Science Olympiad is a competitive team science and engineering class. Students meet weekly to prepare for a variety of engineering, laboratory, and written events. The team attends two invitational tournaments in preparation for the state tournament in the spring. 

Science Olympiad is an international non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of team events, which students prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology. There is also a balance between events requiring knowledge of science concepts, process skills and science applications.

The Tech Internship co-curricular course is both a hands-on internal IT internship and an independent study. The IT staff will mentor students as they practice their skills in technology, troubleshooting, systems administration, client service, and professionalism. With assistance from the IT staff, students will respond to Tier I and II Tech Help requests. When not performing IT support duties, students will complete self-paced learning modules to deepen their knowledge of computer systems such as Windows, MacOS, and iOS, as well as systems management. Outside of class, students will serve at least 10 hours per quarter at the SMA Student Help Desk during activity blocks or before school, and attend at least one SMA event (e.g. Open House) as IT support. At the end of this course, in addition to credit on their transcripts, students will have resume-ready skills that will support their pursuit of IT internships and paid staff positions.

Students in TIES serve as mentors for 5th grade girls, offering a positive exposure to the excitement and challenge of “doing” science. Mentors meet with their 5th grade students twice per month on Wednesdays after school, and on Saturday mornings all year to do science. Mentors meet weekly after school and work in small groups led by a mentor captain to plan activities.

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