Student Events

Grade Band:

• Grades 4 – 5

Participants: Each district or non-public school is permitted to send the following number of students per grade band:

• Grades 4/5: 5 students

Time and Location: The 2024 event will be held at the MCIU, which is located at 2 West Lafayette Street, Norristown, PA 19401. 

Cost: For 2024, the cost per student is $10. 

Spectators: Spectators (e.g. parents of students) are not permitted to attend this event.

Volunteers: Schools will be asked to provide at least one teacher volunteer to serve as a proctor for each grade band that they participate in.

Schedule on Event Day:

• 9:30 – 10:00: Teams arrive and sign-in to event
• 10:00 – 10:20: Quick overview for proctors
• 10:20 – 11:30: First two rounds of tournament
• 11:30 – 12:15: Lunch (provided)
• 12:15 – 1:30 Final rounds and awards

Cards/Decks used for Each Round:

• Round 1: Single Digit Cards
• Round 2: Double Digit Cards
• Round 3: Variable Cards
• Round 4 (Championship Round): Double Variable Cards

Registration:There are two components to registration – Preliminary and Final.

• Preliminary Registration will remain open until March 2024. Among other things, you will be asked to indicate your interest in participating and submitting contact information.
• Final Registration will be a 3-week window that opens in April 2024.  You will be asked to submit the names of all participating students and judges.

Important Links:

• RULES: Please review these with your students!
• STUDENT MEDIA CONSENT AND RELEASE FORM: All students must complete this form.
• CERTIFICATE TEMPLATES: Templates to create certificates for a school-based program.
• PROCTOR GUIDELINES: Procedures for proctors.

Pre-registration is now open through March 2024!

Patrice Semicek
Project Consultant
psemicek@mciu.org
610-755-9483

Ben DeSantis
Project Consultant
bdesantis@mciu.org
610-755-9316

Christine Butterfield
Administrative Assistant
cbutterfield@mciu.org
610-755-9391

What is CalcuSolve?
CalcuSolve is a student event that tests students’ problem-solving skills related to mathematics. Students participate both individually and as part of a 4-member team. During the course of the event, there will be two (2) team problems and seven (7) individual problems for students to work on.

What are the grade bands for CalcuSolve? 

Grades 4 – 6

Grades 7 – 8

Grades 9 – 12

What content will the questions cover? 
NOTE: Go here for sample problems that have been included in past events.
There is a wide range of content that will be covered and your students may be presented with questions on content they have not been exposed to yet.

What is the approximate timeline of the event?

Below is a general timeline of the event:

• 9am – 9:15am: Welcome!
• 9:15am – 9:25am: Team Problem #1
• 9:25 – 10:45: Individual Problems (there will be a brief break included during this time)
• 10:45 – 10:55: Team Problem #2
• 10:55 – 11:00: Wrap-up
• 11:00 – 11:30: “Overflow” time if needed

In general, what will the event look like for students?

• Team Problems (#1 and #9): The problem will be shared with all teams. After the problem is shared, all teams will go into their own breakout room for 10 minutes to work on the problem. Within 10 minutes, they will need to submit their response via a provided electronic form. All groups will be required to include a picture of their work.
• Individual Problems (#2 – #7): The problem will be shared with all participating students. After the problem is shared, students will have 5 minutes to work on the problem. After 5 minutes, a hint will be shared and then students will have an additional 3 minutes to work on the problem and submit their response. All students must include a picture of their work with their response.

NOTE: Students receive bonus points if they submit a response prior to a hint being given.

Is there a cost for attending the event?
There will not be a cost for the February 2024 events.

What technology will my students need?
All participating students will need an internet connected device (computer or cell phone) to access the Zoom platform. The device must be capable of taking photos, as students will be required to submit a picture of their work with all submissions.

NOTE: Please check with your administration regarding student participation in a virtual event on the Zoom platform.

What resources are students permitted to use during the event?
Students are permitted to use calculators during the event. The use of any problem solving apps (e.g. Photomath) is not permitted.

Will the event be recorded and are students required to have their cameras on?
No, the event is not being recorded. In addition, students will not be required to have their camera on.

Volunteers:
All participating schools must have one teacher attend the event.

Scoring:
There are two scoring categories – Individual and Team.

• For Individual scoring: There are seven (7) individual problems and each is worth a maximum of 5 points. Students will earn 5 points if they answer correctly prior to a hint being shared and 3 points if they answer correctly after a hint has been shared. A hint will be given after students have had 5 minutes to work on the problem. After the hint is shared, they will have an additional 3 minutes to work on the problem. Students can earn a maximum of 35 points on the individual problems. 
• For team scoring: There are two (2) team problems worth a maximum of 10 points each. Students have 10 minutes to work on the team problems and there will be hints shared. A correct answer will result in 10 points being awarded. In addition, the individual total from each team member (from the individual problems) will be added. Assuming a team has a full roster of 4 team members, the maximum team score is 160 points.  

Awards:

Patrice Semicek
Project Consultant
psemicek@mciu.org
610-755-9483

Ben DeSantis
Project Consultant
bdesantis@mciu.org
610-755-9316

Christine Butterfield
Administrative Assistant
cbutterfield@mciu.org
610-755-9391

What is the event?
Dream It, Design It is a true design challenge for students in grades 4 – 8! Students will be judged on:

• Creativity
• Teamwork
• Challenge Success
• Design
• Presentation

Each team will be expected to come with a conceptual idea for the project and present their idea in a two-minute presentation.

Who is the event for?
This event is open to students in grades 4 – 8 from any school (public, private, charter, home, etc.) in Montgomery County.

Where is the event?
For January/February 2024 events, schools will have the choice of participating in a face-to-face event or virtual event.

Is there a cost for the event?

For the in-person events, there is a charge of $75 per team.

For virtual events, there is no charge for the event.

How do the two formats (virtual and face-to-face) compare? 
Both event formats revolve around the same type of challenge and thinking. At the face-to-face event, there are numerous physical materials for students to build with and lunch is provided. At the virtual event, all artifacts created by students are virtual and students can access tools/resources that are already available to them.

How will teams be judged?
Please see the event rubric here.

Patrice Semicek
Project Consultant
psemicek@mciu.org
610-755-9483

Ben DeSantis
Project Consultant
bdesantis@mciu.org
610-755-9316

Christine Butterfield
Administrative Assistant
cbutterfield@mciu.org
610-755-9391

This section will be updated as new materials become available. 

All event information for the 2024 event can be found on the state competition website. 

FAQS

Who is eligible to participate?  
The competition is open to students in grades 9 through 12 attending public, charter, private, and career technical education centers in Pennsylvania. Schools will select a team of up to five students. Students will work under the guidance of a teacher mentor approved by the school.

How many students can enter on one team?
A team consists of up to five (5) students in grades 9-12. Please note that the members of the winning team at the regional qualifying competition must be the same members competing at the state competition in May.

My school is large – can I send more than one team? 
No. Each school, regardless of size, is limited to one team.

How does funding work? What costs are schools responsible for? 
All registered high school teams will receive $600 stipends to design and build a prototype of their prototype/device. Stipends will be provided to school principals, who will disperse funds to the school team as requested. Teams are not required to spend the entire stipend, but must account for funds as part of its budget document. Any team that drops out of the competition and does not participate in the regional competition will be required to immediately return the full amount of the stipend.

Does each team need an advisor? What are the responsibilities of the advisor? 
Each team must have an advisor that is approved by the participating school to serve in this capacity. This individual will work with the team as an advisor, but may not directly help with the development of the team’s solution. The role of the advisor is to supervise work sessions, provide support, and facilitate positive collaboration and teamwork. Judges reserve the right to disqualify or deduct points from any team that is found to have violated the rules or the spirit of the rules.

How does this competition work and how do students pick a project?
Each team will use their stipend to design and build a prototype of their device/project that can accomplish a series of tasks, provide a solution to a community based problem, and improves the lives of Pennsylvanians. In order to ensure equity, teams will not be permitted to use more than $600 worth of materials for their prototype (this includes donated materials/components). For example, a project cannot include a $700 component that was donated by a community sponsor. Teams cannot spend more than their project stipend and must provide proof of purchase for all components used in their creation. Mechanisms should be primarily autonomous; remote control is permitted to initiate a command, but not control to the function of a task. In the identification and research of a team’s authentic problem, students will engage with their local communities to learn about STEM-related careers. Developing solutions to problems rooted in the community will build the skills necessary for students to be successful in STEM opportunities postsecondary. To culminate the experience, students will demonstrate their creation at the regional competition to a panel of IU judges and must clearly articulate their understanding of STEM principles, Pennsylvania’s STEM needs, and the need to produce practical solutions to real world problems. The winner from the regional competition will advance to the state competition.

My team’s project is currently under patent regulations.  Can our team participate in the competition?
Yes. We are aware of the boundaries related to intellectual property. While we certainly understand that there are opportunities for certain projects/prototypes to be under patent review, please note that you might be asked questions by the judges you may be unable to answer. In this case, please notify and send appropriate documentation to the IU competition coordinator prior to the regional qualifying competition.

Are teams required to partner with a local business?
Yes. Part of the development, research, testing, and iteration of your device/prototype requires a local business connection to be made.

What happens if our local business we partner with offers to subsidize beyond the stipend? What if our local business donates materials to our device/prototype? 
Your team is required to remain within the provided stipend for the regional level of the competition. If your team should receive any donated materials, the cost(s) of the materials must be noted in your budget summary and deducted from the stipend.

Are we required to provide a multimedia presentation (i.e. video) of our journey through this process?
While not required at the regional qualifying competition, a video journal is required to be submitted if your team moves onto the state competition in May. It is highly recommended that each team documents their journey throughout the development of their project/prototype using multimedia platforms/devices.

Should our team include references when submitting our written proposal at either the regional qualifying competition or state competition?
Yes. Please note that due to the nature of the content you will be researching and presenting, we highly encourage all teams to follow APA formatting.

Please see event website for registration information.

Patrice Semicek
Project Consultant
psemicek@mciu.org
610-755-9483

Ben DeSantis
Project Consultant
bdesantis@mciu.org
610-755-9316

• Event Guidelines (updated January 2020 to reflect revised Fanfare rules)
• Student Photo Release

Pre-registration is now open and closes on November 17, 2023.

Patrice Semicek
Project Consultant
psemicek@mciu.org
610-755-9483

Ben DeSantis
Project Consultant
bdesantis@mciu.org
610-755-9316

Christine Butterfield
Administrative Assistant
cbutterfield@mciu.org
610-755-9391

Please see this link for information regarding the MCIU Regional Media and Design Competition. 

View Event Information Here

Choose your competition below:

High School Registration

Middle School Registration

Jackie Krail
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
Office of Technology Services
2 West Lafayette Street
Norristown, PA 19401
610.755.9352 (phone)
jkrail@mciu.org

Events for Spring 2024:

• Elementary events will offered as in-person or virtual events (each date has a specific modality). 
• Our goal is to offer Middle School events as in-person or virtual events (with each date having a specific modality), but this will be based on buildings being available. 
• The High School event will be held face-to-face. 

Information for all (Virtual and Face-to-Face Events)

• Event Guide for School Coordinators and Moderators/Scorekeepers

Elementary

Middle School

High School

NOTES: These lists are for Montgomery County only. Lists for surrounding counites (e.g. Bucks, Chester, Delaware) will likely be different than the list above.

Archived Books from Past Years

Registration for Reading Olympics is a two-part process and is now open!

• Pre-Registration (open through November 29)

During Pre-Registration, you will be asked to provide the following:

• • Preferred event dates
  • # of teams you plan on sending (estimate high if you are unsure)
  • When registering:
    • Elementary and middle schools must choose 2 times/dates that they could attend. We will make every effort to give each school their top choice, but please make sure all of your selected times/dates work well for your school.

After the pre-registration window has closed, you will recieve an email letting you which date your school will attend. This typically occurs 2-3 weeks after the pre-registration window has closed. 

• Final Registration: During Final Registration you will be asked to provide the following:
  • Name of teams
  • Names of students
  • Name of teacher volunteers (two per team – one team leader and one moderator/scorekeeper)
  • Payment Information (each team is $60)

Ben DeSantis
Patrice Semicek
Project Consultants

Reading_Olympics@mciu.org