17 minute read
SYCAMORE NEWS
Writing Awards Announced
In the Regional Scholastic Arts and Writing awards, Sycamore student writers have earned four awards, including three pieces advancing to the national competition. Students competed against almost 340,000 entries written by Indiana students through the twelfth grade.
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Lily Grace Martinson
Gold Key, “A Hidden Soul” (short story)
Katie Kaplan
Honorable Mention, “Never Again” (poetry)
Sonali Guttikonda
Gold Key, “Life of 5 Afghani” (poetry)
Kaia Starnino
Gold Key, “Children of the Sky” (short story)
Abraham Places in Top 10 in National “Arcademics” Cup
Congratulations to 5th Grader Izzy Abraham for placing 9th in the Correct in a Row leaderboard in the national Arcademics Cup. Over 10,000 students participated in the Cup this year. For her efforts, Izzy won a certificate, character ribbon, and a $15 pizza e-gift card. Students logged in on their devices and raced cars using multiplication problems. Prizes were awarded in a number of categories such as Top Scores, Most Points, and Group Points.
In their world cultures unit, Kindergarten classes study seven different countries and their cultures. One of Kindergarten’s main goals is to help the students discover the many things that contribute to culture and develop an appreciation for the similarities and differences to their own. As part of this unit, Mrs. Argus’s class received mail from around the world! This began as an invitation for families to help source valentines from all over the globe, and the mail kept pouring in. The class has received close to 45 valentines from places such as South Korea, Scotland, Uganda, Canada, and many states in the U.S.
Sycamore Women Build Home with Habitat for Humanity
A team of faculty and staff from Sycamore School were building not just a house, but also safety and stability in a summer project. The team of Sycamore women volunteered to help build not one, but two homes for deserving families as part of Habitat for Humanity’s program known as Women Build. They worked on June 15 and raised funds ahead of that date to purchase materials.
Sycamore Serves
Sycamore parents and students with Sycamore Serves volunteered at Gleaners this spring. Our group packed meals for over 5,600 people in one morning.
SYCAMORE news
MATH NEWS
Two Sycamore Students Earn Spots at Mathcounts National Competition; Lead Indiana to the Top 10 Nation
Sycamore students had a great day at the Indiana State MATHCOUNTS competition held at Rose Hulman in March, as Kaitlyn Park led Sycamore with a 3rd place finish overall. She was followed by Jennifer Hu in 4th place. By finishing in the top 4, Kaitlyn and Jennifer earned two of the four spots on the National MATHCOUNTS Team for Indiana. Since two Sycamore students were on the team, Trent Tormoehlen, Sycamore’s coach, was named the coach for the team. The National MATHCOUNTS Competition was held in Washington D.C. on May 8, where Indiana placed 10th in the nation. At the state competition, also placing high for Sycamore were Justin Puno in 7th place, Shayen Maun in 11th (top scoring 6th grader), Sophie Liang in 14th, Riti Tandra in 24th, and Alex Cheng in 30th. There was not an official team competition, but in an unofficial team round, the team of Justin, Katilyn, Jennifer and Shayen earned the 2nd highest score. They had the highest average score and would have been team State Champions under non-covid rules. Also competing for Sycamore were Leo Sniderman, Evan Ting, and Akhil Jois.
Sycamore Wins Indiana Junior Quiz Bowl
Sycamore won the championship at the Indiana State Junior Academic Quiz Bowl tournament this spring. The final match was an all-Sycamore affair. Sycamore A defeated Sycamore B in the final match to finish 8-0 on the day and win the title of Indiana Academic Quiz Bowl Champions. Sycamore A (Alex Cheng, Sameer Zaidi, Nick Kahi, Sophie Liang, and Owen Zhang) was seeded 1st after six round-robin matches. Sycamore B (Justin Puno, Annalisa Schuth, Sonali Guttikonda, Deke Kandel, and Steve Hackwelder) was seeded 2nd after their six round-robin matches. Congratulations to both teams on their 1st and 2nd place finishes! Sycamore’s Quiz Bowl teams are coached by Middle School history teacher Tony Young.
BAND NEWS
Sycamore Students Earn State Piano and Orchestra Honors
In state music competition in February, Kaia Starnino and Kaitlyn Park participated in State Piano Solo & Ensemble, with each student receiving a Gold rating. Owen Zhang and Wesley Wong participated in State Band & Orchestra Solo and Ensemble. Wesley walked away with a perfect score, and both he and Owen earned Gold with distinction ratings. Neal Narayanan participated in piano and also received a Gold rating! “Noah (Buchholz) and I are so incredibly proud of all these students,” says Melissa Johnson, Sycamore Band Director. “They amaze us.”
Sycamore Collects Gold Medals at ISSMA Band Competition
Sycamore had an outstanding showing at the ISSMA competition in January with 26 groups performing at Winds, Percussion, and Strings Solo & Ensemble. Of those events, 22 received Gold ratings and 4 received Silver ratings. At February’s Vocal and Piano Solo & Ensemble, Sycamore performed in 20 events and received a gold rating in every event.
8th Grade Teams Lead CyberEAGLES at State Robotics Championships
A total of 10 CyberEAGLE VEX Robotics teams claimed the State Skills Championship and Excellence Awards as the seasoned 8th Grade crew led the competition in both driving and programming, which contributed to them winning Skills by 40 points with a total score of 238. Team members include Sophie Liang, Arnay Garhyan, Rishi Nagireddy, and Sarah Hinchman. In addition, the 8th grade 10775C team finished a CyberEAGLES high of 3rd place in Teamwork and a strong 5th in Skills. Team members are Ben Wei, Mukund Sagi, Owen Zhang, and Garrett Hur. With their solid engineering notebook and team interview, 10775J claimed the Innovate Award and finished 9th in Skills despite struggling with their code. Members of this 8th Grade team are Vidhatri Iyer, Hasini Ambaty, Riti Tandra, and Kavya Devarapalli. 5th Grade CyberEAGLES squad, 10775W, finished strong in teamwork by winning 4th place. Team members include Suraj Shah, Kelvin Yan, Jesse-Robert Momodu, Parker Phillips, and Ethan Liu. Ten CyberEAGLE VEX teams concluded their season at the World Robotics Championships in Dallas from May 7-12. A total of five CyberEAGLE teams made division finals: 10775A, 10775C, 10775E, 10775J, and 10775R. 10775J and R both had great final runs to score 158 and finish in a tie for 2nd and 3rd in each of their divisions. 10775R also had season highs in driving and programming to finish 24th in the Worlds Skills competition. Three teams earned special distinctions: 10775E claimed the Build Award, 10775J won the Judges Award, and10775X won the Inspire Award.
Summary of results:
10775A: Qualified 13th and finished 8th in division finals 10775C: Qualified 17th and finished 6th in division finals 10775E: Qualified 15th and finished 10th in division finals 10775J: Qualified 18th and finished in a tie for 2nd in division finals 10775K: Finished 40th in division 10775M: Finished 66th in division 10775P: Finished 52nd in division 10775R: Qualified 8th and finished in a tie for 3rd in division finals 10775W: Finished 34th in division 10775X: Finished 30th in division
Three Math Sycamore Students Advance to AMC Nationals
In November, Sycamore participated in the AMC 10 Math Competition, the premier high school math competition in the country. Sycamore had three students qualify for the AIME on the AMC 10B portion, led by 8th Grader Justin Puno with a score of 109.5. His score was the 2nd highest middle school score in the state. Audrey Alberts and Kaitlyn Park join Justin in qualifying for the AIME with scores of 102, becoming the top female finishers in Indiana. On the AMC 10A, Sycamore was led by 6th Grader Shayen Maun who scored 93. He was one of only two students in Indiana younger than 8th grade to score over 90 on either test. Puno joined Shayen on the Achievement Roll with a 91.5. Sycamore alumni also performed well on the AMC 10. Sycamore grads Jonathan Yang (‘20, Carmel), Alex Lu (‘20, Park Tudor), and Athulya Ramkumar (‘20, Carmel) join Justin, Audrey, and Katilyn in qualifying for the AIME. Tanay Acharya (‘19, Carmel) and Grace Yang (‘19, Carmel) also qualified for the AIME through the AMC 12.
Borgmann Honored by Indianapolis Public Library
The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation’s annual reception, Sycamore Head of School, Diane Borgmann, was honored as the outgoing Immediate Past Chair of the Board. IPL surprised Diane by secretly inviting Amor Coleman and Amor’s mom and grandmother, to the event. Amor was presented with a $100 check for her Fly Kids Read effort (putting books with diverse characters in the hands of kids). “When Amor was in Kindergarten at Sycamore, I had connected her (and her efforts) with the Indianapolis Public Library, who gave recognition and support,” Borgmann says.
Butler Musicians Visit Sycamore
Members of the Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Co-educational Service Sorority from Butler University visited Sycamore’s Early Childhood students during their regular music classes. The students from Butler explained how their instruments are constructed and exactly how they use the instruments to make sound. The undergraduates demonstrated their instrument’s unique sound qualities by playing familiar nursery rhyme songs (e.g. Hot Cross Buns, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). Each class was visited by two musicians, and the students were able to see, hear, and touch two different instruments.
Book Drive Smashes Goal
Kindergarten #bookdrive is complete with a total of 2,003 books collected, the most the Kindergarten book drive has ever donated to Crooked Creek Food Pantry. The books are for children who are there with their families to shop for food. Kids get to take a book each time! Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Sagi Earns 2nd in State in Spelling Bee
Mukund Sagi competed in the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee in the Eskenazi Hall Auditorium on the IUPUI Campus. After studying a list of 4,000 potential words, Mukund came in second place in the contest! This segment of the competition determined the Indiana representative to the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C. this summer.
Quiz Bowl Team Earns Top 25 in the Nation; Zaidi Named to All-Star Squad
Sycamore’s Quiz Bowl Team competed in the Championship Tournament sponsored by National Academic Quiz Tournament. At the Chicago competition, Sycamore finished 21st out of 144 schools with a combined record of 7-5 (including playoff rounds). Team members included Nick Kahi (8th), Deke Kandel (8th), Sameer Zaidi (7th), Sonali Guttikonda (7th), and Steve Hackwelder (7th). Sameer was selected as an All-Star for the tournament, finishing in the top 25 out of more than 600 competitors. This was a designation given only to six 7th graders.
Science Bowl Team Earns Spot at In-Person National Final in July
Sycamore’s Science Bowl Team, consisting of Alex Cheng (8th), Connor Kacena-Merrell (8th), Sophie Liang (8th), Justin Puno (8th) and Owen Zhang (8th), have earned a spot in the top eight in-person national Science Bowl Finals. They competed May 7 in the National Science Bowl Tournament via Zoom in an online format. The competition included 47 middle school teams who had all won their Regional Science Bowl competitions in order to compete in the National competition. The Sycamore team survived four eliminations, as the tournament cut first from 47 teams to 32 teams, then to 24 teams, then to 16 teams, and then to 8 teams. Sycamore’s team had earned 4th place in the Preliminary rounds, earning a place into the single elimination portion of the tournament. Sycamore’s Science Bowl team is now part of the top eight teams in the nation and earned a berth in the in-person National Science Bowl Finals in Washington D.C. July 8 - July 12 where they will compete head-to-head with the top teams in the nation.
The 2022 Sycamore Science Bowl Team is coached by David Schuth. To get to this stage of the tournament, Sycamore teams competed in the Indiana Regional Science Bowl Competition, a qualifier tournament for the National Science Bowl Competition. Sycamore Team 1 won 1st place overall. Sycamore Team 2 ended the day in 7th place out of 19 school teams from Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Team 2 members were Akhil Jois (7th), Shayen Maun (6th), Ewan Morris (6th), Evan Ting (6th), and Nathan Zhang (7th). The two teams are coached by David Schuth, Middle School Science Teacher.
Sycamore Grabs Three 1st Place, Two 2nd Places at National History Day
Sycamore competed at the National History Day State contest at Marian University. History Day chooses only two students to represent Indiana at Nationals for each category. Sycamore students who were in the top three are as follows: 1st Place Exhibit: Avery Neumeister* 3rd Place Exhibit: Pari Ponugoti 1st Place Documentary: Shayen Maun* 2nd Place Documentary: Anaya Mistry* 1st Place Website: Arya Desai* 2nd Place Website: Alex Bramhill* *National Qualifiers
Destination Imagination Teams Earn Trip to Global Finals
Teams had great success at the Indiana State tournament with all four qualifying for the Global Finals in Kansas City in July. THE 8TH GRADE TEAM - DIsastrous Cows - finished first in their middle level technical challenge. Team members are: Lily Grace Martinson, Katie Kaplan, Leo Sniderman, and Hasini Ambaty. Team managers are Cory Martinson and Jennifer Sniderman. THE 7TH GRADE TEAM - DIdeal Team - finished first in the middle level fine arts challenge. Team members are Ava Deng, Steve Hackwelder, Matilda Kelly, Saanvi Nagireddy, and Annalisa Schuth. The team manager is Kathy Hackwelder. The combined 6TH/7TH GRADE TEAM - The Flying Pigs Never DI - finished second in the middle level fine arts challenge. Team members are Victoria Byrne, Max Nargang, and Evan Ting. The team manager is Bob Nargang. THE 5TH GRADE + 1 TEAM - The Talon Ted Quartet + 1 - finished first in the middle level scientific challenge. Team Members are Jane Ai, Prudy Peng, Leo Salerno, Alessandro Salerno and Albert Zhang. Team managers are Christina Salerno and Minrong Ai.
6th Graders (from l to r) Jeffrey Kirkendall, Aditiya Bhatia, Evan Ting, Gavin Sigua
Sycamore’s Geography, History, and Science Student Experts Qualify for Nationals
History Bee
Regional Finals Nine From Sycamore Qualify for Nationals; 7th Grade Sweeps Top 3 Spots 7TH GRADE Annalisa Schuth finished 1st at the Regional, Alessandro Salerno finished 2nd, and Dominic Gasper finished 3rd in the History Bee and all qualified for Nationals. 6TH GRADE (pictured) Evan Ting finished 1st in the History Bee, Aditiya Bhatia finished 3rd and qualified for Nationals as did Gavin Sigua and Jeffrey Kirkendall. 5TH GRADE Albert Zhang finished 1st in the History Bee and Kelvin Yan finished 3rd, both qualifying for Nationals.
Geography Bee
Regional Finals
7TH GRADE
Alessandro Salerno finished 2nd in the Geography Bee and qualified for Nationals.
6TH GRADE
Gavin Sigua finished 1st and Evan Ting finished 3rd in the Geography Bee and qualified for Nationals as did Jeffrey Kirkendall, who also competed in the Geography Bee.
5TH GRADE
Albert Zhang finished 2nd in the Geography Bee and qualified for Nationals, while Leo Salerno competed, and his score also qualified for Nationals.
Science Bee
Regional Finals Akhil Jois finished 1st in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals. Alessandro Salerno finished 2nd in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals. Riva Jain finished 3rd in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals.
6TH GRADE
Sawyer Jackson finished 1st in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals. Evan Ting finished 2nd in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals. Gavin Sigua finished 3rd in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals. 5TH GRADE Albert Zhang finished 1st in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals. Kelvin Yan finished 2nd in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals. Leo Salerno finished 3rd in the Science Bee and qualified for Nationals.
Sycamore Spanish Students Earn Gold on National Spanish Exam
NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL FINALISTS
95th percentile or higher
8TH GRADE
Audrey Alberts - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 99th Evelyn Cunningham - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 99th Liam Hendry - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 99th Riti Tandra - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 98th Alex Cheng - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 96th Kaia Starnino - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 96th Oscar Hyatt - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 95th Connor Kacena-Merrell - (Level 2/10th Grade HS Spanish exam) - 95th
7TH GRADE
Sophie Seifert - (Level 1/9th Grade HS Spanish exam, Outside Experience pool) - 98th Annalisa Schuth - (Level 1/9th Grade HS Spanish exam, Classroom Experience pool) - 96th
Seifert and Schuth a were two of the 20 Level 1 gold medalists from the state of Indiana
6TH GRADE
Alex Cunningham - (Level 01/MS Spanish exam, Outside Experience pool) - 98th Pari Ponugoti - (Level 01/MS Spanish exam, Classroom Experience pool) - 96th Cole Welton - (Level 01/MS Spanish exam, Classroom Experience pool) - 95th
(Cunningham, Welton, and Ponugoti were three of only four students who were Level 01 gold medalists from the state of Indiana.)
Find all the medal winners at sycamoreschool.org
Sycamore’s 6th-8th Grade Spell Bowl team competed in the 37th Annual Indiana Academic Spell Bowl State Finals and earned a state championship. The team includes these members: Gavin Sigua, Akhil Jois, Ava Deng, Tess Eggeson, Sophie Liang, Riti Tandra, Mukund Sagi, Kaia Starnino, Hasini Ambaty, Aditya Bhatia, Alex Bramhill, Raza Hassan, Annabelle Swearingen.
Sycamore Student Palindrome Poems
To celebrate some of the palindrome dates (12/11/21, 1/20/21, 2/20/22 etc…) that occurred during the school year, the 5th and 7th grade classes studied palindrome poems his year. When the poem means one thing when read from top to bottom, and means the exact opposite when read from bottom to top, that is a palindrome poem. Here are some student examples.
Small But Bright
By Eva Berger, Grade 7 I don’t make a difference Is not true that I have a voice in the world I believe that I am the smallest star Stop thinking that I can shine brighter by choice I never doubt that I am always looked past It’s false that I can be a shining shooting star It’s true that I can only be seen living in the darkness I will never agree that I am a speck of hope in the night sky I want to tell you that A star like me can be hidden by the clouds It’s false that I am the shooting star they wish on It could be true that I am I mirror of misfortune It is completely incorrect that I can fly free across the sky I’m not a big star, but If we decide to reverse it, allow the darkness, we will shine brighter than before.
The Environment
By Jane Ai, Grade 5 The environment is destroyed. It is false to say that Life will survive It is to be said that The world is at its end. We cannot say that We have not caused our own destruction. We need to know that The polar regions will be gone. I do not believe This planet has hope. It is the truth that Humans have destroyed mother earth. We cannot assume The earth is not failing. News will come that The world is at its end. Experts do not believe We can save this world. All this will happen soon, unless we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Then we can reverse the cycle.
Are You a Villain?
By Prudy Peng, Grade 5 You are a villain. And remember to keep on defying the thought that you are the good person of the story. Climb up the thoughts of this never-ending journey that this society is evil. What makes you think that we will succeed in life? Chaos is always chaos. Order is always order. No matter what, everyone hates you. So deny the fact that you will make it. Keep thinking that some people are bad. Life goes on. Earth keeps turning. Time to refuse everything is bad. There is light. Use the lantern of hope to guide you through the darkness.
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SYCAMORE
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022
