Competition Draws MVUSD Teams

MORENO VALLEY>> Five teams of Moreno Valley Unified School District students competed in the Inland Empire Odyssey of the Mind Tournament at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino on Saturday, March 4. More than 100 teams from the Inland Empire took part, including, from MVUSD, two middle school teams, one elementary school team with grades 3-5, and two primary school teams from kindergarten to second grade. Odyssey of the Mind is an international creativity competition in which teams of students learn problem-solving, critical-thinking and teamwork skills while solving a problem as creatively as possible. The national website states students develop team-building skills by working in groups; learn to examine problems and to identify the real challenge without limiting the possible solutions and their potential success and learn the creative-thinking process through problem-solving. The program also helps teachers have a way to provide an additional opportunity to provide students with another educational experience. "Teams work for months to create their scripts, costumes and scenery for their problem-solving performances, and they also have to solve a problem on the spot at the tournament," said Tim McGillivray, public information officer for MVUSD. Dr. Lynn Larsen, volunteer state director for California Odyssey of the Mind, Associate Dean of the Brandman University School of Education, and a member of MVUSD’s Strategic Planning Committee attended the event with the MVUSD team members. McGillvray said the MVUSD team members also enjoyed the support of School Board member Jesús Holguín and Superintendent Dr. Martinrex Kedziora. "Since the Odyssey of the Mind eliminates the fear of criticism, even shy students are afforded the opportunity to open up and express themselves," the Odyssey of the Mind website states. "The combination of long-term problem-solving, style and spontaneous problem-solving produces a confident, able student."