MICHIGAN 5/23 -5/27

Our OUT-OF-THE-BOX BALSA team represented Darien at Michigan State University at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. The team of seven students, along with their seven parents (including our two coaches) competed well in their division, scoring high in style and doing well in Spontaneous competition. Our balsa structure, weakened a little by the humidity that followed us around Michigan, supported 55 pounds.

The team performed very well, and represented Darien admirably, while meeting competitors from near and far, including Singapore, Poland, Hong Kong, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and California. We received lots of advice from teams that have been to Worlds before, and we all learned the highly skilled negotiation of pin trading. We also discovered all the ways the college kitchen can prepare potatoes (tater tot casserole was an interesting creation!)

We are looking forward to using all that we've learned to start again next year and make it to College Park in Maryland for the 2008 Worlds!

24 hours to go!

We are leaving Wednesday, May 23, for World Finals at Michigan State University!

The MMS Odyssey of the Mind BalsaWood team has spent the last few weeks refining their balsa wood structure and the performance skit. And now we are packing our props, packing our bags, and getting ready to compete in what will be the most exciting event of the year!

We'll try to post from MSU so stay tuned to this page to learn about our progress.


Thanks for all your support,

The MMS "Balsa Out of the Box" Team

Performance date set!

Take one hour out of your busy afternoon to see creativity at work…you are cordially invited to see local Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) teams perform their 8-minute skits and problem solutions.

Thursday. May 17th

4:00pm at MMS Auditorium

Watch CT’s Gold & Silver medalists from Darien, New Canaan, and Rowayton perform their award winning solutions. These teams will compete at the 2007 Word Finals at Michigan State University in May. Check out what it takes to become an OotM participant or even a parent coach! Get a sneak peek at next year’s problem challenges.

There is a $5 suggested donation (gets you a balsa wood airplane!). Proceeds will support the Odyssey of the Mind program and the trip to World Finals.

Help send Darien to Worlds!

The Way to Worlds

The Middlesex Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team is out and about town, with the students talking about their project and the Silver Medal they won at State Finals last month. This medal earned them a spot at the World Finals this May, along with more than 800 teams from 30 different countries.

The team is giving away balsa planes with each $5 donation. The lightweight, fragile balsa is what the team used to construct a structure that could not weigh more than 18 grams while supporting the most weight possible. The Darien team's triangular structure supported 77 pounds of weight. Simultaneously, the group performed an orginal skit, and were judged on additional qualities such as style, special effects, and most importantly, team work.

Now the team is out working to raise the money required to send them to World Finals, to be held at Michigan State University in May. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Donations may be sent in care of T. Saffa at 16 Victory Drive, Darien, CT 06820. Checks should be made out to "Darien Odyssey of the Mind."

Team members are pictured (right) Middlesex students Lily Saffa, Tanner Shea, Megan Gregory, Caroline Kapustynski, Ali McGarey, Aastha Narula, and Lila Sullivan.