Massapequa Sends Six Teams to State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament

A strong contingent of Massapequa students are headed to Binghamton this weekend to compete in the state Odyssey of the Mind tournament.

A district record six teams will compete in the international  problem solving competition.

Students are asked to participate in creative problem solving exercises such as building mechanical devices or interpreting literary works.

Teams from Berner Middle School and Unqua, Elementary School as well as two teams fromMcKenna and Lockhart Elementary school will be making the trip.

In the Long Island regional tournament, teams from Unqua, Lockhart and McKenna, competing in Division I, placed first in four of the five problem categories. The teams was made up of of fifth graders who are in the district’s Magnet program for gifted students.

The Berner team, made up of eighth and ninth graders,   took first place in the Division III category “Pet Project,” which required students to design, build, and run three vehicles that deliver parts to an assembly area. The parts were then assembled into a pet animal that performs a trick. The other team from Lockhart Elementary School placed second for the same problem at the Division II level. 

East lake placed third in a Divison II problem that required them to create a humor performance.

“We are so proud of the high level of creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills our students have demonstrated throughout this process, which are now acknowledged through top placement in this regional competition,” said Lucille Iconis, Massapequa's assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, who will become school Superintendent this summer. “We wish them much luck in the state competition.”