Dear NWRMS,
I am writing to say that I LOVE THE NWRMS SCIENCE BOWL TEAM. They represent
the some of the best and brightest minds in our school. In December 2009, I received
mail used to recruit teams across the state to compete in the Regional Science Bowl at the
MS School of Math and Science in Columbus, MS. However, instead of throwing away the
mail, I prayed about it and began the NWRMS Science Bowl team. I asked the 8th grade
science teachers to send their best and brightest science student(s) to me. We formed a
team of 5; they voted Michelle Dove (former bookkeeper Louise Dove’s daughter) to be
the captain. That year, Mrs. Dove took the team and I to MSMS! We practiced a month
discussing the rules and pretending to buzz in this jeopardy-style game before the
competition. However, we were AWFUL! (How could this be? NWRMS is supposed to be
one of the best schools in the state and even the country!)
We only tied one game and lost the rest. We did not make it passed the 6 grueling
rounds of morning competition. However, instead of going home early, we stayed the
entire time watching other teams compete. I talked to the winning coaches, and Mrs.
Dove and I brainstormed on the way home. The results of this brainstorm were:
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To recruit 6th and 7th graders (6th & 7th grade teachers sent me names of their best
science students)
Form 2 teams in April 2010
Students would research given scientific topics; develop both research reports
and power points; read scientific journals, magazines and books; watch TLC, the
history channel, National Geographic, etc.; practice twice a week as a team with
buzzers (In other words, submerge themselves with science before the 2011
competition.)
In the 2011 Regional Science Bowl competition, this time our two teams made it
passed the 6 grueling morning rounds. They were AWESOME! They went on to the
afternoon single-elimination rounds they were doing GREAT until both teams had to
compete against each other. The NWRMS A-team barely beat the NWRMS B-team. The
NWRMS A-team would go on to become the 2011 Regional Science Bowl champions!
They won an all-expensed paid trip to Washington, D.C. Senator Roger Wicker wrote a
congratulatory letter to them and Central Office rewarded them.
Also, each consecutive year since that win, NWRMS has been a formidable competitor.
In 2012, NWRMS was awarded the Runner’s-Up trophy. In 2013, NWRMS was awarded
the Runner’s-Up trophy. In 2014, NWRMS was awarded a Semi-Finals trophy. In 2015,
NWRMS was awarded a Semi-Finals trophy.
I love the team for the following reasons:
1. Monia Zein, NWRMS B-team member, compelling me to get out of my comfort
zone of being quiet, to talk about the NWRMS Science Bowl team to NWRMS.
2. We are beautifully diverse, and we’re a family.
3. Every parent is willing to take turns providing snacks for 15 students and to pick
up their child twice a week for months until the Regional Science Bowl
competition.
4. Shivani Patel making google.docs to organize research reports, presentations
dates, and snacks/drinks schedule.
5. Many former team members either email me checking on the science bowl team,
or they come back to help the team after school.
6. Students do research and study without receiving a grade. They are selfmotivated!
7. Captain JoJo Kaler’s C-team made it to the semi-finals and won a trophy! (Hard
work pays off! Captain Kaler was awarded January’s “Simply the Best” because he
studied the most amount of hours to prepare for the competition.)
8. Mrs. Kaler, a mother of 2 captains, has promised to help organize the NWRMS
Science Bowl team so that it will run for years to come.
9. Mrs. Rainwater wanting to take pictures of the team during practice just before
the competition. This was a very thoughtful gesture.
10. The NWRMS PTO providing financial support for the trip!
11. Lawrence Berg (NWRHS Valedictorian & former 2011 NWRMS Science Bowl
Regional Champion) told the scorekeeper that we DID NOT win a game. It was a
tie. The moderator would NOT take away our win because the other team’s
captain should have challenged the score. We had to reject our win after the game
with the Regional Science Bowl judge in order for them to take away our win. We
had a meeting, and they took away our win and we split the points with the
opposing team. The opposing coach was overwhelmed with appreciation. This
had to occur for that team to move on the single-elimination rounds.
12. Holly Trisdale (A-team science bowl member & “Simply the Best” recipient) told
me yesterday that if the team won the Regional competition, that she wanted to
forego the awards ceremony so that she can attend an event supporting a former
soccer (medical bill fundraiser).
13. Molly Ryan (A-team science bowl member) also wanted to forego the awards
ceremony because she gave a mother her word that she’d baby-sit the lady’s two
children.
14. Captain Olive Cooper (over-all & A-team captain) in the midst of sadness
because of yesterday’s defeat said, “we’re the only school in the state to have all 3
teams to make it to the single-eliminations”.
15. Captain Mary Robin Miller (B-team captain) maintained her composure and
was relentless even though a team member was gone due to the flu.
16. Lukas Jaegar (B-team member) was trying really hard the night before the
competition to replace our missing team member’s slot.
17. Sweet, quiet Amber Guo (B-team member) was a “beast” during the
competition. She definitely rose to the occasion! She has also been awarded
“Simply the Best”.
18. Reserved and quiet students Likhitha Polepalli (A-team member) & C-team
members: Carter Berry, Neha Adari, Chris Miller and Jane Wilson really
“stepped-up to the plate” during the competition!
19. Colin Bruff, who was sick with the flu, exhibited such a positive attitude during
each practice that was infectious. We missed you, Mr. Bruff.
20. Once a team’s round was completed, members would say everyone let’s rush to
see our other NWRMS team compete.
21. Also, no matter the status of each game, our team was eager to shake hands with
the opposing team.
22. Brandon Cohen, former 2012 Runner’s-up champion & 2011 B-team member,
has served as the web master since 2012.
23. Tillie Docter, former 2013 NWRMS B-team member, has served as an Assistant
Science Bowl coach for the past 2 years.
24. Caleb Cooper, former captain of both the 2011 NWRMS Science B-team and the
2012 NWRMS Science Bowl A-team, has assisted as a moderator and timekeeper.
25. 1 Valedictorian & 2 Salutatorians have been past NWRMS Science Bowl members.
26. 5 Star students are former NWRMS Science Bowl members.
The NWRMS faculty and staff have contributed to the success of these team
members.
Thank you,
Mrs. Mautoyia Cooper
NWRMS Science Bowl Coach