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Pennsbury Odyssey of the Mind (POMA)

Virtual Informational Meetings

Thank you for your interest

Discussion will begin @ ~7:05 PM

September 15^th and September 18^th

7:00-8:30 PM

https://www.facebook.com/pennsburyom/

https://www.pennsburyom.com/

pennsburyom@gmail.com

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Outline

What is Odyssey of the Mind?

What/who is POMA?

What will the 2025-2026 season look like?

Next steps

Additional questions?

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Outline

What is Odyssey of the Mind?

What/who is POMA?

What will the 2025-2026 season look like?

Next steps

Additional questions?

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What is Odyssey of the Mind?

Odyssey of the Mind is an international CREATIVE problem-solving program/competition
Fundamental philosophy of program is that creativity can be taught
Who can participate?

Teams divided into 4 divisions:

Primary: grades K-2
Div 1: grades 3-5
Div 2: grades 6-8
Div 3: grades 9-12
Each team needs a coach and can have up to 7 team members

What are problems like?

Challenges focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and the Arts
There are two different types of problems, each having further subcategories:

Spontaneous
Long-term

Outside Assistance

https://www.odysseyofthemind.com/

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What is Spontaneous?

There are three (3) types of Spontaneous Problems:

Verbal

Examples: Name a color and something that is that color

List things that have a coat.

2) Hands-On

Example: Given: One action figure, one can – any kind, one ball string, 3 straws, one foot of tape, 2 index cards and one spoon. You (the action figure)

are trapped inside a deep hole. You find the given materials, build a

vehicle and escape.

3) Verbal Hands-On

Example: Given: One empty toilet paper tube, 4 tissues and one rubber band. Build a ghost. Tell the judges the story of the life of your ghost, and who your ghost is haunting.

https://nepaootm.com/spontaneous/

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What is Long-Term?

Each year Odyssey of the Mind issues 6 problems

Primary Problem (all Primary teams do same problem)
Div 1-3: Problem 1 (the Vehicle problem)
Div 1-3: Problem 2 (the Technical problem)
Div 1-3: Problem 3 (the Classics problem)
Div 1-3: Problem 4 (the Balsa wood problem)
Div 1-3:Problem 5 (the Performance problem)

Each team picks one (1) problem to solve and presents their solution in the form of an 8-minute theatrical performance

While every team in the world that selects a particular problem has the same exact problem, there are an INFINITE number of solutions!!!

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The 2025-2026 Problem Synopses

see 2025-2026 PROBLEM SYNOPSES

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What is Outside Assistance?

It is against the rules of OM for anyone other than the team members to design, build and present their long-term problem solution
This means that coaches, parents, any non-team members are not allowed to directly assist a team member in any part of the presented long-term solution

So if I am not allowed to assist the kids, what is the role of a coach?

We (POMA) will provide guidance/support on how to use the Socratic coaching process (i.e., give students questions not answers).

Outside assistance only applies to the long-term problem.

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Odyssey of the Mind: Overall

Wonderful program that will challenge your kids and teach them life-long skills:

To developing their solutions, teams need:

Teamwork
Time management
Tracking a budget

Coaching is an excellent opportunity to share this experience with your child

Coaching often has many personal benefits that can apply to our personal & professional lives (i.e., teaching us how to remain more hands-off and let the kids propose/try/fail/repeat vs quickly helping them get to an answer)

Outside assistance only applies to the long-term problem. Coaches are able to discuss any spontaneous problem with the kids, and provide direct coaching on how could do better, as on the day of any tournament the team will not know the Spontaneous problem they will receive

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Outline

What is Odyssey of the Mind?

What/who is POMA?

What will the 2025-2026 season look like?

Next steps

Additional questions?

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What/Who is POMA?

The Pennsbury Odyssey of the Mind Association (POMA) is comprised of individuals who have seen the benefits that OM provides to coaches and students.

Over the course of a year, each POMA Board member can contribute over 40 hours of time to this wonderful community service program.

Current POMA Board

Shellie Newton

Krista Oleynick Morayea Pindziak

Karan Dhundia

Rich Fox

Jim Howarth

Greg Lane

Sandy Lee

Stephan McDonald

Tracey Rubin

Deirdre Redel

Katie Rubinstein

Caitlin Votava

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Outline

What is Odyssey of the Mind?

What/who is POMA?

What will the 2025-2026 season look like?

Next steps

Additional questions?

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What will the 2025-2026 season look like?�

Competitions:

Regional Tournament

Temple University, Ambler campus
Saturday February 28^th, 2026
All Teams/Divisions will participate

State Tournament Pocono Mountain East High School, Swiftwater, PA

Saturday March 28^th, 2026
Only Div 1-3 teams eligible (i.e., grades 3-12)
Typically for Div 1-3 teams that place 1^st or 2^nd at Regionals

World Finals

Iowa State University
May 27^th-30^th 2026
Only Div 1-3 teams eligible (i.e., grades 3-12)
Typically for Div 1-3 teams that place 1^st or 2^nd at States

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How does POMA Support Our Teams?

POMA will offer a Coaches Training workshop in mid-October

Currently planning to have virtual event the week of Oct 13^th

POMA offers in-person events (1 per month) on Sat mornings at William Penn Middle School for all kids to practice Spontaneous problems/discuss progress on Long-Term problem, and coaches to check-in with Board.
Consistent feedback from coaches is these sessions are very helpful
Planned for Saturday Nov 15^th, Dec 13^th, Jan 10^th, Feb 7^th and Mar 14^th

Individual team practices focused on brainstorming/spontaneous problems/construction for Long-Term problem will be organized by each coach

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Some Additional Commonly Asked Questions

Students who live within the district but WILL NOT be attending Pennsbury in 2025-2026 ARE ALLOWED to participate on Pennsbury Odyssey of the Mind teams
While we try to keep teams comprised of kids from the same school, this is NOT required
Fees

Primary (grades K-2) = $150 per student
Div1-Div3 team (grades 3-12) = $250 per student
Fee is waived for child if parent volunteers to coach

If volunteer to coach and have multiple kids in program will only receive a single $150 or $250 credit

Financial assistance is available if needed
Team fees typically collected in Dec/Jan

Season Timelines

Primary: Oct – early March (ends after Regional Tournament)
Div 1-3: Oct – early March (all teams)

Oct – early April (if advance to States)

Oct – Memorial Day weekend (if advance to Worlds)

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Some Additional Commonly Asked Questions

What is time commitment?

Very much team specific, but in general:

Primary Teams: Typically 1 h practice one weekday night each week, and starting in ~Dec, typically add a weekend practice for a couple hours.

Div 1-3 Teams: Typically 1 h practice one weekday night each week. Starting in ~Dec, typically add 1-2 weekend practices (duration varies)

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Some Additional Stats

2025-2026 will be POMA’s 42^nd season!
We typically have >10 teams and >75 students participate each year
We target having student representation from every school in the District
While primary goal of program is not winning, Pennsbury teams historically

place very well in competitions.

>50% of Pennsbury teams typically advance to PA State Tournament each year!

We have sent at least one team to the World Tournament in 38 of our 41 seasons!

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Overall Calendar of Events

Date	Activity	Notes
Monday Sep 15^th and Thursday Sep 18^th	Virtual Information Sessions
Tuesday September 30^th	Online registration closes
Wednesday Oct 1^tst – Friday Oct 10^th	POMA ‘finalizes’ coaches/team rosters	POMA pays membership costs for all team
Week of October 13^th – specific date TBD	Virtual Coaches Training
Sunday October 19^th	Deadline to submit Long-Term problem preferences
Saturday November 15^th (8:30-11:00 AM)	Spontaneous Day Activities (Primary teams 8:30-9:30, Div 1-3 teams 9:30-11:00)
Saturday December 13^th (8:30-11:30 AM)	Spontaneous Day Activities (Primary teams 8:30-9:30, Div 1-3 teams 9:30-11:30)
Saturday January 10^th, 2026 (8:30-12:30 pm)	Spontaneous Day (teams typically register for 1 h timeslots)
Saturday February 7^th, 2026 (8:30-3 pm)	Regional Tournament Walk-Through (teams typically register for 40 min timeslots)
Saturday February 28^th, 2026	Regional Tournament (All Teams)	POMA pays tournament registration costs
Saturday March 14^th, 2026 (9:30-11:30)	Spontaneous Day for Div 1-3 teams advancing to States
Saturday March 28^th, 2026	State Tournament (Div 1-3 only) Pocono Mountain East High School, Swiftwater, PA	POMA pays tournament registration costs and partially reimburses for travel costs
May 27^th-30^th, 2026	World Finals Iowa State University	POMA significantly subsidizes travel/registration costs

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Outline

What is Odyssey of the Mind?

What/who is POMA?

What will the 2025-2026 season look like?

Next steps

Additional questions?

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Next Steps

If interested in participating, register child/children @ GOOGLE FORMS
Registration link will remain open through September 30^th
See https://www.facebook.com/pennsburyom/ and https://www.pennsburyom.com/ for details

Note:

Registration neither guarantees a spot for your child on a team nor requires any payment or commitment that child must participate.
Registration is used to track overall interest and enable the Board and coaches who volunteer to assemble teams
There is an option during registration to list other kids your child would like to be on the same team with

The best way to guarantee a spot for your child is to volunteer to be a coach
All of us were once 1^st time coaches, but you WILL have support from POMA!

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