Academic Competitions 2011-2012
Click on the links below to access information about each competition.
Competition Descriptions
National Geographic Geography Bee (Gr. 4-8): Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Students will practice during lunch over the next few weeks and at home during the holidays in preparation for tests in early January. Whoever finishes in first place will have a chance to be selected as a finalist for the national competition in Washington, D.C.
Starts: Immediately. Contact Harriet Joslyn @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.
WordMasters (Gr. 3-8): This contest helps students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically. At each grade level the contest consists of three 20-minute analogy-solving meets. This year the meets have been scheduled for the end of January and the months of February and April 2012. All meeting will be held after school. Each student that participates will receive a certificate and will be invited to an end-of-year pizza party!
Starts: Practice starts immediately. Contact Becky Wood @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.
Elementary Science Field Day (Gr. 4-6): The San Diego County Elementary Science Field Day is a program designed, organized, and managed by elementary teachers from throughout San Diego County. Students in grades four through six practice and compete in up to 15 science-related events. In the spring, students will come together in one location and compete in these events. The primary goal is to develop a positive attitude towards science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Starts: Fall 2012. Contact Anne Wallace @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.
Elementary Math Field Day (Gr. 4, 5): The Elementary Math Field Day offers a mathematics competition for elementary students to test their skills in strategy and math games. There are 5 events for fourth grade and 5 events for fifth grade. School teams do not have to have representation for all 10 events to qualify, and each student may enter only one event. Each school may send a maximum of 10 students.
Starts: Fall 2012. Stay tuned for updates.
24 Challenge Math (Gr. 4-6): Students compete using the 24 Challenge single/double digit and variable cards. This citywide tournament will be held at Marina Village at the end of May.
Starts: Immediately. Contact Dorri Hawkes @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.
SD County Spelling Bee (7-8): This year’s 43rd annual San Diego Union-Tribune Countywide Spelling Bee will take place at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 from approximately 8:30 a.m. –1:00 p.m. The overall winner of the countywide spelling bee will be awarded the title of Spelling Bee Champion, and that student (and his/her advisor) will win an all-expense-paid trip to the Washington, D.C. area to compete in the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee held May 27 through June 1, 2012.
Starts: Fall 2012. Contact Alison Murphy @ x511 for details.
Project Citizen Project Showcase (Gr. 6-8): We the People: Project Citizen is a curricular program for middle school students that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, they develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy. In short, students choose a problem or issue, write a policy to correct it, and create an action plan. Their presentation is mounted on a board and evaluated in a showcase at the History Center in Balboa Park June 8th.
Starts: January 2012. Contact Marika Fagan @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.
Math Field Day (Gr. 6-8): A county wide annual math competition held at Francis Parker School in May. Approximately 40 schools participate with students from 6th to 8th grade competing in 12 different math events. The events all take place from 8:00 AM to Noon, then after all the competitions have taken place, one event called "Math Wits" is spotlighted, and the five finalists from that event participate in the final round. At the end of the competition, awards are given out for all 12 events. Last year was the first year Rancho Santa Fe participated; this "pioneer" team had a good time and we even placed 8th in the Math Wits contest!
Starts: Has already begun, and registration is closed. For information about how to participate next year, please contact Lori Edwards at x609.
Lego Robotics (Gr. K-3): Focused on building an interest in science and engineering in children ages 6-9, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) is a hands-on program designed to capture young children's inherent curiosity and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them. Just like FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®), this program features a real-world challenge, to be solved by research, critical thinking and imagination. Guided by adult coaches and the Jr.FLL Core Values, students work with LEGO elements and moving parts to build ideas and concepts and present them for review.
Starts: In session now. Please contact Stuart Miller @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if interested.
Lego Robotics (Gr. 4-8): Introduces younger students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FLL teams, guided by their imaginations and adult coaches, discover exciting career possibilities and, through the process, learn to make positive contributions to society.
Starts: In session now. Please contact Stuart Miller @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if interested.
Programs