Math League champs Students in grades 4 - 6 at Motley Elementary and Motley Staples Middle Schools participated in a recent Math League, an extra curricular event coached by Mrs. Sveom. Top scorers and second-place winners included, from left, 6th graders Stephanie Kennedy and Anna Koopmann; 4th grader Megan Crist; and 5th graders Vera Robinson and Nicholas Crist. (Staples World photo by Dawn Timbs) Eligible students in grades four - six at Motley Elementary and Motley Staples Middle Schools recently participated in a Math League.

The goal of the two-day extra-curricular event, coached by Mrs. Sveom, was to encourage student interest and confidence in mathematics. According to Sveom, many students first develop an interest in mathematics through problem-solving activities such as these contests.

All of the questions covered basic fourth, fifth and sixth grade topics, including: properties of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, time and calendar questions, shapes, perimeter, money, basic ratio and percent, rounding numbers, remainders, integers and more.

These contests challenge students to show their understanding of basic principles through numerical and word problems that encourage an open, flexible approach to problem solving.

There were 13 participants in the sixth grade. The top scorer was Anna Koopmann and second place went to Stephanie Kennedy.

In the fifth grade, there were five participants. The top scorer was Nicholas Crist and second place went to Vera Robinson.

There were two participants in the fourth grade. Megan Crist was the only student to participate in the contest.

Top scorers received a medal and a copy of the Math League Contest book; second place winners received medals; and all participants were given a certificate.