out for 11 7th grade debate slots). And Carson parents are very involved in running the extracurricular academic teams. So, if there was any interest, they could likely find a parent to run it, so their kid could be on it. Because TJ admissions. But I have not heard of there being any interest. I have no idea why, but Carson does not have, and does not seem to want, a SO Team. MathCounts, TSA, TARC, Debate, FLL (through independent teams), MUN, etc-- all huge at Carson. Not SOL. (Also not OOTM-- Carson usually has a handful of few teams, but there is not a lot of interest).

Ditto with TJ and SO. TJ must have a SO team, if they are listed as competing. But, it is just not the big deal that a lot of the other academic teams are. Again, debate, MUN, Physics, Bio and Chemistry Olympiads, AMCs, HackTJ, various science fairs, It's Academic, etc. are all a huge deal. But not SO. Like at Carson, OOTM exists, but is not a big deal.

I'm guessing there is something about the SO competition itself that makes it less appealing to the Carson/ TJ crowd?

Total speculation. I assure you there is plenty of interest is SciOly at TJ. The school has 1700 students passionate about science. There is way more interest there than any of the other FCPS schools. TJ's teams are always competitive. It is much more difficult to get on the team at TJ than any other FCPS school.

The middle school teams, I find, are much more passionate about it. Maybe because the want TJ and a strong performance may help. I would assume they would at least consider SciOly for fun at TJ if they get in.

I suggest you attend a Sci Oly event. It is amazing. Usually takes up an entire Saturday. Volunteer to help out.

The HS participants are there, for the most part,because they like science, it's fun, and they love earning medals.

Do you have a kid at TJ? I'm guessing not if you think Science O,ympiad has the best and the brightest during it out to get on the team. I'm also guessing you have not had a kid go through Carson recently. DD competed in SO in ES, so we are familiar with the program. We specifically looked for it at Carson starting 2014, and it was not offered.

How funny! Some TJ folks can't help but make up excuses if TJ is not #1 at anything. Sad really...
How about you give Fairfax credit for their outstanding performance? A fair and square victory?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CarsonI'm not sure why, but TJ doesn't take SO seriously. They put kids on the national physics olympiad, bio olympiad and Chem olympiad. But this is the first I've heard of them even having a science olympiad team. For whatever reason, it's not something TJ kids care about.

Interestingly, Carson doesn't care either-- in fact they don't even field a team, which is strange.

Beware: my opinion only based on history at other middle schools:

All of the TJ applicants at Carson would love to put SciOly on their application. The problem is that only 15 students can compete on the state team (three teams from each school can compete at the invitational and regional tournaments)

Who gets on the teams is EXTREMELY controversial. I have experienced this first hand where PARENTS fight, back-stab, complain, make demands, etc, that their child should be on the team! She's way better than little Jimmy! It was very ugly.

DC #1 went through Carson to TJ. DC #2 attends Carson. Carson does not have a SO team. Which seems really strange, because generally, if it's STEM, Carson has 300 kids try out for it. (Or pretty much anything academic-- debate had at least a couple hundred kids also try out for 11 7th grade debate slots). And Carson parents are very involved in running the extracurricular academic teams. So, if there was any interest, they could likely find a parent to run it, so their kid could be on it. Because TJ admissions. But I have not heard of there being any interest. I have no idea why, but Carson does not have, and does not seem to want, a SO Team. MathCounts, TSA, TARC, Debate, FLL (through independent teams), MUN, etc-- all huge at Carson. Not SOL. (Also not OOTM-- Carson usually has a handful of few teams, but there is not a lot of interest).

Ditto with TJ and SO. TJ must have a SO team, if they are listed as competing. But, it is just not the big deal that a lot of the other academic teams are. Again, debate, MUN, Physics, Bio and Chemistry Olympiads, AMCs, HackTJ, various science fairs, It's Academic, etc. are all a huge deal. But not SO. Like at Carson, OOTM exists, but is not a big deal.

I'm guessing there is something about the SO competition itself that makes it less appealing to the Carson/ TJ crowd?

Total speculation. I assure you there is plenty of interest is SciOly at TJ. The school has 1700 students passionate about science. There is way more interest there than any of the other FCPS schools. TJ's teams are always competitive. It is much more difficult to get on the team at TJ than any other FCPS school.

The middle school teams, I find, are much more passionate about it. Maybe because the want TJ and a strong performance may help. I would assume they would at least consider SciOly for fun at TJ if they get in.

I suggest you attend a Sci Oly event. It is amazing. Usually takes up an entire Saturday. Volunteer to help out.

The HS participants are there, for the most part,because they like science, it's fun, and they love earning medals.

Do you have a kid at TJ? I'm guessing not if you think Science O,ympiad has the best and the brightest during it out to get on the team. I'm also guessing you have not had a kid go through Carson recently. DD competed in SO in ES, so we are familiar with the program. We specifically looked for it at Carson starting 2014, and it was not offered.

How funny! Some TJ folks can't help but make up excuses if TJ is not #1 at anything. Sad really...
How about you give Fairfax credit for their outstanding performance? A fair and square victory?[/quote

You know, you are forcing me do to something I hate doing -- defend TJ. But, what PP says is true. SO is one of many many options at TJ, some of which include real scientific discovery. The best and brightest at TJ are not in science olympiad.

(my gripe with TJ is the amount of stress it puts on kids -- both in the admissions process and at the school. What really pisses me off are the people that cite the college acceptances or SAT scores as proof of TJ's greatness. No that only proves the admissions accept the top performing students in the county. The advantage of TJ is not in the specific academics, but in the extra curricular options -- the chance to do real science in HS. Of course, I am getting ready to drop my daughter off for an event where she will be monitoring a stream for its health, and that is not at TJ).

[Anonymous]

Ah yes, SO at TJ... so low profile and unimportant. From the 2013 newspaper:

https://www.tjtoday.org/8340/showcase/science-olympiad-team-introduces-new-application-process/

As opposed to last year, when only an application was needed, the club now mandates the students complete an online application and parent survey form and get a teacher recommendation, as well as take a diagnostic test to be considered for membership.
The new application process will be used to evaluate the student’s behavior, devotion in science and potential for benefiting the club, factors that will greatly influence the constituents of this year’s team.
“I hope that the students gain a rare and intrinsic appreciation for science and its unsolved mysteries by participating in Science Olympiad,” Park said.
Science Olympiad is one of the most distinguished science competitions in the nation. Teams of 15 students compete in events that encourage scientific thinking and application through spectrum of scientific fields, including anatomy and water quality.
“I joined Science Olympiad when I was in fourth grade,” sophomore Abha Agrawal said. “Science Olympiad gives me the chance to learn and participate in STEM fields that interest me while maintaining a high level of teamwork.”
The team, having won the state-level competition last year, is planning on another stellar year with great results, a goal that requires great participation and responsibility from all team members.