Non-Traditional Students Shine at School Competitions
Beaverton, OR (PRWEB) May 30, 2014 -- Students in traditional public and private schools have many opportunities to participate in various academic competitions, and it is no different for the students at Village Home Education Resource Center, located in Beaverton, Oregon.
Village Home is an alternative to school. Learners choose their classes, based on their own interests and goals and not on a standardized curriculum. It may seem that competing against students who follow a common curriculum would put Village Home learners at a disadvantage, but the results tell a different story. "Kids are empowered to choose their classes and learning paths and so become competent, self-motivated, independent thinkers and creative problem-solvers," reports Executive Director, Lori Walker, founder of Village Home.
This spring, Village Home fielded award-winning teams in academic competitions including Destination Imagination, Mock Trial, Model UN, First Tech Challenge, Science Bowl, and Kid Wind.
In the leading competition for creative-thinking and problem-solving, Destination Imagination, five Village Home teams won the state competition and qualified for Global Finals. Three teams from Village Home traveled to University of Tennessee with 13 other teams from across the state, to compete with 18,000 students from around the world at Global Finals and all three teams placed in the Top 20, with one team placing 3rd.
Details about the three teams that traveled to Global Finals from Village Home:
Theories of DI-tivity (2nd year Elementary Team): Gabby Calvi, William Mueller, Owen Pickering, Autumn Straus. Team Manager: Deborah Mueller, The Theories of DI-tivity stretched their comfort zones this year with a new challenge. In Pandemonium, DI's Improvisation Challenge, the Theories grew as individuals and as a team placed 1st in their division at the Metro Regional event and then 1st place at State, 3rd Place at Global Finals.
Don't Ask, We're Totally Insane (4th year Middle Level Team): Evan Lenneville-Hutchinson, Mercy McVicker, Anna Mueller, Ryan Richardson, Cole Straus, Natalie Walker, Team Manager: Lori Walker. Last year, Don't Ask, We're Totally Insane won 4th place at Global Finals in Knoxville. This year, "Don't Ask" won 1st place at Metro Regional Tournament and 1st place State and 13th at Global Finals. Don't Ask is supported in part by a generous donation from Wieden + Kennedy.
Tootsie Pops (5th year Senior Level Team): Kendra Burton, Katie Golab, Julia Mueller, Charlotte Smythe, Claren Walker, Team Manager: Deborah Mueller. After taking a year off following their 2012 Global Finals adventure, the Tootsie Pops are back for their “Comeback Tour.” Tackling a challenge that they previously shied away from, the Pops shone at the Southern Regional Tournament in Pandemonium, the Improvisation Challenge, earning 1st place in their division and a Da Vinci Award, DI’s highest honor. The Tootsie Pops won first place in State and 18th at Global Finals, despite their varied, hectic schedules with some members working around their community college classes.
All teams had about 90 competitors in each of their respective categories.
ABOUT VILLAGE HOME RESOURCE CENTER:
Village Home is a dynamic, choice-based learning community creatively integrating family, education and real life to empower learners of all ages. The vision of Village Home is to be a community model for family centered, home-based education that inspires and supports self-directed, lifelong learning.
Village Home, founded in 2002, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit learning community based in Beaverton, Oregon.
Contact: Caren De La Cruz
caren.delacruz(at)villagehome(dot)org
Phone 503-597-9100
villagehome (dot) org
YouTube: http://bit.ly/1wgjXmj
Facebook: /villagehome
Twitter: /villagehome
Caren De La Cruz, Village Home Resource Center, http://www.villagehome.org, +1 5034078797, [email protected]
Share this article