Heilicher Mathletes Compete at Math Masters Tourney

By Davida Cytron

 

Tension and excitement was in the air in the crowded gymnasium. Each team present had spent months running drills and preparing for this day of heavy competition. As the buzzer sounded the room fell silent. But the odor remained. It smelled like... MATH!

On March 3, twenty-one sixth graders boarded a bus and traveled across the Mississippi to compete with some of the best and brightest students in the Twin Cities at an annual sixth-grade Math Masters competition. Our Heilicher students competed with over 160 students and 35 teams.

After three hours of heavy duty math, which included one immense fact drill, four individual tests and three team tests, our Heilicher students were energized and enthusiastic to hear the results. We had much to celebrate, including a 17^th place and 2^nd place award in the fact drill, a 6^th place award in the individual events, and a 5^th place team competition award.

While watching our students receive honors and kudos for a job well done is always a bonus for a math teacher, even more fun was seeing our students not only work impressively together in their teams, but also reach "across the aisle" and get to know the sixth graders from other Twin Cities schools who shared their passion for numbers.

A hearty congratulations to all of our student mathletes – you make us so proud!

2017 Math Masters Results

• Daniel B., Emma S., Malachi G., Arlo C., and Josh M. received 5th place in the team competition.
• Malachi G. placed 2nd in the fact drill.
• Josh M. placed 17th in the fact drill.
• Arlo C. placed 6th in the individual round.

Davida Cytron is a Heilicher math teacher, grade 5-6 coordinator, and Math Masters coach.