The Problem: Teams are to create and present a humorous performance about an original tall tale, which will include a hero or heroine who completes an incredible feat. Teams must also include a unique explanation of how things began or came to be and a surprise for the audience. Events in the skit must be accompanied by a visual weather effect that represents an emotion.

Division 2 (Middle School): SBISD teams going on to state

Cornerstone Academy, 3rd place

Synopsis of the team’s solution to Problem 5: A black cat crosses the path of Jane, a teenager. She thinks she now has bad luck. She goes to the library to get a book about getting rid of black cat bad luck. She then finds herself IN the book and discovers that everything in the book is opposite of what it should be: a dumb wise man and mean Canadian, for instance. When the black cat also shows up in the book, he is no longer bad luck because of now being opposite. They are all able to get out of the book when they realize the sticky maple syrup the evil Canadian used to trap them in there really wasn’t sticky after all… since it is opposite of its true nature.

Team Members and their roles in the performance (all fifth graders):

Piper Dikeman,7^th grade: the librarian, a good role for a shy person.
Aubrey Brooks, 7^th grade: the narrator, who also helped with background changes when she wasn’t talking.
Eleanor Guillen, 6^th grade: Jane, an average teenager, who fits the part perfectly.
Gavin Tran, 8^th grade: the evil Canadian. He is good at acting.
Tyler Tran, 6^th grade: a shy black cat, which fits his real personality.
Colby Lankford, 7^th grade: Dumb, old wizard. He is good at making people laugh.

A moment when they had to improvise during the regional contest: “During our performance one of our teammates said a line too early and while we were setting up for the next scene,” said Eleanor. “I honestly think this made the performance better because when he realized his mistake he played it off as though it was meant to happen, and this made the judges laugh.” 

What have you learned being part of an OM team? “Odyssey of the Mind really pushes teams into situations that we have to work out together, and I love that,” said Piper. “I have learned teamwork skills and gotten to know my team a lot better.” 

Learning how to make things from recycled or scrap materials is a skill the teammates have used to create scenes and costumes within the OM budget limit this year.

Melanie Webb Harkey is the team’s coach, as well as the math department chair at Cornerstone Academy. “We started from scratch late in the season,” she said. “The team has really started melding even though they were not initially friends outside of OM. It’s been lovely watching them become friends.” 

She noticed they had worked hard over winter break and came into the second semester determined to do well in the spring OM competitions. “I could really see the work they were putting in, and going to State Competition lets them know it was worth the effort.”

Free Entertainment at OM State Competition on March 28

As you can see, there are a lot of creative juices flowing in SBISD. Come cheer on our nine teams at the state tournament all day on March 28 at San Jacinto College, South Campus, 13735 Beamer Rd, Houston, TX 77089. You will laugh and be amazed at the performances of these imaginative minds! We are #SBISDProud of the ways they have, and will, represent the district going forward on their Odysseys toward world championships!