PSIA | Private Schools Interscholastic Association
At Mary Immaculate School, students can actively engage in 62 diverse academic competitions spanning from 1st to 8th grade.
PSIA is an academic competition Empowering small teams of elementary and middle school students with a unique chance to collaborate and compete alongside their peers at both District and State meets. PSIA a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education organization, offering academic competitions for grades 1 through 8 to private, parochial, and home schools throughout Texas. Contests cover Language Arts, STEM, Social Studies, Fine Arts, and Speech & Drama, including One-Act Play.
Events
PSIA coordinators will determine the number of entries per contest with up to 3 students per team per contest. Students may compete in a maximum of 2 events.
Art Memory (gr. 4-8): Students are challenged to identify the artist and the work and answer questions about the art and artists found in the Art Smart Bulletin.
Calculator Applications (gr. 6-8): This contest develops mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills to real-life problems.
Creative Writing (gr. 1-2): This event is designed to promote creativity and encourage writing skills at an early age. Using the captions and pictures, students have 30 minutes to create an original story based on the captions.
Dictionary Skills (gr. 4-8): Students use all elements of the dictionary (Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition) as they learn valuable research skills and apply reasoning to extract information.
Impromptu Speaking (gr. 7-8): Students are challenged to think quickly and communicate effectively in this contest. They organize their thoughts on a topic in 3 minutes and then speak for up to 5 minutes without notes.
Listening Skills (gr. 4-8): Good listening skills enhance all academic areas. Contestants take notes as they listen to prerecorded audio and then use their notes to answer 30 questions in this 7-minute contest.
Maps, Graphs, and Charts (gr. 4-8): Student use an atlas (preferably the Nystrom Desk Atlas, 2018 or newer) and provided maps, graphs, and charts to answer questions. Grades 6-8 have additional questions over geography, Texas history, and American history.
Mathematics (gr. 2-8): In a comprehensive multiple choice, 30-minute test, students are challenged in a variety of general math questions. Grades 6-8 feature a section of special topics, chosen every two years, to enhance the curriculum.
Modern Oratory (gr. 7-8): A challenge in writing and speaking, contestants select one topic from the list and prepare a short original speech to examine the pros and cons of an issue and defend their points, incorporating a variety of skills. Contestants take a stand on only one side of the issue.
Music Memory (gr. 3-8): Students identify composers and musical selections from the world’s best classics and modern musical marvels. This two-part contest has students answer 20 multiple choice items and then identify composers and selections given a short audio clip.
Number Sense (gr. 2-8): Contestants find high-speed solutions to math problems in this exciting and challenging 10-minute contest of mental mathematics.
On-Site Drawing (gr. 6-8): Contestants have 45 minutes to produce a rendering of a still life display of 4 to 7 objects on multi-use drawing paper. Art works are judged by qualified artists and teachers.
Oral Interpretation (gr. 4-8): Contestants select, prepare, and read a literary selection within a 6-minute time limit with closed-book introduction. Presentations are evaluated on aspects of performance and overall effectiveness. Contest alternates between Poetry and Prose annually. 2024 is a Prose year.
Ready Writing (gr. 3-8): This event brings challenge for the gifted writer. Students are given a choice between two prompts. Each prompt defines the audience and provides or implies the purpose for writing.
Science (gr. 6-8): Earth, Life, and Physical Science information found in current textbooks are tested in this 30-minute, 50-question multiple choice contest.
Spelling (gr. 2-8): As spelling words are played from prerecorded audio, students write each word. The first 75% of the contest consists of words from the official Spelling Lists; the last 25% are outside words.
Storytelling (gr. 1-3): Contestants hear a story that they then retell before an audience. Presentations are evaluated on aspects of performance and overall effectiveness.
Vocabulary (gr. 5-8): Contestants are challenged to use their vocabulary to complete this 30-question test consisting of sentence completion, analogy, and reading comprehension questions.
Dates to Remember
September 22 | Interest Form due
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | District Meet
( Prince of Peace)
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | State Meet
(University of Houston Campus)
Contact
PSIA Coordinator
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Mary Immaculate will select only a limited number of students at each grade level to be entered in each event. We encourage you to visit with your child about his/her interests and the possibility of qualifying for these events. Not all students that are interested will be chosen to compete on a team. Teams will be chosen based on interest and skill level by the PSIA Coordinator.
Students who are interested in testing to represent MIS in up to 2 events should fill out the attached interest form to be eligible for team testing in the following weeks. Please pay attention to your child’s grade level when signing up, as events are grade level specific.
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Each participant must have at least one adult volunteer commit to either coaching a team or assisting for a four-hour block of time on the day of the event by either judging, grading, or supervising.
PSIA is a volunteer-driven event and therefore students without an adult volunteer will be disqualified.
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Each team will meet approximately 3-4 times prior to the district meet to familiarize themselves with the competition rules and procedures and discuss ways to prepare/study for the event.
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If chosen for an event, each student will have a small registration/materials fee.