OM at Chamblee Middle
Chamblee Middle hosts CCC's grades 6–8 competition program, built around flexible weekend collaborations and substantial student-led work between meetings.
2026–27 program structure
Middle school teams take greater responsibility for scheduling, design decisions, construction, writing, performance, and follow-through. Coaches help teams organize the work while protecting the student ownership required by OM.
Chamblee Middle is the host school, but students from nearby public and private schools may audition when space is available.
6th–8th grade students work together across six months to create, build, write, rehearse, and present an original solution.
Capacity limited to 7 students per team coach
Team selection
Auditions help CCC understand how students collaborate, respond to feedback, solve unfamiliar problems, and contribute to a balanced team. Prior OM experience can help, but curiosity, persistence, and teamwork matter just as much.
Team model
What students take on
Students develop the concept, write and revise the script, build the sets and mechanisms, create costumes, manage the budget, rehearse, and solve the inevitable problems. Coaches provide boundaries, questions, and tournament-readiness support.
What families should expect
We want families to walk in with clear eyes—Odyssey of the Mind is a real commitment, and it's also an incredibly rewarding experience. Families help with attendance, communication, transportation, supplies, and healthy team habits. Coaches provide safety, structure, and reflective questions. The students make the creative decisions and complete the work themselves.
Quick FAQ
No. Coaches guide the process. Kids problem-solve; you mostly supply glue sticks and encouragement.
Students give a short prepared creative presentation and take part in a collaborative spontaneous challenge, then meet prospective teammates and coaches. Parents get a chance to ask about schedule, cost, and commitment. A parent or guardian must attend with their student.
Team placement is not simply based on performance ability. It also considers student readiness, interests, grade level, collaboration style, team balance, coach availability, and available space.
Consistent attendance matters because every team member plays a critical role in building skills, trust, and teamwork. One absence won't derail the team, but frequent missed practices can affect everyone's progress.
A lot of the building happens at home, between practices—expect about 30–60 minutes per week. It may involve cardboard, costumes, scripts, painting, research, testing an idea, or working with another teammate.
The competition-team commitment runs approximately six months: from team formation in September through the regional and state competition season in March. Teams advancing to World Finals continue through late May.
Chamblee Middle program