October 2015
Dear seventh and eighth grade students/parents/guardians,
Do you enjoy playing mind games like Trivial Pursuit? Would you like working with a team of four other students from Kennedy School participating in academic activities that allow you to be as creative as possible in order to accumulate points? Do you enjoy performing in front of an audience after having written a team script, designed costumes and produced props that all work together to solve a problem which you present in a five minute skit? (If you do not feel comfortable talking in front of a group, please be assured that not every team member is required to have a speaking part in the skit.)
If your answers to the above questions were yes, then you would be interested in participating in United States
Academic Triathlon (USAT) this year. Kennedy School is in the process of organizing competitive USAT teams. USAT is an academic activity for students in grades five and six that is coached and participated in after school at various elementary schools in the area.
Each USAT Meet has three components. One is Face-Off where teams answer questions on academic topics and current events using a computer-assisted program. The second component, Mind Sprints, utilizes divergent and logical thinking skills, visual problem solving skills and team cooperation to solve a series of three short problems. P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box is the third component where teams demonstrate a solution to a problem through a performance format. Groups write a script and design costumes, props, and scenery to solve a problem.
USAT Meets are on Fridays. The dates are December 11, January 8, February 19, and regional playoffs on
March 18. The state championship will be Saturday, April 16. If a Meet is canceled due to snow, it will be made up on February 26. Meets generally last from 3:45 to 7:30 p.m. All parents are invited to watch the
“P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box” performances at 6:30 p.m. and stay for the awards ceremony. All teams attend the
Regional Meet. The Friday Meets will be held in the St. Cloud area. The April 16th State Meet will be held in the Twin Cities area. Kennedy School will provide transportation for our students to each Meet. Parents must arrange for transportation for their child at the conclusion of each Meet.
We will have practice sessions in addition to the Meets. The practice sessions will be determined once we have our parent volunteer coaches for I will meet with them to discuss what dates are best for them. The practice sessions will be from 2:15 until 3:30 p.m. You must arrange for transportation or KidStop after these practice sessions. You must be willing to pick up your child at 3:30 or have them go to Kidstop for your child to participate in this activity. I ask that each child bring a healthy snack/bag dinner and drink to the practices sessions and USAT Meets.
Parents coach USAT teams. Coaching time is minimal generally about 2 times a month after school for about an hour. Practices begin in November. Parent coaches attend the practice sessions and Meets with their team and serve as a room facilitator in the Face-Off or Mind Sprint rooms and/or judge P.A.R.T.Y. performances .
All new USAT coaches must attend a training session provided by District 742. Training for new USAT coaches will be determined by District 742. I will notify you the date once it has been determined by the
District. As per District 742 policy, all volunteers must complete a volunteer application form and have a
Criminal Background Check on file with the District.
(over)

Students need to return the attached form by Wednesday, October 28 if they are interested in participating in
USAT this year. Registrations will not be accepted after this date. Teams are compiled in two ways. The first way is five or six students can form a team on their own and write the team member names on the registration form. If you choose to have six team members, one person must be chosen to be an alternate for each Meet.
This alternate status usually rotates for each Meet. If students sign up without having developed a team on their own, I will assign them to a team. Parents also need to indicate if they will coach their child’s team. At least one parent coach is needed for each USAT team of five or six students. If parents are not available to coach teams, Kennedy School will not be able to participate in this wonderful academic achievement activity.
Students are asked to pay $10.00 each to help Kennedy School cover team registration and material costs.
Please contact me if you need scholarship assistance. Please remember each team needs its own coach and the coach attends all practice sessions and the Meets. If you have any questions, please contact me at Kennedy
School at 363-7791 extension 6591.
Sincerely,
Jodie Kragness
Academic Achievement Coordinator

PLEASE RETURN THIS REGISTRATION FORM BY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28.
_____Yes, I, _____________________________________, want to participate in USAT.
(student’s name – print please )
** Parents/guardians are responsible for their child’s transportation home from each practice and Meet.
Parents/guardians will need to pick up students after practices at 3:30 or have their child go to Kidstop.
Parents/guardians will need to pick up students at the end of each scheduled Meet between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m.
My child will attend the following Meets:
____ Dec. 11 ____Jan. 8 ____Feb. 19 ____Mar. 18
My homeroom teacher is: _____________________________________ Grade _____
_____A $10.00 check made out to Kennedy School is attached. Please contact Jodie Kragness if you need scholarship assistance.
_____________________________
Student Signature
________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Parent email address:__________________________________________________
Home Phone Number:_________________ Cell Phone Number:_________________
*These are needed in case we need to reach you during or after a Meet.
_____ Yes, I will coach my child’s United States Academic Triathlon team this year.
I understand I am responsible for coaching my team and accompanying my team to each practice session and
USAT Meet.
_____ I will attend the District Coaches’ Training Session. I will be notified as to the date and time.
_____I have completed the required District Background Check and Volunteer Forms.
_____Please send me the required District Background Check and Volunteer Forms.
____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
If you have developed a partial or full USAT team, please list the names of team members and coach/coaches:
_________________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _________________________________
_________________________________ _______________________________
Coach(s):________________________