2 more meetings until Christmas!

Meetings will always be Thursdays from 6:45-8:45.

Please try to get any research we talked about done. It's early, but lets get the research out of the way asap.

See you Thursday!

First meeting Thursday, 12/3 from 6:45-8:45

Please come prepared to this weeks meeting with the definitions looked up so we can dive into the problem.

Important News! DI is starting!

https://www.edline.net/pages/Mason_Intermediate_School/Student_Activities_Department_/Destination_Imagination

This is the site to get the problem for this year. The Improv problem is D: Do or DI. Please read it before the first meeting. Make any notes or questions on it to discuss at the first meeting. It is not long. You need to do this.

I am thinking of doing a breakfast meeting on November 13 from 9-11:30 at Panera or my house. Please let me know if this works for you. I can pick up anyone who can't get a ride or carpool with another team member. I encourage you to work this out between yourselves.

At the meeting we will go over available meeting times, so know your schedule.

Coach Gazda

Third place State DI Winners!

Tournament Details

Less than a week! Getting excited?

Please make sure to bring in $50 this week to cover the hotel. You will also need at least $20 for dinner Friday and lunch Saturday.

Don't forget your swimsuits. Kelsey and Amanda please bring some snacks to share. Jesse and Tyler please bring drinks. Don't forget your Mason DI t-shirt.

Hotel is Comfort Inn. 614-885-4084 Lisa cell:513-290-4989 Mary cell:513-706-7280

Tournament location is Coffman High School, 6780 Coffman Road, Dublin OH.

This information along with our departure time will also be passed out by Wednesday's meeting.

Meetings this week will be what YOU make them.

Mission Statement

Get into the top half of competitors in state by working had and having a positive attitude on competition day AND by being more focused during meetings.  Also, have a super lot of fun!

Excellent mission statement!  

Meeting days for the last week are: Sunday 4/19, Monday 4/20, Wednesday 4/22 and Thursday 4/23.  Meeting times are 6:45-8:45.

Tournament times are 9am Instant Challenge and 1:25 Skit.

Something for Everybody!

Don't forget, all meetings until the state tournament are 6:56-8:45.  Remaining meetings are:

TH-4/2, M-4/6, TH-4/9, SUN-4/19, M-4/20, W-4/22, TH-4/23.

Tournament info will be given out as soon as I get it.  We will be leaving Friday 4/24.  Don't forget your swimsuit!

Team News

Hi Team,  Saturday's performance was awesome!  You did so much of what was important like keeping it simple, using all the team wisely, being positive and organized in the studio, using your materials creatively, being funny and best of all you kept true to the improv nature of the challenge.  I cannot express how proud I am of all of you.

I need to set some dates for additional meetings.  I know there will be conflicts and like before, do your best to be fair to DI and your other teams.  That last week though,well...there is another tournament to strive for and being at the meetings the last week is important.  That being said I am more than willing to work around your activities.  It would be easiest if you commented here and let me know what days I need to work around.

This Saturday I need to restock your materials.  I will definitely have Jacqueline with me because only a team member can pick things out (or tell me what to get).   You can add any new materials you might have seen other teams use as well.  I saw different types of papers and foils and backdrops that you might want but YOU have to choose them.  The time is flexible and I am leaving Jacqueline in charge of setting this up.  If you can't make it and know some materials you want, leave a note here.  If you want to go shopping with us, that's great too.

Finally, I heard talk of a team party.  Let's keep talking and figure out a way to make it happen.

Next meeting: Monday March 23rd, 6:30-8:30.

Mrs. Gazda

Mason Meatballs going to State!

Well done!

Weekend Homework

But this is the first weekend of the last tri!  I have homework!  THIS ISN'T FAIR!

Well, then you don't have to do it.  Let Springboro do it.  But I would like to suggest you check out some silent movie, horror, sci-fi, film noir, romance and musical clips on youtube.  I know you all are on the computer and this is something to keep you moving forward towards the tournament.

I think you are connecting your stories well, but might want to work on making the genres very identifiable.  Some are working better than others. Exaggerate and add some drama to your improv.  Think quickly.  Finally, try to make sure no one is just standing around.  You could be anything from a prop to an extra in the scene. 

I have given you all the tools and it is up to you to use them.  YOU CAN DO THIS!

See you Monday.

K.I.S.S.

Do you know what KISS means?  It means keep it simple (stupid).  You have been thinking of things that can be propelled along the ground.  Is that the only direction things can be propelled?  Do things need to stay on the ground?  There are very easy, creative solutions for you to solve this part of the challenge with all the materials we already have, with a device that could be built in 5 minutes, by anyone who gives it a minute or two of thought.  

See you Monday.  6:30.

No one person can carry the team!

No matter how strong one person is, the whole team must be fully prepared to compete against, well, you know who.  The team who shall not be named.  This means practicing the improv tips I have been passing out, know the different genres and sleuths and pretending every practice is our last.  Right now, the most urgent need is to be able to make a self-propelled device to begin using in the skit.  Tyler has done a lot of work on this, but it would be helpful if everyone spent some time looking up simple self propelled devices to make.  Come prepared with an idea to build next Monday or the meeting itself will have to be spent on finding one.  

Friday Meeting 6:30-8:30 and Monday 3-6

We have a meeting Friday night, 6:30-8:30 and another Monday from 3-6.  Let's make a lot of progress so when Mrs. Haver comes back you can blow her away!

What's a little pizza between friends?

Good job Friday!  For Monday please be ready with what your sleuth looks like.  We will also begin to put the whole skit together minus the machine and props.  

See you tomorrow!

Friday is Instant Challenge night!

See you Friday, 5:45 at MI 5/6.  After Instant Challenge night I will drive all to my house where there will be some light snacks and drinks.  Then I would really like you to see what your sleuth will look like-maybe youtube or a picture- and have you make a  costume like you would do for the skit.  Lots to do team!  Let's make our meetings count!  Pick-up is 8:30.

Valentine's Day is Coming

With February 14th right around the corner, don't forget your loved ones.

Schedule coming!

I am getting ready to post the schedule for the remainder of the year.  Will you have conflicts?  Of course!  The will be numerous meetings and I don't expect perfect attendance.  At the same time, this may be your last chance to go to state or beyond.  You will get from it what you put into it, so do your best to work it out.  During the last week, it would be best for the team to attend DI, don'cha think?

For next week: Regular meeting Monday night and Instant Challenge night is Friday 2/6.  We will meet at MI 5/6 building at 5:45, do the event and then I will drive the team to my house where we will have a short meeting until 8:30. Parents can pick you up then. If you need a ride to MI 5/6, let me know.

Great job and Get Well Amanda!

Great job on gathering supplies Monday.  This week you will organize materials and make a costume for your sleuth...do you know what yours looks like?  Do the research and be ready on Monday.  

Say a prayer for Amanda who is quite under the weather.  We look forward to seeing her healthy and back to her smiling self soon.

See you 6:30 Monday!

Visualize SOD

Here is the prototype (Thank you Tyler!) of you Superstition Origin Detector.  For Monday, bring in as many of the materials as you can and (if you guys plan it) get some items at the thrift store. Save any receipts and we may get them reimbursed.  You will try to build to SOD with the items you bring.  I will be gone all weekend, so I cannot be a part of this adventure.  But Jacqueline is here and you guys can organize it and go.  Communicate and make it happen!  Also, everybody please re-read the problem again.  If you can't find yours, go to the link earlier in the blog and print another copy.  Finally, if you need to, finish any research on your sleuth (a few interesting facts and how you are going to be able to portray him/her-what do they look and sound like).

See you Monday at 6:30.  

See what it takes

If you go to youtube and search Chorific you can see the group that won the DI globals in improv last May.  Notice their enthusiasm, the way they got their researched character at the beginning and how they handled it, and their elaborate costumes.  Do you think they came up with all of this in 30 min?  Well, yes and no.  They obviously had a good framework of ideas they had practiced to build on, but there were variables they had to incorporate on the spot.  While it is hard to hear all the dialog, I was able to follow the story (it was pretty simple).  

We will watch it at the meeting on Monday (6:30-8:30) too in case you missed it.  See you then!

Meeting notes from 1/5

Let's get down to business.  Sleuth research, genre research and a  1st attempt at a vehicle need to be done by next week.  Everybody needs to look at the materials list and if you have any item you can bring in that would be great.  Ideas about what can be done with any of the materials should be jotted down as well.  See you next Monday at 6:30.

Monday January 5th Meeting

Meetings resume this coming Monday, 6:30-8:30.  I would like the meetings to increase to 2 hours because you have a lot to do.  You are going to make a plan of what you want to accomplish by when and then get started.  If you want to be competitive, the work starts now and the reward is March 14th.  Right?

See you Monday!