Central to host M.A.T.H. competition

Central Elementary School will once again be a regional host for the Elementary M.A.T.H. competition on Thursday, March 1.

Area schools participating at Central Elementary are Bainbridge, Central, Fillmore, Reelsville, Roachdale and Tzouanakis.

Approximately 7,000 students in grades 4, 5, and 6 from around the state are preparing for the 16th annual Math Academic Teams for Hoosiers (M.A.T.H.) competition, which will take place at 44 sites around the state on March 1. More than 442 teams of up to 20 students each will compete.

The M.A.T.H. competition is a team concept with no individual winners. Each of the four rounds consists of three team members working on seven problems while competing against team members from each other school. Students are seated on the gym floor or auditorium stage.

Each problem is graded immediately and an individual scoring chart maintains a running team score as the evening progresses.

While students are waiting to compete, they sit in a cheer block to cheer for their teammates.

The team members of the schools with highest scores in each of the four enrollment classifications at each site will be recognized with awards after the competition. Classes 1 and 2 include schools with sixth grade, while classes 3 and 4 are schools without sixth grade.

In addition to local awards, the top 10 teams in each enrollment classification statewide will receive either a plaque or certificate to place in their school.

The competition is administered by the Indiana Association of School Principals, Department of Student Programs, and is an attempt to emphasize the importance of mathematics in upper elementary grades.

For more information contact the IASP or Central Elementary School.

Results will be posted at noon on March 2 at www.iasp.org/dspcompetitions.aspx.