Along with families, friends and faculty, more than 200 students from Palm Crest, Paradise Canyon and La Cañada elementary schools packed PCR’s multi-purpose room last week for the fifth annual “Mathzilla” mathematics competition.
It was a fun-filled evening of intense but friendly competition that invited 4th-, 5th- and 6th-graders to celebrate a mutual passion for math and a commitment to learning.
PCR’s Neal Frankenberg won gold in the overall individual category and PCR was awarded the team relay trophy and the Mathzilla trophy for best overall school performance, with a total of 22 medals.
“The purpose of Mathzilla is to continue to promote love for math and increase enthusiasm and engagement in learning,” said Anais Wenn, assistant superintendent of educational services.
“It feels much more like a sporting event, which I think makes it so much fun,” added Jennifer Ringo, a volunteer instructor at PCY and member of the Mathzilla organizing committee.
The contest included students’ individual scores in “speed tests” administered in classes throughout the year, as well as stages of live competition the night of the tournament.
The first stage incorporated a problem-solving test, in which students competed by grade level for individual scores. Kaan Altinok and Thomas Sorensen, from PCR, were awarded gold medals in the 4th and 6th grades, respectively, and Jack Kassabian from LCE took gold for 5th grade.
In the Rubik’s Cube contest, students raced to solve their cubes. Pizza was served as spectators gathered around to watch. Harvey Wake, Kaylee Chun and Sebastian Yu — from PCR, PCY and LCE — took home gold medals for 4th, 5th and 6th grades and Yu went on to win gold in the final Rubik’s Cube challenge.
The last event of the night was a lively team relay competition in which students from each grade and school competed on teams with their classmates for a school-wide total score.
PCR took first place in the relay, although the round was a real nail-biter that went down to the buzzer, with PCR and PCY tying for first place in 4th and 5th grade and PCR winning in 6th grade.
Medals also were awarded for the “speed tests” given in class, with LCE 4th-grader Jayden Clorfeine, PCR 5th-grader Jacob Que and Frankenberg, the PCR 6th-grader, winning.
Ryka Tashakkor, a 4th-grader from PCR, said he worked hard to prepare for the competition: “I bought a workbook online, and studied every single day.”
Zoe Petropoulos, a PCY 5th-grader, reviewed each morning on the way to school.
For a complete list of this year’s Mathzilla’s results, visit palmcrestpta.org/Page/Home/mathzilla2018results.
It was a fun-filled evening of intense but friendly competition that invited 4th-, 5th- and 6th-graders to celebrate a mutual passion for math and a commitment to learning.
PCR’s Neal Frankenberg won gold in the overall individual category and PCR was awarded the team relay trophy and the Mathzilla trophy for best overall school performance, with a total of 22 medals.
“The purpose of Mathzilla is to continue to promote love for math and increase enthusiasm and engagement in learning,” said Anais Wenn, assistant superintendent of educational services.
“It feels much more like a sporting event, which I think makes it so much fun,” added Jennifer Ringo, a volunteer instructor at PCY and member of the Mathzilla organizing committee.
The contest included students’ individual scores in “speed tests” administered in classes throughout the year, as well as stages of live competition the night of the tournament.
The first stage incorporated a problem-solving test, in which students competed by grade level for individual scores. Kaan Altinok and Thomas Sorensen, from PCR, were awarded gold medals in the 4th and 6th grades, respectively, and Jack Kassabian from LCE took gold for 5th grade.
In the Rubik’s Cube contest, students raced to solve their cubes. Pizza was served as spectators gathered around to watch. Harvey Wake, Kaylee Chun and Sebastian Yu — from PCR, PCY and LCE — took home gold medals for 4th, 5th and 6th grades and Yu went on to win gold in the final Rubik’s Cube challenge.
The last event of the night was a lively team relay competition in which students from each grade and school competed on teams with their classmates for a school-wide total score.
PCR took first place in the relay, although the round was a real nail-biter that went down to the buzzer, with PCR and PCY tying for first place in 4th and 5th grade and PCR winning in 6th grade.
Medals also were awarded for the “speed tests” given in class, with LCE 4th-grader Jayden Clorfeine, PCR 5th-grader Jacob Que and Frankenberg, the PCR 6th-grader, winning.
Ryka Tashakkor, a 4th-grader from PCR, said he worked hard to prepare for the competition: “I bought a workbook online, and studied every single day.”
Zoe Petropoulos, a PCY 5th-grader, reviewed each morning on the way to school.
For a complete list of this year’s Mathzilla’s results, visit palmcrestpta.org/Page/Home/mathzilla2018results.
– Perry Fein
