App turns review more fun for Team SVES

San Vicente Elementary School coaches Yvette Tenorio, back left, and Alvin Borja, flash the No. 1 sign after their students topped this year’s 21st Academic Challenge Bowl last Saturday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center. (Jon Perez)

The iPhone app Academic Competition Buzzer was a major help for San Vicente Elementary School students when they were preparing for the 21st Academic Challenge Bowl. And the result, winning this year’s competition held last Saturday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center.

Yvette Tenorio, who is one of the coaches of the five students, said that she and two other mentors used the app to make learning more fun. They used AC Buzzer as moderator every time they study and review before the contest.

AC Buzzer is an educational tool that was developed to help elementary teachers with classroom work in their respective schools.

Alvin Borja and Cristina Yohanan are the other coaches of the team that is composed of one fourth grader and four fifth graders. Matz Catindig, Tyana Cepeda, Ava Deleon Guerrero, Phaedra Pangelinan, and Brigit Tabuena are the members.

“Us coaches, we alternated in reviewing them of various subjects. We allotted one day each for a specific subject but we covered everything, from geography to mathematics,” said Tenorio, a fifth grade teacher.

“Yvette has two days of reviewing the kids since she handles Math, while Alvin and me spend one day each. We made our reviews fun but a learning experience, so they won’t be overwhelmed,” added Tenorio.

Tenorio, Borja, and Yohanan began reviewing the five members of the team in early February. Their sessions have been 40 minutes of study and 40 minutes of quiz.

It was a close contest with only five points separating the top three teams. San Vicente tallied 350 points to clinch the top honors and was closely followed by the 345 of William S. Reyes Elementary School, while Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School was also not far behind with 340.

Agape Christian School, Green Meadows School, Garapan Elementary School, Kagman Elementary School, Koblerville Elementary School, Northern Marianas International School, Saipan International School, Sinapalo of Rota, and Tanapag Elementary School are the other competing elementary schools.

Tinian Elementary School and Mt. Carmel School were also invited but failed to field a team in this year’s edition of the tournament organized by the Marianas High School Honor Society under adviser Loraine Acatienza.