Over 1,000 students “decathletes” will be participating from 100 competing schools. The decathlon is the largest junior high educational competition in Southern California for students in 6th to 8th grades. Top ten students from every participating school will compete for the title as Decathletes of the Year.
The Academic Junior High Decathlon is a ten event competition featuring two collaborative team events: a rigorous Logic Quiz with 20 rigorous thinking problems, along with a Super Quiz finale with 50 multiple choice questions that encompass five broad academic themes (Religion, Literature, Science, Art, and Geography). The remaining eight events test individual knowledge of the Roman Catholic doctrine, English, Literature, Science, Mathematics, Current Events, Social Studies, and Fine Arts (Art and Music). Awards are given for individual and team performance, and the winning school team from each geographic diocese competes in a state championship the first Saturday of May each year.
The decathlon promotes academic preeminence and educational values at parochial schools, as well as cooperative spirit and learning skills, logical and higher-order thinking and teamwork. It celebrates the diversity, excellence and tradition of California ’s Catholic schools both in the inner city as well as the suburbs. Moreover, it recognizes the contributions of parents, teachers, school administrators, and business and community members in supporting high standards for all students.
This year’s academic decathlon concludes with a liturgy to be officiated by Reverend Sabato Pilato, Superintendent of High Schools, Department of Catholic Schools in Los Angeles . The Sacred Heart of Jesus Music Ministry headed by Art Saranglao will perform the liturgical songs.
The Catholic Schools Academic Decathlon was founded in September, 1989 by Dr. Mark Ryan who was then a junior high teacher at St. Aloysius School in south-central Los Angeles. Dr. Ryan had a vision for an academic event to parallel the athletic competitions so prevalent in schools. What began as a tiny competition involving a handful of schools from the greater Los Angeles area has grown to become a statewide event involving Catholic junior high students from across the United States. The Decathlon is now under the guiding jurisdiction of the California Catholic State Superintendents Curriculum Committee.
“Our goal is to help students value academic excellence through strong collaboration among team members,” says Mrs. Jo Solomonson, chair of the 2009 event. We are here to promote a genuine spirit of fun as each school’s team faces other students in the quest to be top academic decathletes this year. Good sportsmanship is taught. It is not a given. It is our hope that the experience serves as a positive contribution to our students’ confidence and well-being. We are proud of our students’ accomplishments.”
For more information, please contact Mrs. Solomonson at (626) 573-1716 or visit the website: https://academicdecathlon.wikispaces.com.
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