11th and 12th graders win 2008 Knowledge Bowl

posted 01/28/2010
The 17th annual Knowledge Bowl will be held Thursday, February 4th at the Community Theatre. Friday Harbor High School Jazz Band will begin performing at 6:40 pm, and the FHMS PTA will offer delicious bake sale treats.

The competition begins at 7 p.m. with teams consisting of 8th grade students, a 9th and 10th grade team, and a 11th and 12th grade team going head to head with four local community service groups: Kiwanis, Soroptomists, Lions, and Rotary Club.

Teams match wits answering challenging and sometimes tricky questions on a range of topics, from physics to local history. The event is emceed this year by Brent Snow, with entertainment during intermission by Friday Harbor Jazz Band.

The Knowledge Bowl is presented each year by the San Juan Public Schools Foundation. Through its two main fundraisers, the Phone-a-thon and the Business Partnership Program, the Foundation has raised over $80,000 in the 2009 /10 cycle.

These funds were used to enhance local public education, such as High School algebra textbooks, 6th grade math and reading textbooks, Middle School math textbooks and the UW FH Labs program at the high school, as well as other projects throughout the year.

The ticket prices for this community event are just $5 for adults, and $3 for kids. This year there are several raffle items, including a trip for 2 on the Victoria Clipper. The last few years have sold out, so purchase tickets early at the SJCT box office.

Lions win Knowledge Bowl by 1 point
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Rotarians and 9/10th grade team tie for 2nd

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Photos by Sharon Kivisto and Matt Pranger

Lions George Johnson, John Bostrom, Bill Waxman and Howard Schonberger admire their "ugly" trophy.

posted 02/06/2009
The Rotarians and the 9th/10th grade teams both risked all their points in the final round of the Knowledge Bowl but came up one point short of the San Juan Island Lions.

All three knew the magnitude of difference between an earthquake rated 8 and 4 on the Richter scale. (10,000). The annual fundraiser sponsored by the San Juan Public Schools Foundation brought in $19,225 for the schools.

Master of Ceremonies Friday Harbor High School teacher Marc Vermeire interspersed the fifty questions with amusing details on topics such as text messaging. Students served as timekeepers and scorekeepers.

The final score was:

Lions 101
9th/10th grade and Rotary Club 100
11th/12th 93
8th grade 73
Kiwanis 38
Soroptimist 29

After being handed the trophy, Bill Waxman asked, "Is second prize two of these?"

He sent in this description of the prize which fits the light-hearted event. "The trophy was made of scrap pieces of wood that were only roughly sawn. The top was an unidentifiable piece of polished granite cut more or less in the form of a square. The top lifts off to reveal two "oil" reservoirs into which we are supposed to pour lamp oil to light the "eternal flames" – two of them! – that will light the amazing junk sculpture using no electricity. All in all, a very ingeniously designed object of absolutely no value whatever and we wouldn't trade it for anything. Our team captain, George Johnson has custody of the objet d'art)."