Academic Decathlon

Academic Decathlon (Los Banos & Merced)

WON 8 (yes eight!!) MEDALS at the recent match!!

Message from Director Jill Macha:

Good morning.  I wanted to take a second to make sure everyone congratulates our decathlon teams.  Between LB and Merced we came away with 8 medals.  That is the most for both schools that we have ever received.  More exciting than that was the dedication of my staff.  I am very appreciative to the great bunch of staff that our kids have!  We really are that good!  Our kids would not have gotten that experience without you. Even though the real praise goes to my staff,  (if raises were up to me you’d all have a nice chunk)  I would really like to congratulate our kids!!! Way to Go Bulldogs!!!

Decathlon members shown building their confidence at the

Fresno "ROPES" Course in Fall of 2007

The Academic Decathlon is a unique program, because it is not limited to high-achieving students. 

The purpose of the Academic Decathlon is...

- To encourage students to develop a greater respect for knowledge
- To promote wholesome competition in academic areas of study and interest
- To stimulate intellectual growth and achievement
- And to encourage public interest and awareness of outstanding programs within our school.
 

All competing students are eligible to earn scholarship awards and medals. 

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Our Merced Decathlon team coaches this year are: (The Fab Five)

Greg Simons, Mark Perry, Frank Zarate and Valerie Fullbright & John Davis.

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In Los Banos, their campus will be lead by coaches:

Laura Andrews, Claudine Zuspan and Mark Pintor - Go team!!! 

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A unique aspect of the Decathlon format is that it is designed to include students from all academic backgrounds.  Often students that once performed below average excel in competition and experience continued academic success after the event.

 

Team play...competition...coaches...instant recognition...the similarities to the concept of team sport is evident.

Students must be well rounded to earn good scores in Decathlon.  In short, lives are changed and new directions are taken by enthused students.  It's exciting, it's rewarding, and it's working! 

For the Academic year 2006-2007 The Valley Decathlon Team won 8 medals!! WAY TO GO!

 

 

 

 

Competition includes six tests of academic strength, three demonstrations of communication ability, and the Super Quiz - a written test and team event before a large audience.  In addition to an interview (seven minutes), an essay (50 minutes), and two speeches (four minutes prepared and two minutes impromptu), written comprehensive exams are given in Economics, Art, Music, Language/Literature, Mathematics, Social Science and the written Super Quiz.  The final event is the Super Quiz Relay.