Academic Team

     Did you know that Eisenhower has an Academic Team? Many people at Eisenhower Jr. High don't.
     The Academic Team has two divisions: The Buzzer Team and the Creative Team. The Buzzer Team answers questions in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th rounds. Each of the twelve minute rounds is different: The 1st round is the "Merry-Go-Round" where the questions trade from team to team. The 2nd round is the "Team Round" where the questions are harder but the Buzzer Team works on them as a team of five. The 4th round is the "Lightning Round" which is a fast paced round where players go head-to-head.
     The 3rd round is the "Presentation Round" where the Creative Team gives a presentation on a topic. They are given a hint about the topic the week before and but get the exact topic right before the 1st round begins. The Creative Team then has 30 minutes to prepare a three to five minute presentation on the subject, and their performance is judged. This presentation usually includes posters or graphics that help illustrate their point.
     The Academic Team usually begins in October with tryouts. The tryout for the Buzzer Team is a 30 question test on various topics. The tryout for the Creative Team is a demonstration of presentation skills. The Buzzer Team meets three days a week for 45 minutes before the game season and four days a week for one hour during the game season. The Buzzer Team practices Math with Mr. Mann, Science with Mr. Chambers, and English/History with Ms. Peck. The Creative Team preps for the game by researching and practicing presentations. The Creative Team practices with Ms. Peck, also.
     All the hard work is worth it! The Academic Games are a lot of fun and a lot more work than most people believe. Adrenaline really starts pumping when they play. In 2004-2005, Eisenhower Junior High took the National Championship. You can see the trophies in the main office. To view the current status of scores and rankings for this year, click here.