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Rubin named Hilltop Math Bee champ
By ABBY SLANKER
Hilltop Elementary School fourth-grade students put their math skills to the test and went head-to-head to solve math facts to qualify for the school’s annual Math Bee on June 1.
The students were lined up by class and paired up one-on-one, shown a multiplication flashcard by fourth-grade teachers, and the student who solved the problem correctly and the fastest moved onto the next round.
The students went through several elimination rounds, including three rounds of basic math facts on the flashcards and two rounds of advanced problems of mental math during which the problems were still presented in flashcard form, but were more difficult problems beyond basic math facts.
The students were whittled down to the final seven contestants. The ‘Super Seven were seated at a table on the stage, with a round of applause from their fellow classmates in the audience.
The rules for the seven finalists were as follows: students were shown a math problem and were given a two-minute time limit to solve the problem on a dry erase board.
When the student was comfortable with his or her answer, he or she turned the board over to signal their final answer. Dollar signs, decimals and commas had to be correct in the answer, or the problem would be deemed incorrect.
Fourth-grade teachers checked the problems and had final say as to whether the answer was correct. Audience members could also play along, as they were shown the math problems, also.
After several rounds, it came down to the final three contestants: Emme Rubin, Mason DeBrosse and Parker Wilkins. After a tight race, it was determined Rubin had earned the Hilltop Elementary 2014-15 Math Bee champion title.
A tie-breaker took place for DeBrosse and Wilkins to decide second and third place, with DeBrosse earning second place and Wilkins earning third place.
Rubin was crowned Math Bee champion by Joe Maroni, Hilltop Elementary School principal.
“Congratulations, Emme. And congratulations to our Super Seven,” Maroni said.
Rubin, DeBrosse and Wilkins were presented Barnes and Noble gift cards courtesy of the Hilltop PTO.