Newtown Students Take Part In State Odyssey Of The Mind Competition

By ELIZA HALLABECK

Published: Apr 16, 2010 12:00 am

The 29th Annual Connecticut Odyssey of the Mind State Competition, held at the Bethel School complex on March 27, had 51 students from Newtown competing in teams with students from across the state.

Newtownâs 51 students were from Newtown Middle School, Reed Intermediate School, and Middle Gate School, and were divided into nine teams.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international problem solving and performing arts competition, and is known as the largest intellectual competition in the world. Each year six different problems are available internationally for students competing in five divisions that include primary grades kindergarten through second, Division I includes grades three through five, Division II includes grades six through eight, Division III includes grades nine through 12, and Division IV is for college students.

All teams work for roughly six to seven months starting in September on a long-term problem that includes a performance. The teams also practice quick-thinking problems that are called Spontaneous problems at the competition. Students design and create their own performance, solutions, props, write scripts, and work as a team in the program.

While the students are from Newtown schools, Odyssey of the Mind is overseen by parent volunteers, in place as coaches for the teams, and is not affiliated with the schools.

According to Odyssey of the Mind coach Dawn Gray, Newtown students worked very hard all year participating in both Division I and II as listed below.

The top three teams are awarded medals in each division and problem, and the top two teams are invited to compete in World Finals of the Odyssey of the Mind Competition. This year Newtown had one third place Middle School team coached by Dawn Gray, and two second place teams, Michele Hankinâs team from the middle school team and Curt Brantlâs team from both Middle Gate and Reed Intermediate School. These two teamsÂ will be moving on to World Finals to be held at the University of Michigan this year in May.

Ms Grayâs Division II team from the middle school completed the Food Court challenge, and consisted of Charlotte Gray, Owen Gray, Megan McDonald, Katie Wojcik, Shaina Stamp, and Karleigh Rivard.

Coach Ann Ziluckâs Division II team from the middle school completed the Nature TrailâR challenge; its members are Michael Ziluck, Noelle Veillette, Zachary Weiland, Adam Liscinsky and Erica Bloomberg.

Coach Michele Hankinâs Division II team from the middle school completed the Discovered Treasures challenge, and was made up by Baxter Hankin, Portia Baudisch, Bailey Smith, Emma Hungaski, Talia Hankin, and Tim Vogelman.

Coach Judith Cervoneâs Division II team from the middle school completed the Food Court challenge, and was made up by Anna Baxter, Lily Fulmer, Clare Hebert, and Hannah Godbout.

Also coached by Ms Gray was a team from Reed Intermediate School, which included students from the previously mentioned group, also completed the Nature TrailâR challenge. The group included Owen Gray, Christian Morlock, Lincoln Gray, Sean Lee, Charlotte Gray, and Evan Lee.

Coach Laurie Veilletteâs DivisionÂ I team from Reed âÂ John Alveraz, Pau Lleonard, Liam Garrison, Grant Larson, Nathan Malota, and Keira Veillette â completed the Gift of Flight challenge

Coach Joanne Kennyâs Division II team from Reed â Kathryn Kenny, Amanda Donovan, Katie Elkins, Tim Jaegar, and Judge Russell â completed the Discovered Treasures challenge.

Coach Mitzi DeMaioâs Division II team from Reed completed the Gift of Flight challenge. Team members are Tina DeMaio, Amanda Walsh, Tim Walsh, Jackson OâBryan, Amy Pruner, and Tyler Rivard.

Coach Curt Brantlâs Division I team from both Reed Intermediate School and Middle Gate School completed the Column Structure challenge; members are Annika Alexander, Dennis Timmons, Monique Dubois, Nikhil Trivedi, Tristian Filiato, Matthew Brantl, and Rachel DâAusilio.

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The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

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I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

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Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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Newtown Students Take Part In State Odyssey Of The Mind Competition

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