Math Olympiad adds up

Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, June 12, 2002

Whoever said math isn’t fun doesn’t know a group of South Whidbey fifth graders.

These 13 Intermediate School students not only enjoy mathematics, they win prizes for their acuity.

The students, members of the Math Club, had their math skills put to the test at the Washington State Math Olympiad in Sequim in May and came home with ribbons and a medal.

“The goal of Math Olympiad is to provide a quality mathematics education experience that encourages students to participate and enjoy the individual and cooperative experience of mathematics,” said team coach Kimmer Morris.

The Intermediate School fielded three teams for the event; all three won ribbons for an “excellent” score and one South Whidbey team won the only medal given at the event. Out of 22 teams competing, only eight earned ribbons.

The competition consisted of six tests, one long problem-solving test that allowed 60 minutes and five short tests in geometry, algebra, probability, number sense and measurement, each 20 minutes.

The long problem test involved designing a tent, and South Whidbey Team C, consisting of Dylan Scoles, Hilary Mellish, Kenny George and Caiti Fjelsted, brought home the medal. Teams A and B earned ribbons and an “excellent” score for the five 20 minute tests. Members of Team A are Trevor Ulrich, Trevor Romero, Zander Levi and Charlotte Wilson; Team B members are Sarah Styke, Noah Harris, Grant Neubauer and Ian Marsanyi.

The students did five sets of five problems each. They were scored on the number of problems they solved correctly and on how well they explained in writing their method for solving the problem.

Morris said students at the Intermediate School are selected to participate in the gifted math pull-out program called Math Team based on test scores and teacher recommendation. Selection for the Math Olympiad comes from the top fifth-grade Math Team members who are identified each fall.

These kids are really committed, Morris said, meeting an hour each week after school from the fall up to the Math Olympiad contest in May.

“The students learn to work together and to improve problem-solving, mathematical communication, and self-confidence,” Morris said.

According to the Department of Education Web site, Math Olympiad was created in 1977 by George Lenchner, a math educator. The Math Olympiads went public in 1979.

Last year, 150,000 students from 5,000 teams worldwide participated in the Olympiads. All 50 states and 25 other countries were represented.