10 students top PSS Statewide Mathcourt for primary grades

Three of the five winners at the recently concluded Mathcourt competition for K-1st division gather for a group photo with the event?s coordinators on Saturday. For the division, overall winners included Dee Jenkins, Chealzka Navarro, Jayden Tan, Malina Rose Tenorio, and William Matthew Cano. (Contributed Photo)

Ten students from private and public elementary schools emerged winners in this year’s Statewide Mathcourt Competition for primary grades, simultaneously dominating the rigorous competitions for both K-1st and 2nd-3rd divisions held Saturday at Saipan International School and Agape Christian School.

Dee Jenkins from Saipan International School was named gold medalist for the kindergarten to first grade division. The silver medal went to Chealzka Navarro from Green Meadows School, while the bronze award went to Jayden Tan from Eucon International School. Fourth and fifth place awards went to Malina Rose Tenorio from Mount Carmel School and William Matthew Cano from Grace Christian Academy, respectively.

In the second to third grade division, the gold award went to Joseph Jimenez from Eucon, while the silver was awarded to Allia Pillarina, also from Eucon. In third place is Katie Choi from Saipan Community School, while John Paul Labadan and Mary Grace Caras won fourth and fifth place awards. These five students bested over 80 other competitors during Saturday’s contest held at SIS.

According to Reo Arriola, Mathcourt event coordinator, 61 kindergarteners and first graders participated in the statewide contest held at Agape Christian School, while contenders for the second and third grade division totaled 88 this year. Participants in the statewide contest qualified by winning either one or both of the regular Mathcourt meets.

The Mathcourt contest for elementary has three divisions: K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 divisions. The final rounds for the fourth and fifth division are scheduled next week where the top four winners will represent the CNMI in the national Mathcourt League in Houston this June.

According to Arriola, the top 4 winners in the 2-3 division—Jimenez, Pillarina, Choi, and Labadan—have been invited to compete next week with the 4-5 division contenders.

“For the 4-5 division, we have 87 students that are eligible to compete. Of that, all competitors who meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the Mathleague.org state competition will advance to the state competition, tentatively set for May 10 at San Antonio Elementary School,” he told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Arriola added: “We are tentatively scheduled to send the top 4 students to the national competition to Houston on June 7. We are hopeful that funding will be identified to send our very first elementary Team CNMI to compete in the nationals.”

No medals, ribbons

Despite the continued success of the Mathcourt events this year, some parents are disappointed that student winners are not awarded any medals, ribbons, or certificates. It was learned that the same lack of “rewards” happened last year.

“I was a bit disappointed again and feel sorry for the students who are always excited to join competitions because they’re aiming for those medals and certificates as rewards,” one parent told Saipan Tribune.

The parent hopes the Public School System, or any other donors, would find a way to address this concern.

Another parent said that medals and certificates are effective tools to motivate children to continue participating in competitions.

Arriola said that funding is an issue.

“With regards to the medals and ribbons, we share the same disappointment with the parents in not being able to give out medals and ribbons. MathCourt falls under the WPR (Western Pacific Region) umbrella and they handle the acquisition of ribbons and medals and that, yes, we are still waiting for medals from last school year,” he said.

Arriola said they were informed that the reason for the lack of ribbons and medals is due to a lack of vendors on island that sell such items.