Academic Teams
Brain Brawl
Brain Brawl is a general-knowledge competition similar to Academic Challenge for junior high students sponsored by Saint Ignatius High School. Over twenty-five teams from throughout the diocese are split into divisions to display their knowledge on various topics from science to literature to pop culture. Each round of the “brawl” is composed of three sections, which include team questions, a letter round, and the final buzzer round. This competition has given our students the opportunity to showcase their wealth of knowledge. Saint Paschal Baylon team members have enjoyed great success in this academic endeavor.
GCCTM Problem Solving Tournament: Gr. 4-5
GCCTM Problem Solving Tournament: Gr. 4-5 eight 4th graders and eight 5th graders will participate in a problem-solving tournament in February (date and location still to be determined). Tryouts will take place in October and team members will practice once a week until the competition.
The purposes of this tournament are to:
- Promote enthusiasm for mathematics among students in the fifth and sixth grades
- Recognize students for their interest, perseverance, and talent in mathematics and problem solving
- Challenge these students in an energizing and competitive setting
Moderator: Mrs. Felice Strasshofer and Mrs. Holly Herald
GCCTM Problem Solving Tournament: Gr. 6-8
Students will work in teams of three on four events during the contest, including mental math, mixed application problem solving, and a team-based progressive puzzle challenge. The problem-solving tournament is held in March (date and location vary). Tryouts take place in November, and team members will practice once a week until the competition.
The purposes of this tournament are to:
- Promote enthusiasm for mathematics among students
- Recognize students for their interest, perseverance, and talent in mathematics and problem solving
- Challenge these students in an energizing and competitive setting
Power of the Pen
Power of the Pen is a competitive interscholastic tournament in written expression designed for seventh and eighth-grade writers throughout Ohio. Students participate in district, regional, and state competitions earning various medals and trophies for their creativity in writing. The program’s aim is to exact a positive impact upon academic achievement overall. More than 7,500 students will compete directly in a Power of the Pen writing tournament. Power of the Pen was established in 1986, and Saint Paschal Baylon School has been involved in this program since 1992 earning many individual and team awards at all levels of competition.
Science Olympiad
Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is one of the premier science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to nearly 8,000 teams in all 50 states. There are 450 tournaments annually on college campuses that showcase innovative science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events. Each year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation.
Science Olympiad is open to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. Teams are formed in late fall and practices begin in January. Parent participation is crucial as they are the coaches for the events. Parents also help with judging some of the events at the actual competition. The Science Olympiad is held in February, March, or April each year at John Carroll University. Here, our students will compete with other area Catholic Schools. The all day event concludes with an entertaining science demonstration and awards ceremony. Our team is limited to 50 students and there is a $30 participation fee.
Spelling Bee
Any interested 7th and 8th graders may participate in the school spelling bee held on December 2, 2026 at 2:45 pm in the school library. The school bee champion will take the Regional Qualifier Test—a 50-item online spelling and vocabulary test—in February 2027. The top finishers on this test advance to the SNSB Region Two Regional Bee which will be held virtually on March 20, 2027.
Please contact Mrs. Popelka, mpopelka@saintpaschal.com to register for the school spelling bee and to receive a study list no later than September 25, 2026.