Casa's brain team is motivated and prepared for regional event

<p>When Rick Pillsbury stepped down as coach of Casa Grande High School's Academic Decathlon team after 25 years and eight state championships, and Donna Reed took over, she says she didn't just have big shoes to fill, “it was like stepping into hip waders.”</p><p>After experiencing “a big learning curve” in her first year of coaching,” Reed, in her third year of teaching biology and chemistry at Casa Grande, is becoming more confident in her new role. Pillsbury is still involved this year helping students in math, economics and art, but Reed says, “It is a progression. A little more of me and a little less of him.”</p><p>Although she has made some changes in how she helps students prepare based on her experience from last year, Reed says her basic philosophy hasn't changed much. </p><p>“We talk about competition, but I emphasize with the students that it is really about learning more, being exposed to college level material, setting and achieving goals and having fun together,” says Reed.</p><p>Senior Elvis Wong echoes Reed's statement that a love of learning is the reason for participating. “Ac Dec is a class where you are constantly challenged to work outside of your comfort zone, to submerge yourself into an intensive learning environment which is beyond the conventional high school curriculum.”</p><p>For 2011, the curricular theme is the Great Depression. Competition consists of an essay, interviews, speeches and written tests in art, music, language and literature, math, economics and social science. </p><p>The North Bay Region Academic Decathlon competition got underway last Saturday at Rodriguez High School Gymnasium in Fairfield with the verbal portion and will conclude Saturday, Feb. 5 at the same venue.</p><p>The final event of the competition is the Super Quiz Team Relay. “That's the event I am most looking forward to because it's a public event and it gives our teachers and parents a chance to come out and watch us compete,” says senior Suryatej Mukkamalla.</p><p>The competition is followed by awards and the announcement of which teams are moving onto the state competition. Reed describes it as a “long but exciting day.”</p><p>One misperception about Academic Decathlon teams is that they are made up exclusively of straight-A students. In reality, each nine-person team must have three students in three different categories: honor (grade-point average 3.75 to 4.00), scholastic (3.00 to 3.74) and varsity (below 2.99). </p><p>“The varsity category is oftentimes brilliant students who don't show their potential in the classroom but score the highest in the competition. Having a mix of students who wouldn't otherwise know each other interact in an environment that isn't a typical class leads to a great dynamic,” Reed says.</p><p>Students picked up their study materials after school ended last June and began studying on their own over the summer. Once school started, they started meeting for 2 1/2 hours once a week to practice public speaking, take a practice test or discuss a reading assignment. </p><p>As it gets closer to the competition, students increase their studying from a several hours a week to “basically studying all day,” says team captain Kathleen Schaefer, a senior competing for a second year in the honors category.</p><p>Reed is very appreciative of the support the team has received from the community. The cost of entering competitions, purchasing curriculum and travel has been funded through donations. It is a priority for Reed for students to be able to participate without bearing the burden of the expenses. </p><p>For anyone wishing to support the team, checks can be sent to Casa Grande Academic Decathlon, care of Donna Reed, Casa Grande High School, 333 Casa Grande Road, Petaluma 94954. Contributions are tax-deductible if the federal identification number 68-0343405 is used.</p><p>(Contact Colleen Rustad at argus@arguscourier.com)</p>