(Publisher’s note: Last names were not included in the names of some of the winners at the request of the teachers and coaches involved in the competition. Chelsea Update would like to thank Nicole Spangler and Zuzana Wiseley for the photos in this story.)
By Lisa Carolin
Thousands of elementary school students from Washtenaw County gathered at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor May 12 for the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) Tournament, and among them were 27 Chelsea students, many of whom won medals.
“Chelsea head coaches Liz and Jon Van Hoek and Cathie Timberlake led a committed team of Chelsea School District parents, coaches, and second through fifth graders for the second year in a row at the WESO,” said Tess Eastment, a parent volunteer of a North Creek Elementary School participant. “The kids were among the highest achievers at the WESO, winning a total of 11 medals.”
Eastment provided the information on these medal winning teams:
2nd grade Photon Phun 3rd place: Albert, Sebastian, Claire
2nd grade Map Reading 3rd place: Henry V., Vivian
3rd grade To Infinity and Beyond Honorable Mention: Zoey, Azul
4th grade Write It Build It 4th place: Ben, Henry P, Bradley, Libby
“They all worked so hard and competed hard and played hard,” said Timberlake. “They exhibited wonderful sportsmanship.”
Timberlake said that the Chelsea students received a grant from the Chelsea Education Foundation, which allowed them to offer the opportunity at a low cost to Chelsea students in second through fifth grades.
“The kids all did an amazing job, working hard, showing top-notch sportsmanship,” said Nichole Warriner, a parent volunteer. “They showed such grace, encouragement and excitement all around! It was so fun to watch our kids as a community. A huge thanks to all of our coaches, but especially Elizabeth Stafford Van Hoek and Cathie Leonard Timberlake.”
Eastment said that the event is something parent volunteers look forward to, and there were 13 parent coaches, including two grandparents, and 12 additional parent volunteers, who helped run the competition at Pioneer.
“Parents will be notified of next year’s Science Olympiad at North Creek and South Meadows through take home fliers and emails,” said Eastment. “Information will be sent between Thanksgiving and winter break.”
