Students enter Odyssey tournament

MIND GAMES—White Oak’s team will advance to state. Front row: Jillian Heller, Rachel Kelly. Back row: Bailey Andrew, Taylor Clarke, Cameron Audras and Takumi Matsuda. On Feb. 27, 63 students from White Oak Elementary went to Pasadena to compete in the Odyssey of the Mind Tournament. The students and contestants from 30 other schools were judged for creativity, functionality and style. 

One of the fifth-grade teams took first place in the division and has advanced to represent White Oak in the statewide tournament in Brentwood on March 27. The White Oak teams also took home the spirit trophy.

To qualify, the children and volunteer parent coaches worked to solve difficult problems. The coaches were not allowed to give advice but acted as facilitators, asking key questions to help guide them toward their solutions.