Welcome to the 

AAH High School Science Team!

The Austin Area Homeschoolers High School Science Team is looking forward to the fall! We will be starting our academic year at the end of August and are looking for a handful of new students who are interested in furthering their science education through hard work in a fun and social group setting. 

The AAH High School Science Team is a student ­led team, facilitated by parent advisors and the members’ parents. In collaboration with the parent advisors, team members decide how they want the team to function, and students are encouraged to serve on committees and are elected to leadership positions. 

A central goal of the team is for motivated, hard­working students to build their science knowledge while working on a team and socializing with other students who share an interest in science. Membership on the team also allows students to practice public speaking and to use the competitions to learn about teamwork and sportsmanship. While the team’s activities provide great science education opportunities, the team is not a substitute for a science curriculum or home-­directed study. 

The Science Team participates in two competitions: Science Bowl and Science Olympiad. Students joining the team must be interested in competing in at least one of these events; however, students are not guaranteed a position on a particular team or event. 

Commitment to the Team 

To allow the team to work well and for the students to get the most benefit, a certain level of commitment will be required from each student and family: 

• Teamwork: The team’s well­being depends upon strong team work. The team competes in small groups for Science Bowl and partnerships of 2­3 students for Science Olympiad events. Student success and happiness depends on partners who are responsible, respectful, and responsive. Students and parents develop and support solid team relationships by staying up ­to­ date on team announcements, communicating with other families and team leaders in a timely manner, meeting with partners regularly, and being supportive of all of the team members. These competitions can be intense so a vibrant esprit de corps among the students and families is both protective and powerful. 

• Communication: Much of the team communication occurs online. To facilitate the smooth functioning of our team, all students and parents are expected to check their email daily and to respond to queries and requests promptly. Late responses and paperwork hold up the entire team and require extra follow up from team leaders. As soon as partner assignments are announced, partners should initiate and then maintain regular contact. Of course, all communication, whether in person, by phone, or electronic, should be respectful. 

• Preparation for Competitions (Science Olympiad and Science Bowl): Preparation will require considerable time outside the regularly scheduled meetings. Depending on the competition, this additional time may be spent working individually or in small groups of students to prepare for specific parts of competitions. This commitment to studying and meeting with partners is crucial to the success of the team and to the students’ knowledge of the related science. 

• Competition Travel: There are several events that happen out of town each year, usually held in cities within a three ­hour drive from Austin. Families will be responsible for all costs, travel arrangements, and supervision for their student. 

• Competitive Event and Team Assignments: Assignments to the competitive Science Bowl and Science Olympiad teams are based on participation and attendance at regular meetings, knowledge and performance, and the ability to be a team player, along with other factors. Complete guidelines for team selection will be available to members in the fall. The number of students allowed to compete may be restricted by tournament size, event and competition rules, and other factors. Not all qualified students are guaranteed a place on a competitive team. Students must be flexible and demonstrate good sportsmanship, as event assignments and partners WILL change on short notice (event schedules are often not announced more than a couple of weeks in advance and are subject to change). 

• Attendance: Students on the team will be expected to regularly attend meetings, arrive on time, and participate for the entire meeting. If a student is going to be absent, he or she must let the team know by emailing the group list. A sign­in/sign­out sheet will be posted at the door to record attendance; attendance will factor into team placement as one measure of commitment. 

• Parent Responsibilities: Although the team is largely student­-led, parents play a crucial role in assisting their students and in keeping the team operating smoothly. Preparing for competitions requires a high level of time management, study skills, communication and teamwork. Different students will require different levels of parental support to be successful and to be part of a positive partnership. For this reason, it is crucial that parents stay up to date on team happenings. To this end, parents must attend an orientation at the beginning of the year and one designated informational meeting each month, must read and respond to team emails daily, and must ensure that their student is upholding his or her responsibilities to the team. Our team runs on volunteers, and there will be many opportunities for parents to support the team. 

General Information 

• Membership Requirements: Team members must be 9th – 12th graders (by age) in the fall of 2023 and reside in Travis or Williamson County. Students who participate in umbrella schools, charter schools, or cyber/virtual schools may not be eligible. (The competitions in which we compete have age/grade, residency, and other requirements for eligibility). 

• Meeting Time and Location: Fridays,11:00-1:00 PM, from the end of August through the end of May. We do not meet on holidays or across the winter break. We meet at the Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Drive, near Mopac and RM 2222. 

• Meeting Format: Our standard meeting format includes opportunities for students to do presentations on science topics, practice for Science Bowl, and prepare for Science Olympiad. We may also have occasional guest speakers and/or field trips. 

• Meeting Etiquette: All participants, parents, and siblings are expected to abide by the rules of the Northwest Recreation Center, to clean up after meetings, and to behave in a civil, polite manner. Any participant who is disruptive, uncooperative, or unsportsmanlike will be asked to leave the team. A member may also be asked to leave the team if his/her family members are disruptive. During meetings, students and families should avoid congregating in the lobby of the Rec Center as it is distracting to Rec Center staff and patrons. 

• Drop­ Offs: Participants may be dropped off by their parents. However, parents must attend orientation at the beginning of the year and one designated informational meeting each month. 

• Siblings: Siblings of team members are welcome to attend meetings with parents. However, younger siblings typically do not participate or prepare for competitions. Young children must be supervised at all times and are encouraged to play outdoors as much as possible. 

• Dues: Yearly membership dues are used to reimburse costs related to competitions, meeting facility fees, and insurance and are estimated to be $170 per student. There is no family discount for multiple students. Dues must be paid by the third ST meeting. 

• T-­Shirt: Each team member will be required to have a team t-­shirt for competitions (cost variable, but often around $15). 

• Additional Team Expenses: Families will have to pay additional expenses for study aids, materials, building supplies, and travel (e.g., meals and hotels during competitions). 

Contact Information 

For more information, please contact us at info@aahscienceteam.org.