District Honors Future Problem Solvers With Reception

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Coordinator for Gifted and Talented services for Richfield Public Schools Mindy Hendrickson.

Richfield held a reception at the Richfield Middle School in honor of the fact that this year, for the first time, ALL six schools had a team or teams that won an award at the FPS regional competition, grades 4 - 12. We also had a number of teams advance to state - in each age division.  

The evening began with the parents getting to watch their child complete a creative problem solving challenge: " Make an award to honor your accomplishment this year - perhaps in the form of a badge, crown, or trophy." The challenge followed the FPS competition format of limited materials, in this case only four pipe cleaners, one sheet of foil, and unlimited sticky flowers and stars.  

It was great fun, and a way for FPSers and their parents from across the district to get to know each other, At the same time all siblings were invited to decorate large "Good Luck at State" signs for the teams that were advancing.  

Once every FPSer had finished their award challenge Mindy Hendrickson welcomed everyone to refreshments and to enjoy a short program. Mindy reviewed Gifted and Talented services in Richfield Sheila Johnston, Gifted/Talented teacher and FPS coach described the FPS program.  

Three of the students who are preparing for the state challenge on April 6th shared some of their research on the plastic pollution in our oceans as an example of the complex concepts the FPS program introduces to students.  

The audience then got to watch a FPS slide show and video examples of "orals" from the regional competition. "Orals" are how the FPS program encourages the development of syntheses, analogies and creative communication. Each team creates a skit and props that illustrates the solution for a problem the team identified in their written response.  

A joyful night as our first Annual FPS Reception! Please "stay tuned" as we hope to be able to report that a Richfield team advances to International on April 8th.

Related articles:

• Richfield Future Problem Solvers Teams Advance to State Competition