This school year, for the first time, Odyssey of the Mind was offered at Amanda C. Rowe Elementary School. Fast forward to the Nor’Easter Tournament on March 25, when two of the three teams from Rowe School placed first and second in their problems and have been invited to compete at the World Finals in Michigan May 24-27. 

The students now will be hosting fundraisers in the coming weeks and have started a GoFundMe campaign to defray the significant costs associated with getting the teams to finals. They would love support from the Portland Public Schools community.

After their win at the tournament this month, “there was laughter, cheering, and tears of happiness as this group of 4th and 5th graders congratulated each other on their outstanding achievements,” said Steph Walsh and Jen Robinson, coaches for the parent-led club, supported by the PTO and the administration at the school. 

Odyssey of the Mind is an international creativity competition that helps students of all ages develop science, technology, Engineering, arts, and math (S.T.E.A.M.) skills through problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and performing art. Each year teams of 5-7 students choose from five different complex problems to solve and present at regional competitions. An essential element of Odyssey of the Mind is that the team members must complete the task themselves. 

For more information, contact RoweOdyssey@gmail.com