HHSSA to Sponsor 2009/2010 HHS Academic Decathlon Team

[SUSAN J. SILVESTRI]

The HHSSA board voted to provide a $ 1500 sponsorship of the HHS 2010 Academic Decathlon team. The Academic Decathlon is an academic competition comprising three subjective events: an essay; speeches (prepared and impromptu); and the following activities and subject areas:

• An essay
• Speeches (prepared and impromptu)
• An interview and seven objective exams:
• Mathematics
• Science
• Language and Literature
• Social Science
• Economics
• Music
• Art

For the LAUSD competition, the first three events take place on the last Saturday of January and the last seven on the first Saturday of February. The only public part of the competition is the Super Quiz Relay on the afternoon of the second Saturday. The subject matter for the Super Quiz alternates between the science and the social science from year to year. Choice of essay prompt is from the Language and Literature novel and short stories or from the Super Quiz topic for the year. Students may prepare their speeches on any topic they wish. The Social Science, Language and Literature, Music, Art, and parts of the Science and Economics are based upon a common theme. The 2009/2010 theme will be the French Revolution. The nine-member team must include at least three students with a GPA below 3.00 (Varsity category), three students with a GPA from 3.00-3.74 (Scholastic), and a maximum of three students with a GPA greater than or equal to 3.75 (Honor). GPA calculations are based upon academic courses only.