California Creativity - Silicon Valley Region

Destination ImagiNation

Volume 19 Issue #4 March 2007

Tournament Day is Saturday, March 10th

Are you ready?

In this packet you will find your tournament schedule, a map and directions to Independence High School, helpful hints and more. This is your team's chance to shine. Be prepared for a fun and exciting day.

The Destination ImagiNation TravelGuide for Teams

is available at http://www.idodi.org/downloads/07forms/06-07TravelGuideFINAL.pdf or you can find an easy link to it from http://www.idodi.org/ This 31-page document contains everything you and your team need to know about how the tournament will be organized, what to expect on tournament day, how the challenges are scored and more. Be sure to access this site and print at least one copy for your team.

Safety First

Make sure your team has read everything in the Rules of the Road about safety issues. Pages 19 through 21 list various requirements and restrictions. Pay special attention to the sections on electrical devices including batteries. Note that the team is responsible for providing Ground-Fault Interrupter protection if your team is using AC current (plugging into the wall outlet) with any team created or modified device. In our tournament, helium balloons and dry ice are allowed as long as the safety rules are followed. If the Challenge Master or any appraiser believes that something is not safe for people or for the site, they will stop the team from performing.

Clarifications

Teams are responsible for knowing the information contained in the Rules of the Road, the Team Challenge Descriptions and all of the Published Clarifications. Published Clarifications can be found on the web at http://www.idodi.org/clarifications.php

Tournament Data Forms

The tournament data forms are available in an online fill-in-the-form format at http://www.idodi.org/di_now.html. Your team can type in their words and print the required copies to bring on tournament day.

Declaration of Independence

The Rules of the Road includes a Declaration of Independence Form which is to be signed by all team members. Bring two copies. One will be turned in at the Prep Area of the Team Challenge. The other will be turned in at the Instant Challenge venue. Make sure your team understands what they are signing.

Be prepared

The first and second place teams in each level of each Team Challenge will be invited to attend the State Tournament on March 31st in Elk Grove, California. Don't assume it can't be you. Have a discussion with your team parents about the possibility. It usually means Friday and Saturday overnight in the Sacramento area. The State Tournament registration forms and $100 fee are due immediately. Remember that you must provide a trained appraiser for the State Tournament and a tournament volunteer. If your team's appraiser for the Regional tournament is unable to attend State, you may need to check with other teams from your school to see if any of their appraisers are willing to go.

Appraisers and Volunteers

The volunteer schedule is posted here: http://www.caldi.org/files/r-sv-volunt07.pdf. Volunteers should check-in at room B409 near Bicentennial Hall 10 minutes before the assigned time to receive their job assignment. Your appraiser should already have been contacted by the appropriate Challenge Master. Appraisers should check in at Room A02 at American Hall. Make sure that these people who are representing your team understand the importance of their roles. Without appraisers and volunteers there is no tournament. We are all counting on their prompt and prepared attendance.

Tournament Day

When do you arrive?

The earliest teams will start performing at 8:40AM. Be sure to see the tournament schedule to find out the times your team will have to be there. When arriving at Independence High School, Team Managers should check-in their teams at Room B409 near Bicentennial Hall. This should be at least one half hour before your first tournament check-in time, either Team Challenge or Instant Challenge. At check-in you will receive a packet with the final schedule, any pins you have preordered, and last minute information. You can get blank forms there in case you are missing something.

The Tournament Schedule indicates your check-in time at the Prep Area of the Team Challenge performance venue, which is generally 20 minutes before your team's performance time. The team needs to be fully prepared with props, costumes, etc., ready to go at check-in time.

Car-DI-ology and Switching TraDItions have special schedules to accommodate weigh-in or on-site solution creation.

The schedule also shows the Instant Challenge times. Get there early. You should plan to check in at the A classrooms at least ten minutes before your scheduled IC time. We will make every effort to accommodate teams that arrive late. However this may mean that you will be rescheduled to perform after all of the other teams.

If you have any questions regarding the Tournament Schedule, contact Bob Burns at

bob05@bokabu_·net .

Pack it in... Pack it out...

There are no facilities at Independence High School for the disposal of large amounts of trash. No props, scenery, costumes, flyers, etc. are to be disposed of at the tournament site.

Remember, we are guests at Independence. When we leave, we want the facility to be in better shape than when we arrived!

School Rules...

No wheeled sports on the grounds of Independence High School.

What do you do when you're not performing?

Once you have completed your Team Challenge and Instant Challenge performances, you are free to leave and return later for the Celebration of Creativity. Further on in this newsletter is an overview of things to do in the immediate area. Many teams like to stay all day and view other teams' performances, and participate in the afternoon activities. Please note: Rising Star teams will receive their Rising Star awards immediately after performing.

Team Photos

Did you turn in your team media release forms? Have your team picture taken for the photo slide show shown during the Celebration of Creativity! We will be taking team photos outside of Instant Challenge check-in. Please make sure your team gets photographed by one of our tournament photographers either before or after your IC. If you have team members on your team who have not provided Media Releases, please do not allow them to pose with the rest of the team for these team pictures. A CD of all the photos will be sent to each team's lead Team Manager after the tournament.

Afternoon Fun Activities

From approximately 3:00 to 4:30 PM, Fun Activities will be offered for everyone in the Small Gym. Bring your siblings, parents and friends and form your own teams.

What else do you need to know?

Tournament venues are listed on the Independence High School Map. American, Constitution, Democracy and Bicentennial Halls have industrial carpet flooring. The Dance Studio has a wood floor, and the Music Center has a linoleum floor. The Music Center has a few steps down between the launch area and the performance space. You are encouraged to view the tournament site in the day of the tournament before you perform. If you are the first or second team of the day, you may knock on the door of the performance room and request a look around. Later teams can attend one of the earlier performances in their venue. (Do not go to Independence High School before the day of the tournament).

Food is available for purchase in the area next to Bicentennial hall. Boy Scout Troop 251 provides a snack bar from 8:30 to 2:00 and a freshly barbecued lunch from 10:30 to 2:00. See the attached flyer for details.

Each team member will receive a Destination Imagination Instant Challenge pin as a Participation Award. This will happen after the Instant Challenge performance.

The Celebration of Creativity

The Celebration of Creativity is scheduled to start with a Parade of Teams at 6:45 PM in the Main Gym. Teams should assemble for the Parade in the area between the Main Gym and the Small Gym at 6:35 PM. Teams are encouraged to bring one of their props to carry in the Parade. Doors to the Main Gym will open at 6:30 for parents and supporters. Teams will be seated on the Gym floor. One team manager should be seated with each team.

In addition to First, Second and Third place medals, a number of Special Awards may also be presented. See the Travel Guide for Teams for a description of Destination Imagination's Special Awards. All First and Second Place Teams in each level of each Team Challenge will be invited to participate in the California State Tournament on March 31st in Elk Grove, California. Team Managers of these teams must pick up their State Tournament information packet when their teams come up to pick up medals.

Please be prepared to stay until the end of the Celebration of Creativity. It is disruptive and rude for people to leave before the Celebration is finished. Teams receiving medals later in the Ceremony deserve the same respect and audience that earlier teams receive. So please tell your team and their parents to be courteous and plan to stay for the entire Celebration of Creativity. We expect the Ceremony to last about an hour.

What to do in the area

Many teams stay at Independence all day watching teams perform. However, there are a number of other options for teams between the end of their performances and the start of the Celebration of Creativity.

Overfelt Gardens, a San Jose Regional Park, is just around the corner. It is open from 10:00AM until dusk. From the high school, go back down Jackson to McKee, turn right on McKee, then right at the next block on Educational Park Drive. The park entrance is on your right. "Overfelt Gardens, also home to the Chinese Cultural Gardens, offers visitors natural wildlife sanctuaries amid a peaceful pond setting surrounded by beautiful trees, shrubs and flowering plants. The Gardens, accented by cultural points of interest, are perfect for walking, reading, nature photography, writing, drawing, painting or just plain relaxing." More information can be found at http://www.sjparks.org/Parks/Regional%20Parks/OverfeltGardens0107.asp

The Great Mall of the Bay Area is just up the freeway a few miles. They have a large, diverse food court as well as several full service restaurants including Fresh Choice, Johnny Rockets, and Outback Steakhouse. Restaurants are listed here: http://www.greatmallbayarea.com/static/node585.jsp The Century 20 movie theater is also on site. Take 680 north to the Landess/Montague Expy exit. Take the Montague Expy ramp, continue west on Montague past Milpitas Blvd, past the train tracks and turn right at the Great Mall of the Bay Area sign. (If you miss it, you can turn right at the next two streets). When you see the mall, turn right on the perimeter road for the food court, or left for the other restaurants and theater and follow the road around until you see the signs. The food court is at Entrance 4 next to the 2-story parking structure. Returning to Independence High, follow the mall signs pointing to 680 and get onto Montague going east. Take 680 south back to McKee.

Capitol Square Shopping Mall offers a number of restaurants. From the high school go down Jackson to McKee, turn left and continue over the freeway to Capitol Expressway. Turn left on Capitol. On the right side are a Hometown Buffet, Togos and TK Noodle (also a Target and Albertsons.) On the left side are Wienerschnitzel, Burger King and Popeye's Chicken.

There are several fast food restaurants in the vicinity of McKee and Jackson including McDonald's, Wendy's and Foster's Freeze. Round Table Pizza is at 2351 McKee Rd. between Jackson and Hwy 680.

Helpful Hints for Tournament Preparation

1. Have the team make a packing list, and decide who is responsible for what.

2. Have the team brainstorm what could go wrong during their performance, and what they could do about it. Make sure that they know that this is not a sign of failure, but an opportunity for excellence.

3. Have the team brainstorm and then pack a repair kit.

4. Have the team perform at least once in front of a live Audience. Remember, the Audience may not evaluate the Team Challenge solution or give feedback regarding the Team Challenge solution to the team.

5. Have the team list all the things that they have learned this year, and all the things that they have accomplished - this is what it is all about. Completing a solution to the Challenge (no matter how close to the deadline!) is a bigger thing than Competing - by more than just an "L". It's something to be proud about. It's something to celebrate and share...

6. When talking about the Tournament, speak in terms of ‘presenting your solution' rather than ‘competing'.

7. Have your kids prepare for talking to the Appraisers after their performance. You want them to be able to highlight their accomplishments - how they came up with their ideas, other things they experimented with first, the process they used to build it, and Challenges they encountered and how they overcame them.

8. Explain to the parents about Interference, including adjusting clothes and doing hair. Help refocus the parents (as needed) away from competition and onto celebration.

9. Discuss the Schedule and expectations for the day of the tournament. Have your team decide how much of the day they will spend together and how much time they will have to spend with their family. When parents and team members know this stuff in advance it can eliminate conflicts on Tournament Day and, hopefully, everybody will be on time and ready to go.

10. Bring along a little snack for immediately preceding the performance as a brain pick-me-upper.

11. Plan a Celebration Dinner. It can be with reservations at a fun restaurant, a potluck, or anything in between. Recognize the accomplishments of the team(s), and each individual on the team. Distribute trophies, and/or certificates, or some sort of recognition.

ABOVE ALL, HAVE FUN!

Tournament Day Instructions to Team Managers

On the morning of the tournament arrive at Independence High School early. All TMs should register in Bicentennial Hall at Independence High School. Be sure to check in at least one half hour before your team's first performance time. Occasionally Tournament Schedules change, and we'll make you aware of any changes we know about.

Sportsmanship counts at Destination Imagination. Remember good sportsmanship at all times during the competition. We rely on adults to be good role models in this respect.

Encourage your team to observe other teams at the tournament who are performing in their Challenge and in other Challenges.

Be sure that your team arrives on time for Instant Challenge and Team Challenge events.

Remember that Appraisers will be watching for Interference throughout the day. Remind your team and their parents of this as well.

When talking to the Appraisers remember the rules and good sportsmanship. Any scoring questions or issues should be discussed with the Head Appraiser when you receive your Team Challenge scores and up to 30 minutes after receiving the scores. Team Managers need to have at least one Team Member with them when they return to pick up scores, or ask questions about their scores.

Thanks for your hard work throughout the year. We recognize how hard you and your team have worked.

Tournament Day Instructions to Participants

Be on Time - Be aware of your team's performance times. Help other Team Members, Parents and Team Managers to be on time.

Beware of Interference - Remind your Parents, friends and Team Manager about this. You wouldn't want their behavior to have a bad impact on your team's score.

Be Good Sports - Good sportsmanship is very important. Remember that whether you win a medal or not, you are a winner just for getting to the tournament!

Be helpful, courteous and considerate of your Team Manager, Team Members, DI Officials, Tournament Staff, other teams and spectators.

Relax and Enjoy! - You and your teammates have worked hard to prepare for this day, and you probably have experienced some conflicts along the way. Don't let the pressures of competition deprive you of the fun tournament day offers.