Please be looking ahead for the subjective tests on January 30:
Essay
Speech
Interview
Also, if you have a music CD, please upload it to you computer, and bring the CD back to school this WEEK!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
12/1 Meeting (Two Teams?)
For the first time ever, I think we can field two teams for the SCPSAD. I would like to have a meeting today, at the end of X-Period in room 16, so around 2:30, to discuss the possibility of two teams.
I MUST get confirmation this week so I may arrange for the proper number of volunteers and registration fees for the competition.
Please attend this meeting and be prepared to commit to January 30 and February 6 as days of competition.
I MUST get confirmation this week so I may arrange for the proper number of volunteers and registration fees for the competition.
Please attend this meeting and be prepared to commit to January 30 and February 6 as days of competition.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Attention Parents: Scrimmage Nov. 21
Dear Parent or Guardian:
As a member of the Academic Decathlon team, your Celt will be participating in a scrimmage test for the Southern California Private Schools Academic Decathlon on Saturday, November 21, 2009. The contest is a great opportunity for an Academic Decathlete to get a sense of how the competition is run, and it usually inspires a new attitude toward studying and practice. I hope that you support your Celt’s participation in this event.
It does make for an early morning. The competition will start promptly at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills. Given the hour and the size of the team, I will not be coordinating a team bus from Crespi, so it is important that you and your Celt arrange for his arrival at Bishop Alemany High School by 7:45 A.M. to receive last minute instructions and room assignments. Unlike the main event in February, the scrimmage does not have a spectator component, so you can plan on a drop-off and pick-up arrangement. The event should end between 12:00 and 1:00 P.M., and I will have more specific information about pick-up times later in the week.
I encourage the boys to stay hydrated throughout the day, so if you could remind them to bring plenty of water, that would be a great help. Furthermore, I am asking for your help in providing breakfast and lunch snacks for the team on the day of the scrimmage. In the past, I have requested funds from Crespi to provide brain-healthy snacks as well as some fun ones, but this year I am relying on parent participation to help with food for the event. If you are willing to provide fruit, snacks, or drinks for the team, please email me at aswaney@crespi.org, and we can coordinate further.
Each participant should pack a lunch and plenty of water, and with your help, I hope to have brain-healthy snack such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses as well as some fun snacks such as chips, cookies, and pastries. Crespi’s Academic Decathlon team will consist of fifteen Celts this year, and with a few enthusiastic returning team members, we have potential for a great year of competition. No matter what, however, I expect all of the team members to benefit from the experience of this scrimmage as well as the main events on January 30 and February 6, 2010.
Thank you for your help in coordinating this event, and I look forward to a fun and challenging day of academic excellence on Saturday, November 21, 2009.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Gathering the Scrimmage Squad
Today we had a mandatory meeting for all students interested in joining the Academic Decathlon team and earning the 1/2 credit on their transcript.
To earn credit, an Academic Decathlete must participate in 4 practices as well as the scrimmage on November 21.
We will have future meetings to assemble for pictures and to discuss team issues (like shirts!).
There is a science practice test tomorrow. Please come prepared to spend 30 minutes taking the practice test.
Furthermore, for the parents, I would like to coordinate snacks and drinks for the November 21 practice test, so if you are available to help out with the event, please email me at aswaney@crespi.org.
Thank you!
To earn credit, an Academic Decathlete must participate in 4 practices as well as the scrimmage on November 21.
We will have future meetings to assemble for pictures and to discuss team issues (like shirts!).
There is a science practice test tomorrow. Please come prepared to spend 30 minutes taking the practice test.
Furthermore, for the parents, I would like to coordinate snacks and drinks for the November 21 practice test, so if you are available to help out with the event, please email me at aswaney@crespi.org.
Thank you!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Mandatory Meeting
There's a mandatory meeting for all students interested in Academic Decathlon. The meeting will start no later than 2:50pm on Wednesday October 21.
If you plan on receiving class credit for the class, you must come to this meeting.
The meeting will be brief, so please make the effort to attend regardless of your other extra-curricular activities. I will try to have you on your way as quickly as possible.
If you plan on receiving class credit for the class, you must come to this meeting.
The meeting will be brief, so please make the effort to attend regardless of your other extra-curricular activities. I will try to have you on your way as quickly as possible.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
9/18
I don't think there's a lot of interest in an Academic Decathlon meeting on Friday, but I wanted to let you guys know that you need to be preparing for next Thursday's MATH practice test. Consult the following link for USAD's calculator policy. You WILL NOT be allowed to use phones or ipods during the practice test, so bring a calculator.
http://www.usad.org/coaches/calculator.asp
USAD Calculator Policy 2009–2010
The United States Academic Decathlon® has always endeavored to reflect current high school curriculum and instruction in our competitions. Recent surveys of calculator use in high schools nationwide indicate that calculators are now used in the vast majority of high school mathematics courses across the country, and our decision to allow calculators is consistent with this practice in math instruction.
After reviewing the policies of the major testing institutions and consulting state directors, USAD has adapted MOST of the American College Testing (ACT) and College Board (SAT program) guidelines for calculator use as stated below.
I. Competitors May Use Calculators for the Mathematics Test
If competitors wish to use calculators on the USAD Mathematics Test, they are responsible for bringing them to the test. Calculators will not be provided for students who do not bring their own. Calculator use is permitted only for Mathematics; competitors will not be allowed to use calculators on any other test.
II. Permissible Calculators
If a competitor wishes to use a calculator, it can be a basic, four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator, provided it has none of the features listed in Section III below.
Competitors are expected to honor the fact that they are not to refer to information stored in the graphing calculator memory during the mathematics test.
III. Prohibited Calculators
Calculators with any of the following features are NOT allowed in USAD competitions:
pocket organizers
hand-held or laptop computers
electronic writing pads or pen-input devices
models with an alphabetic (QWERTY) keypad, e.g. TI-92 or HP-95
models with paper tape
models that make noise
models that can engage in wireless communication (transfer data or information with other calculators)
models that require a power cord
models with CAS (computer algebra systems), e.g. TI-89
Because companies are continuously introducing new products, it would be impossible for USAD to maintain an up-to-date list of specific model numbers that possess these features. If a competitor is uncertain whether a particular calculator will be allowed, the student should bring a backup that does not possess any of the features in question. No backup calculator will be provided for any competitor whose calculator is disallowed.
IV. Competing without a Calculator
Competitors may opt to take the Mathematics Test without a calculator, however, USAD is suggesting competitors use a basic, scientific, or graphing calculator for solving the trigonometry test items.
V. Calculator Failure During a Test
If a competitor’s calculator stops working during a test, the student should continue taking the test without a calculator. No additional calculator will be provided, and the competitor will not be allowed to take the test again later. However, as noted in Section III above, a competitor may bring a backup calculator and/or spare batteries to the test.
http://www.usad.org/coaches/calculator.asp
USAD Calculator Policy 2009–2010
The United States Academic Decathlon® has always endeavored to reflect current high school curriculum and instruction in our competitions. Recent surveys of calculator use in high schools nationwide indicate that calculators are now used in the vast majority of high school mathematics courses across the country, and our decision to allow calculators is consistent with this practice in math instruction.
After reviewing the policies of the major testing institutions and consulting state directors, USAD has adapted MOST of the American College Testing (ACT) and College Board (SAT program) guidelines for calculator use as stated below.
I. Competitors May Use Calculators for the Mathematics Test
If competitors wish to use calculators on the USAD Mathematics Test, they are responsible for bringing them to the test. Calculators will not be provided for students who do not bring their own. Calculator use is permitted only for Mathematics; competitors will not be allowed to use calculators on any other test.
II. Permissible Calculators
If a competitor wishes to use a calculator, it can be a basic, four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator, provided it has none of the features listed in Section III below.
Competitors are expected to honor the fact that they are not to refer to information stored in the graphing calculator memory during the mathematics test.
III. Prohibited Calculators
Calculators with any of the following features are NOT allowed in USAD competitions:
pocket organizers
hand-held or laptop computers
electronic writing pads or pen-input devices
models with an alphabetic (QWERTY) keypad, e.g. TI-92 or HP-95
models with paper tape
models that make noise
models that can engage in wireless communication (transfer data or information with other calculators)
models that require a power cord
models with CAS (computer algebra systems), e.g. TI-89
Because companies are continuously introducing new products, it would be impossible for USAD to maintain an up-to-date list of specific model numbers that possess these features. If a competitor is uncertain whether a particular calculator will be allowed, the student should bring a backup that does not possess any of the features in question. No backup calculator will be provided for any competitor whose calculator is disallowed.
IV. Competing without a Calculator
Competitors may opt to take the Mathematics Test without a calculator, however, USAD is suggesting competitors use a basic, scientific, or graphing calculator for solving the trigonometry test items.
V. Calculator Failure During a Test
If a competitor’s calculator stops working during a test, the student should continue taking the test without a calculator. No additional calculator will be provided, and the competitor will not be allowed to take the test again later. However, as noted in Section III above, a competitor may bring a backup calculator and/or spare batteries to the test.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Math Study Guides
There are no math Study Guides in room 16, but to help you, you can access a math study guide at the United States Academic Decathlon website at www.usad.org. Search for "math study guide," and you'll be able to download it as a PDF file.
Alternatively, you can click the link below:
http://www.usad.org/materials/math_basic.asp
Alternatively, you can click the link below:
http://www.usad.org/materials/math_basic.asp
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Practice Test Schedule
The following Thursdays will be dates for practice exams for the Academic Decathlon team. On the Friday after the test, we will meet to go over the answers.
September 24-Math
October 8-Economics
October 22-Science
November 5-Art
November 12-Language and Literature
November 19-Music
December 3-Super Quiz
September 24-Math
October 8-Economics
October 22-Science
November 5-Art
November 12-Language and Literature
November 19-Music
December 3-Super Quiz
The Crespi Acadeca Team
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your Crespi Celt expressed interest in participating in the 2009 Southern California Private Schools Academic Decathlon. This event is one of the regional competitions of the United States Academic Decathlon, and it is known as the Super Bowl of academic competitions. In the Academic Decathlon, students take seven objective tests, and they complete three subjectively assessed challenges such as an essay, an interview, and a speech.
An Academic Decathlon team is made up of nine members: three members from three different grade point average divisions. So, Crespi needs competitors with all levels of achievement in school. Your Celt may participate in practices and meetings until a final team is assembled based on commitment, performance, and grade point average, and while not everyone may participate in the actual competition, every team member is important in helping the team succeed.
For Crespi’s Academic Decathlon, your Celt must be available on the following three dates: November 21 for a scrimmage match, January 30 for the subjective events, and February 6 for the other tests and awards ceremony. Other meetings such as photo opportunities and practices will be open for students to participate whenever they are available, but I will be scheduling practice tests throughout the fall that may be helpful in preparing for the competition. Please mark the above dates on your calendar.
As a parent, you can play an important part for the scrimmage and the competition by helping with food and drink. For each event, I like to make sure the boys have plenty of snacks and beverages, and help from parents goes a long way. Furthermore, the January and February events require a number of volunteers from essay readers to test proctors. Your help with those duties is crucial because in order for Crespi to participate, we must provide a certain number of volunteers. If you can be available, please contact the event coordinator JoAnn Schnelldorfer at JoAnnSCAD@aol.com.
Thank you for supporting your Celt’s participation in this challenging extra-curricular activity, and I look forward to a strong season. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.
Warm Regards,
Alan Swaney
Your Crespi Celt expressed interest in participating in the 2009 Southern California Private Schools Academic Decathlon. This event is one of the regional competitions of the United States Academic Decathlon, and it is known as the Super Bowl of academic competitions. In the Academic Decathlon, students take seven objective tests, and they complete three subjectively assessed challenges such as an essay, an interview, and a speech.
An Academic Decathlon team is made up of nine members: three members from three different grade point average divisions. So, Crespi needs competitors with all levels of achievement in school. Your Celt may participate in practices and meetings until a final team is assembled based on commitment, performance, and grade point average, and while not everyone may participate in the actual competition, every team member is important in helping the team succeed.
For Crespi’s Academic Decathlon, your Celt must be available on the following three dates: November 21 for a scrimmage match, January 30 for the subjective events, and February 6 for the other tests and awards ceremony. Other meetings such as photo opportunities and practices will be open for students to participate whenever they are available, but I will be scheduling practice tests throughout the fall that may be helpful in preparing for the competition. Please mark the above dates on your calendar.
As a parent, you can play an important part for the scrimmage and the competition by helping with food and drink. For each event, I like to make sure the boys have plenty of snacks and beverages, and help from parents goes a long way. Furthermore, the January and February events require a number of volunteers from essay readers to test proctors. Your help with those duties is crucial because in order for Crespi to participate, we must provide a certain number of volunteers. If you can be available, please contact the event coordinator JoAnn Schnelldorfer at JoAnnSCAD@aol.com.
Thank you for supporting your Celt’s participation in this challenging extra-curricular activity, and I look forward to a strong season. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.
Warm Regards,
Alan Swaney
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