LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP, PA — Creativity, imagination, and problem-solving are just some areas in which students at Loyalsock Township Middle School excel.
"Everybody's opinion is included in Odyssey of the Mind because we work as a team," said 6th grader Isabella Devlin.
The team of middle schoolers from Loyalsock Township worked so well together that they are advancing to the World Finals competition in Iowa next week. Odyssey of the Mind is all about problem-solving through imagination and creativity with no outside assistance from adults. School districts all over the world have Odyssey of the Mind teams. This is sixth grader Jeremiah Vincent's first year on the team.
"Because it's a great opportunity, it's something everybody should join," he said.
Teams from Pocono Mountain, Delaware Valley, and Loyalsock Township Middle School made it past Regionals and States to get to the world stage representing Northeastern and Central PA next week. During the competition, students will be working on their long-term solution, which they've been working on for months, and they will have to solve a spontaneous problem, too. They won't get that until they get there.
"The way we do it without helping them is kind of guide their discussions by asking questions like 'how do you think you can make this better' or 'what do you think they are looking for here' to get the most points because it's all about the score at the end of it," said Coach Paul Roma.
Paul Roma and Darla Devlin have been coaching the seven students on Loyalsock Township's team since the beginning of the school year. They say it is a ton of time and commitment, and they could not be more proud to see the team make it this far.
"They come up with these ideas, some of the brains in these children's head is unbelievable, some of the stuff they come up with you just sit there with your mouth open, you're just in awe," said Assistant Coach Devlin.
This moment is even more special for Devlin because she shares it with her granddaughter, Isabella.
"One of the things my granddaughter says she loves about it is no body's idea is a bad idea. It's a camaraderie between these kids who don't' even know each other before this year. Maybe a couple of them. Then they all go together in one room, and they work together so well," she said.
All the local teams leave for Iowa State University on Sunday. The competition is all next week.
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