Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2000)
The INDEPENDENT, July 5, 2000 Page 9 Home-schooled team ties for first in Destination Imagination test By Judy Hill The INDEPENDENT inter- viewed Roman Mattus, 15, of Vernonia, back in April about his Oregon Home Education Network Destination ImagiNa- tion team, which had just won the state DI championship. The home-schooled team, their managers and parents were gearing up to travel to the Uni versity of Iowa at Ames for the DI Global Finals. Mattus said then, “I believe my team is a fine example of what youth today are capable of accomplishing.” True enough. The seven- member team has returned vic torious, tied for first place with Michigan’s Coon Rapids High School in the DI Global Finals, held at Ames, Iowa, May 24- 27. They competed against 27 teams in their division. Their wins on the state and global levels represent firsts for a home-schooled DI team. The team, coached by Team Managers and moms Christine Webb and Lori Raymond in Webb’s North Plains garage, had to raise $10,000 in just six weeks in order to afford the trip to Ames. Destination Imagination team is shown at the Global Finals in front of their self-propelled obstacle course for eggs. In back row from left are Caitlin Letts, Jake Edmunds, Matthew Letts and Alaina Grimm; front from left are Roman Mattus, Lauren Grimm and Keegan O’Con nor. of and Tired? AIR CONDITIONER SALE! Van D yke A p p lia n c e s has a la rg e s e le c tio n o f a ir c o n d itio n e rs in s lo c k and ready to cool your ho m e. Com e in to Van D ykes tod ay. 8SFRIGIDAIRE WhiteWestinghouse* COMPACT AIR CONDITIONER • Whispet cod • C ods 165 sq ft • Unta qu id • Pie-attached Ouick mount installation kit • 5200 BTU coding capacity 219 COMPACT AIR CONDITIONER • Easy-to-reach rotary • O uck mouni window kit controls • Durable, aasy-to-ciean rigid, slide oul filter ■ 8000 BTU/hr coding capacity . Cools 350 M ft • 3 fan speeds 319 lllt m AIR CONDITIONER ■ 3 fan speeds * Quick-mounting top panel • Convenient slide Out filter ■ 4-way air direction • 8.000 8 T U /h ' cooling capacity ■ Easy lo-clean filter • C ods 350 sq ft «WMoiilrv 429 INTERMEDIATE AIR CONDITIONER ' Easy-to-reach rotary controls • Durable, easy lo-clean rigid slide-out filter ------1 • 3 fan speeds • Quick-mount window kil ' 9 950 BTU/hr coo'my capacity . Cools 485 sq ft 389 A U QUANTITIES LIMITED TO STOCK ON HAND. HURRY IN FOR BEST SELECTION. Serving the local community for over 50 years A P P L IA N C E S 2008 Main Street • Forest Grove • 357-6011 Denise Mattus said every one connected with the team was incredibly busy during those six weeks. There were car washes, a spaghetti feed, sales of chocolate covered cherries and a huge garage sale of donated items. Cash donations helped, too. “People were really gener ous,” said Raymond. Over 8,000 kids, in 700 teams from around the world, were present at the competi tion. Some 20 teams were home-schooled groups. The DI web site estimates that over 15,000 people attended the events. the judges in three minutes. The second part of the com petition involves a longer term project called a Team Chal lenge. The 2000 DI theme was “Food for Thought.” Teams choose from six sub-categories such as “It’s not Impastable!,” “Fruit Roller Coaster” and “In stant Pudding Improv,” each of which represented a different type of problem solving sce nario. The OHEN team chose “Eggsploration,” an obstacle course challenge through which five raw eggs must pass unbroken. The presentation had to be in the form of an artistic skit, possibly including a plot, costumes, music and a spontaneous element added by the judges at the last minute. The teams are judged not only on how well they inter pret the challenge but also on humor and spontaneity. Fun is a big part of DI. In addition to Mattus, the champion team members in clude Jake Edmonds, Aloha; Lauren and Alaina Grimm, North Plains; Caitlin and Matthew Letts, Beaverton; and Keegan O’Connor, SW Port land. Raymond said that after a summer break, the team and managers will assemble in the fall to begin work on the next DI challenge. Only this time they will have a whole year to plan and perfect their act. K id s ’ a c tiv itie s a t H e a d S ta rt DI, an outgrowth of Odyssey of the Mind, encourages and Summer youth activities of rewards creativity, teamwork fered at Vernonia Head Start and problem solving. OM Asso include the following program ciation, Inc., the non-profit or for July 10-19: ganization that sponsors DI, July 10 - Cooking, Garden encourages creativity and di ing, Drama, and Music vergent thought in a world ob July 11 - Ceramics 9:30- sessed with “the right answer.” 1:30 Kindergarten, 1st grade Its yearly challenges to teams, July 12 - Ceramics 9:30- from kindergarten through col 11:30 3rd, 4th grades lege, involve projects that sup July 13 - Ceramics 9:30- port creativity and teamwork. 11:30, 5th, 6th grades July 1 7 - Cooking, Garden Tournaments are held at dif ferent levels, and consist of two ing, Drama, and Music July 18 - Bike Safety with parts related to a yearly theme. In the Instant Challenge cate Vernonia City Police 9:30- gory, teams are given a sce 11:30 All ages. July 19 - Biking 9:00-12:00 nario to problem solve. They must brainstorm the solution in Kindergarten through 2nd four minutes and perform it for grade, bring your own lunch. O pen for B reakfast 5 pays / week ! B reakfast H ours : 6:00 a k -11: o o a m 6:00 a m -N oon W ed .-S a t . S unday B reakfast B uffet starts @ 8:30 am S at .-S un . B uffet includes most menu items FRESH FRUIT A N D PASTRIES ROWN DERBY mily owned & operated! I North Main • Banks • 324-7866 Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11:00am-10:00pm, Sun. 11:00am-9:00pm Lounge open until Midnight Wed.-Sat.
