Bondy Intermediate and Southmore Intermediate are looking to continue Pasadena ISD’s tradition of excellence in the National Academic League’s national tournament next week. 

The Bondy team captured the district title and Southmore finished the season as league runner-up to advance to nationals. Bondy is scheduled to play Mesa, Arizona and Southmore will play Weber, Utah.  These competitions will be held via videoconferencing supported by the district high schools and technology departments. Lisa Wilhelm serves as Bondy’s coach and Erin Stocco is the coach of Southmore’s team. 

Both teams hope to add their names to the history books, just like Thompson Intermediate. Thompson captured three national titles under the direction of retired teacher Carolyn Carmichael. Thompson last claimed the national title in 2001.

The National Academic League is an academic competition between the intermediate schools in the district.  The game consists of four quarters with special rules for each.  In the first quarter, students are asked questions relating to math, science, history language arts, and current events.  In the second quarter the teams are allowed to huddle for the answer to similar but more complex questions.  The third quarter is a presentation period when students present  a 3 - 5 minute group answer to a topic that has been being researched for the week.  Topics have included "The Penny", " Distracted Drivers", and even "Plastic Garbage Bags".  The fourth and last quarter is a "jeopardy" type period with buzzers being activated when a student wishes to answer.

This academic game was produced 17 years ago by Dr. Terrell Bell, who was Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan.  He and Dr. Donna Elmhurst established the National Academic League as a non-profit organization to improve the environment for academic competition.  The season always finishes in a National Tournament with leagues all across the nation playing against one another.