Fourth-graders conquer Math is Cool challenges
A Math Is Cool contest has Spokane Valley fourth-graders counting wins.
More than 400 fourth-grade students from around Spokane competed in mental math team challenges and individual tests during the April 21 regional Math is Cool championships at Mt. Spokane High School.
Division II: Pioneer School, a private school near Sullivan Road, took home first place in the smaller school Division II for the second year a row, followed by St. George’s and Kettle Falls. Pioneer had four students in the Top 10 who received individual awards: Austin Tran, first place; Dilara Tezcan, third place; and Kienan Scott, eighth place; and Sam Bethmann, ninth place.
Other Pioneer team members are Sean Evans, Rachel Fricke, Maddie Goodwin, Dane Hjeltness, Erich Jaeger, Marc Malek, Kathryn Mize, Shane Brooks and Lars Ostervold. Coaches are Jack Benedetto, Tuan Tran and Kelly Scott.
A Math is Cool fourth-grade Freeman Elementary team also placed fifth in the Division II group. Team members included: Colin Ayers, Matt Beaulaurier, Patrick O’Connor, Alex Olson, John Phelan, Joseph Preble, Grace Rudy, Brett Sinden, Peter Underhill and Mackenzie Yackel. Their coaches are Jane Brune, Dwayne Gady, Nancy Hawley and Linda Mega.
Division I: In the larger school Division I category, a Liberty Lake Elementary team snatched up second place. Their coach is parent volunteer Lisa Seely. The fourth-graders who participated include: Tyler Ribail, Myra Purvis, Austin Seely, Austyn Knudsen, Connor Gu, Savannah Hoekstra, Karl Ellingson, Bryce Logerwell, Dong-Gyun Kim, Jeff Moberg, Kelsey Krogh, Alex Kuhn, Sydney Otte, Wade Morrow and Patrick Hinea.
Kim scored second place in the overall individual category for Division I.
Meanwhile, the University Elementary fourth-grade Math Is Cool team placed fifth at the regional competition in Division I. Loren Mellick placed fourth in the overall competition.
University team members include: Jeff Roe, Jake Borgford, Cassidy Walter, Blake Braley, Garrett Hughes, Jaeydenn Visco, Loren Mellick, Lilia Vasyukhnevich, Piper Driskell, Hannah Holm, Daniel Franzese, Jacob Jones and Kelsey Jerome. Their coach is Rick Kline.
No rest for WV band
West Valley High School’s marching band members had little down time after returning recently from Washington, D.C.
Several of the musicians began preparing for this weekend’s Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest and for upcoming performances, including the Lilac Parade.
Band Director Jim Loucks said the band had a successful trip to the 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 8 in the nation’s capital, despite rain.
“They made the city proud,” said Loucks. “They performed at the highest level they could and we put on a real entertaining show. We did ‘Strike Up the Band’ by George Gershwin,” he said, estimating there were about 300,000 spectators.
“All the hard work paid off. They did a great job.”
He added that the group of 70 West Valley students took the red-eye flight from Seattle to Washington, D.C. They toured the capital, including stops at the Smithsonian, Arlington Cemetery, U.S. Supreme Court and the Naval Academy, where they heard that institution’s wind symphony.