Academic Olympics challenges students

Launched in 1984, the Camarillo Academic Olympics (CAO) is still challenging young minds. Presented every two years, CAO is a city-wide program of the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo that is co-sponsored by the city of Camarillo and the Pleasant Valley School District.

All students in fourth through eighth grades attending public or private schools are invited to participate in two divisions (sixth through eighth grades; fourth and fifth grades).

Competition is in four tiers: classroom, school, city-wide preliminaries and city finals. Earning ribbons or medals for their efforts, students are tested in subjects including world, U.S. and California history, speech, mathematics, geography, science and current events, and also submit entries in the creative arts.

Among the program's primary objectives are to provide community-wide recognition to the academic achievements and capabilities of the city's students; to provide the community with insights into the educational programs available to youth; and to provide youth with an educational yet entertaining opportunity to compete academically.

CAO is designed to be a fun event for students. No scores or grades are given. No test results are revealed. Recognition for participating is the reward.

Hundreds of volunteers-including parents, educators, area businesspeople, service club members and the community at large-provide the manpower to stage the event. Competition culminates in the SuperQuiz, the only component of CAO in which schools compete against each other.

The SuperQuiz focuses on a special subject selected for each CAO. Teams composed of up to five students begin studying for the quiz several months in advance. Teamwork is emphasized as students study together, developing an in-depth knowledge of the assigned subject.

The first-place teams in each division of the SuperQuiz competition earn the right to display the Richard C. Smith trophy at their school for the following two years.

Smith originated the concept of the CAO, patterning it after the format proposed for the 1984 Olympic Summer Games-requesting various businesses to serve as event sponsors. The Camarillo Chamber of Commerce stepped up to co-sponsor the inaugural event.

The SuperQuiz finals culminate with an awards ceremony to celebrate the students' three months of academic Olympian efforts.

In a Nutshell

The 2006 Camarillo Academic Olympics SuperQuiz featured some of the best and brightest students from throughout Camarillo. Here are the results from this year's competition.

Division I

(6th, 7th, & 8th grades) 1st: Los Primeros Structured School 2nd: Las Colinas Middle School 3rd Los Altos Middle School 4th: St. Mary Magdalen School 5th: Los Senderos Open School 6th: Somis Union School

Division II

(4th & 5th grades) 1st: Tierra Linda School 2nd: La Mariposa School 3rd: Santa Rosa Technology School 4th: Los Senderos Open School 5th: Dos Caminos School 6th: Los Primeros

Structured School