FOX HOMESCHOOLERS SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM
2023-24 School Year Info (2024 Competitive Year)
Participation in our teams is a learning experience beyond the science. Your child does NOT have to be gifted or academically advanced--but those students are equally welcomed. The critical factors are honesty and interest. Our team is diverse and inclusive. If your family would have a difficult time working with families of other races or religions (or no religion) our team may not be a great fit for you.
WE DO NOT TEACH YOUR CHILD SCIENCE! You don't teach your kid, either. We FACILITATE learning. Both levels are effectively a project-based learning experience using Science Olympiad as the project on which they learn other skills.
At the middle school level, the focus is on Executive Function and (updated & revised) Study Skills. Middle school students have a weekly meeting (on Monday afternoons, 1:30-2:50pm starting Sept. 18th) in North Naperville at our commercial location or a family home. There will be 2 parent-student-coach meetings during the year to check in (usually one in the fall and one in the winter). Additionally, students may have one-on-one mentoring with their coach and meetings with their event partners arranged by their families. Middle school students are encouraged to come to the Friday evening parent & high school meeting times (Friday evening, 1-2x/month) to socialize or as a central meeting location with event partners.
At the high school level, students will focus on (updated & revised) Study Skills and Project Management. High schoolers will have a team meeting 1-2x/month on Friday evenings in North Naperville at our commercial location or a family home. Additionally, students may have one-on-one mentoring with their coach and meetings with their event partners arranged by them. There are also leadership, mentorship and service opportunities within the organization for high school students that are interested.
Parents at both levels will be required to attend a parent meeting 1-2x/month through the school year (on the same night as the high school team meetings) and take on volunteer responsibility. Parent meetings help the team navigate challenges and ensure that the adults are aware of what is transpiring, understand the needs of the group and coordinate roles for competition. NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE IS NEEDED. This is absolutely a group endeavor. The parent meetings to provide support, information and work together to steer this boat!
Team registration is already open this year and closes in late September so we can apply for whatever exemptions we may need from Illinois Science Olympiad to be eligible to compete. Our commercial location on Quincy Drive, Naperville, IL. The coach's home is approximately 6 minutes away from there (near Rickert Ave. & Ogden Ave/Route 34). Our team supplies all team members with any equipment they may need to compete but is limited on building supplies (which may require an extra cost).
Competitions for 2023-24 are not yet published. Competitions take place in brick and mortar schools in the region on Saturdays (usually 1/month for each level - middle and high school) from Nov. to April. Each participant is guaranteed to participate in at least ONE invitational competition (although based on their level of effort and space on the team--they might participate in more than one invitational). Traditionally we have traveled out of state for 1-2 competitions but the likelihood of this for the 2024 competition year is uncertain. Nobody is required to travel out of state! The best in the event (based on practice tests, invitational results, team participation and event coach feedback) will compete at the Regionals in early March. Regional competition determines if we advance to State competition. If we qualify for state competition, that is traditionally held in mid to late April at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You can still participate in the rest of the year's competition if you are unable to attend the state competition for any reason.
There may be opportunities to compete at State competition (in trial/pilot events--which still earn medals) even if you don't qualify to compete at Regionals and State in your main season events!
For more information about the team, or to RSVP to attend an upcoming team meeting, please fill out the contact form below.
- The middle school (grades 6-8 based on public school grading) is the Division B team. Students who will be aged 11-13/14 by Sept. 1st would be placed on the Division B team.
- The high school (grades 9-12 based on public school grading) is the Division C team. Students who will be aged 13/14-17 by Sept. 1st would be placed on the Division C team.
WE DO NOT TEACH YOUR CHILD SCIENCE! You don't teach your kid, either. We FACILITATE learning. Both levels are effectively a project-based learning experience using Science Olympiad as the project on which they learn other skills.
At the middle school level, the focus is on Executive Function and (updated & revised) Study Skills. Middle school students have a weekly meeting (on Monday afternoons, 1:30-2:50pm starting Sept. 18th) in North Naperville at our commercial location or a family home. There will be 2 parent-student-coach meetings during the year to check in (usually one in the fall and one in the winter). Additionally, students may have one-on-one mentoring with their coach and meetings with their event partners arranged by their families. Middle school students are encouraged to come to the Friday evening parent & high school meeting times (Friday evening, 1-2x/month) to socialize or as a central meeting location with event partners.
At the high school level, students will focus on (updated & revised) Study Skills and Project Management. High schoolers will have a team meeting 1-2x/month on Friday evenings in North Naperville at our commercial location or a family home. Additionally, students may have one-on-one mentoring with their coach and meetings with their event partners arranged by them. There are also leadership, mentorship and service opportunities within the organization for high school students that are interested.
Parents at both levels will be required to attend a parent meeting 1-2x/month through the school year (on the same night as the high school team meetings) and take on volunteer responsibility. Parent meetings help the team navigate challenges and ensure that the adults are aware of what is transpiring, understand the needs of the group and coordinate roles for competition. NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE IS NEEDED. This is absolutely a group endeavor. The parent meetings to provide support, information and work together to steer this boat!
Team registration is already open this year and closes in late September so we can apply for whatever exemptions we may need from Illinois Science Olympiad to be eligible to compete. Our commercial location on Quincy Drive, Naperville, IL. The coach's home is approximately 6 minutes away from there (near Rickert Ave. & Ogden Ave/Route 34). Our team supplies all team members with any equipment they may need to compete but is limited on building supplies (which may require an extra cost).
Competitions for 2023-24 are not yet published. Competitions take place in brick and mortar schools in the region on Saturdays (usually 1/month for each level - middle and high school) from Nov. to April. Each participant is guaranteed to participate in at least ONE invitational competition (although based on their level of effort and space on the team--they might participate in more than one invitational). Traditionally we have traveled out of state for 1-2 competitions but the likelihood of this for the 2024 competition year is uncertain. Nobody is required to travel out of state! The best in the event (based on practice tests, invitational results, team participation and event coach feedback) will compete at the Regionals in early March. Regional competition determines if we advance to State competition. If we qualify for state competition, that is traditionally held in mid to late April at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You can still participate in the rest of the year's competition if you are unable to attend the state competition for any reason.
There may be opportunities to compete at State competition (in trial/pilot events--which still earn medals) even if you don't qualify to compete at Regionals and State in your main season events!
For more information about the team, or to RSVP to attend an upcoming team meeting, please fill out the contact form below.
Next Informational Events:
Information sessions: Friday, Aug 4, 2023 10-11am (please login 10 mins early!) Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82716334952?pwd=UTUwTThaanR3UlJvWllxRzBsczUyQT09 Meeting ID: 827 1633 4952 Passcode: scioly Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming sessions. Feel free to contact us using the form below to RSVP and get webinar details by e-mail to: [email protected] |
Meeting & Class Location:
For 2023-24 our team classes and meetings will be held at: 1701 Quincy Avenue, Suite 8, Naperville, IL 60540 We share space with US Engineering League Our Friday night parent/high school meetings are at a private home 6 minutes away from our commercial space. Is your business looking for advertising space?
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