ROANOKE – Adding, subtracting, dividing, multiplying and estimating were on display Tuesday as fourth and fifth-grade students from Upshur County Elementary Schools competed to see who would emerge as the top mathematician during the Upshur County Math Field Day.
Held at Stonewall Lake Resort in Roanoke, the event was organized by Jody Johnson, the Upshur County Schools Director of Federal Programs. Johnson reminded each of the participants they are already winners and distributed certificates to all participants, each of whom had claimed top honors in their respective elementary school math competitions.
“Thank you for allowing us to bring your children over here and have this experience,” Johnson said. “They worked really hard this morning and completed four types of tests and they were very well-behaved. They probably are a little brain tired.”
The first math whiz announced was Brock Williams, a fourth-grade student from Buckhannon Academy Elementary School. Brock used his super estimating strength to estimate there were 1,170 M&Ms in a jar – the closest guess to the actual count of 1,571.
Brayden Umble, who attends Rock Cave Elementary School, was the winner of the fourth-grade division. The second-place winner was Jaylee Wayts who attends French Creek Elementary School and the third place went to Brooklyn Butler who attends Tennerton Elementary School.
Finally, the fifth-grade winners in the Upshur County Math Field Day were announced and they included Mason Lantz, first grade, of Tennerton Elementary School; Sage Fleck, second place, who attends Buckhannon Academy Elementary School; and Braylea Squires, third place, of Buckhannon Academy Elementary School.
Johnson said students participating in the Upshur County Math Field Day completed a 40-question achievement test, mental math equations, estimating and three-part math.
“This competition has been going on for many years,” Johnson said. “Each elementary school has their own competition and each of our elementary schools sent representatives for fourth and fifth grades and we had more than 30 participants who worked from 9 a.m. to noon.”
Haylee McQuain, a fourth-grader from French Creek Elementary School, said she enjoyed participating in Math Field Day. Haylee is the daughter of Brian and Jessica McQuain.
“I really enjoy math and it is my favorite subject in school,” Haylee said. “I tried my best and I still feel okay even though I did not win today.”
Braylea Squires attends fifth grade at Buckhannon Academy Elementary School. She is the daughter of Adam and Becky Squires. Braylea said reading, not math, is her favorite subject in school.
“At first participating was kind of nerve-racking,” Braylea said. “I did my best and I didn’t think I would win anything, but I got third place.”
Brenner Browning of Rock Cave Elementary School is in fifth grade and he is the son of Michael and April Browning. Brenner said he had a good day.
“My favorite part of today was seeing who won the M&M jar that did the best at estimating,” Brenner shared. “I sometimes like to make estimations.”
Students participating in Tuesday’s Upshur County Math Field Day include those from Buckhannon Academy Elementary School Aiden Hinkle, Sydni Landis, Cora Cottrill, Brock Williams, Sage Fleck, Braylea Squires and Sofi Zhu; French Creek Elementary School, Jaylee Wayts, Haylee McQuain, Zoey Burr, and Jaden Messenger; Hodgesville Elementary School, Colton Spencer, Charles Tenney, Jacob White, Marcus Reed; Rock Cave Elementary School, Tayden Swindler, Brayden Umble, Brenner Browning and Wesley Smith; Tennerton Elementary School, Brooklyn Butler, Jaron Currence, Mason Lantz, and Clayton Lantz; Union Elementary School, Vivienne Shepherd, Joshua Curry, Carter Haney, and Emma Pingley; and Washington District Elementary School, Landon Watkins, Nekotah Ware, Halle Moody and Madison Cutright.
Winners from the Upshur County Math Field Day will compete in the regional Math Field Day in March in Morgantown.
