Elementary school students in Beaufort County used a mixture of brains, cooperation and leadership to compete in the second annual Beaufort County Schools Mathletics Competition on Saturday.

Hosted at John Small Elementary School, competitors took two 25-question tests with an allotted 30 minutes for each — one individual test and one with a team. Teachers selected students to participate in Mathletics and worked with them outside of class to prepare.

Dana Hudnell, a fourth-grade math teacher at Northeast Elementary School, said she used built-in tutoring time to work with some of the competing students, teaching them skills ahead of the classroom pace and preparing them for Mathletics.

“Pretty much everything you do at some point … math is there,” she said. “I want them to understand the importance of pushing themselves to do well.”

Hudnell said Northeast Elementary had about 12 fourth-graders and a couple of fifth-graders representing the school on Saturday.

She said the school’s participants did not win any medals last year, but took home three this year, which sparked the interest of some of the students who did not attend the competition.

“It was an accomplishment for us. It was good for us,” Hudnell said. “I even had students ask me later, ‘How can I get involved?’”

Carla Dickerson, a fourth-grade math teacher at Bath Elementary School, said the school sent about 15 students to the competition this year, ranging from third to fifth grades.

“I think it’s a good idea because it gets the kids to … compete against other fourth-graders in the county and to get to work as a team,” Dickerson said. “They just get excited about it.”

She said she gave practice tests to some of the students after school, and even though it was extra work, they were excited to compete.

“I select them not just based on their grades. They have to have leadership skills, be able to get along with others,” Dickerson said. “Yes, their grades are important, but it doesn’t have to be a top person.”

Hudnell said she hopes seeing peers give up a Saturday, and in some cases, another extracurricular activity to compete at Mathletics will motivate other students to want to participate.

“It’s just a good thing for our county to offer,” she said.

Sparking the desire to learn it what it’s all about.

“Even if they do not win, yes, they’re disappointed, but they still had a great time,” Dickerson said. “It’s an honor to be chosen to go.”

 

Team awards:

Third Grade

First Place – Team Tigers, John Cotten Tayloe

Second Place – Hux’s Mathletes, Bath Elementary

Third Place – Team Holt, Bath Elementary

 

Fourth Grade

First Place – CPS Braves, Chocowinity Primary

Second Place – Math Magicians, Northeast Elementary

Third Place – The Dividers, Chocowinity Primary

 

Fifth Grade

First Place – Bath Pirates, Bath Elementary

Second Place – Number Ninjas, John Small Elementary

Third Place – Bath Superstars, Bath Elementary

 

Individual awards:

Third Grade

First Place – Kristafer Sandlin, Bath Elementary (perfect score)

Second Place – Javen Styons, Bath Elementary

Third Place – Aubrey Powell, Bath Elementary

 

Fourth Grade

First Place – Louie Martinez, John Small Elementary (perfect score)

Second Place – Jordan Midyette, John Small Elementary

Third Place – Madison Crisp, Northeast Elementary

 

Fifth Grade

First Place – Ana Roberson, John Small Elementary (perfect score)

Second Place – Kennedy Arnold, John Small Elementary

Third Place – Stacy Helton, John Small Elementary