ROME — Much like the screaming fans at football’s big game, Gansevoort Elementary School students had their own chance to rally Friday in support of a school-wide Math Fact Super Bowl STEM activity.

“Students were allowed to hoot and holler for academics,” said event co-organizer Cheryl Corr, a fourth grade teacher at Gansevoort Elementary School. “It was a positive display showing learning is important!”

The theme was the inspiration of the fourth grade team, including Corr, Mike Scerra, Leigh Lombardo, Megan Sergott and Beth Reilly. The event encouraged students to practice their fact accuracy and speed throughout the month with each grade level focused on facts that their students were required to master.

There were weekly class competitions where the top performers advanced to the next level, Corr said.

“At the beginning of the challenge, every student in grades 1-6 competed,” she explained. “Each week, participants were narrowed down based on accuracy and speed. The Super Bowl challenge consisted of the top two students from each class.”

Two final Math Fact Super Bowl STEM assemblies were held, the first for kids in fourth through sixth grades and then a second for kindergarten through third graders. The crowd was all decked out in their favorite football team apparel in keeping with the Super Bowl theme. They also shook pompoms and hoisted signs to cheer on the mathletes.

Of those final math fact champs, one winner from each class was announced at the end of the assembly to receive a medal. Each class then held a Super Bowl party in their own classes after their assembly.

First place finishers included:

First grade: Audrick Goudjinou, Jayden Longamore and Isaiah Bowman.

Second grade: Lorelai Nashton and Darren Cummings.

Third grade: Airabella Lacey, Maurice Harris, Priscilla Greig and Camren Sou.

Fourth grade: Riley King, Audreyella Holmes, Jacob Visperas and Hunter Bailey.

Fifth grade: Amariana Parker, Bret Rogers and Damien LaGasse.

Sixth grade: Arya Wheadon, Abdiel Rosario and Chase Trenton.

Second place finishers
included:

First grade: Andi Lindquist, Naftali Sejdic and June Brady.

Second grade: Doreen Li and Jayden Chapoteau.

Third grade: Jason Johnston, Charli Lindquist, Isabelle Peckham and Calista Campos.

Fourth grade: Skylar Standen, Kiana Traversie, Jeremiah Rienzo and Alexis Jablonski.

Fifth grade: Kayla Robbins, Steven Varano and Jacob Taylor.

Sixth grade: Lucas Parker, Kate Chapoteau and Rylee Anderson.

Corr said the Math Fact Super Bowl STEM activity gave students an incentive to master their facts, a necessary skill to develop. And they also both gave and received invaluable positive encouragement.

“Students were supportive of their classmates,” she said. “They made signs and cheered them on. This fostered a sense of community.”

Students agreed the competition was an exciting way to learn.

“It was fun,” said Lorelai Nashton, a second grader from Jerrad Buttenschon’s class. “The best part was learning the facts.”

“It was intense,” added Hunter Bailey, a fourth grader from Corr and Scerra’s class. “I liked the introduction because I could hear people cheering me on.”

“The competition was exciting and the outcome was even better because we were both winners,” said Kayla Robbins, a fifth grader from Meghan Pokines’ class.

The inaugural event was a touchdown for the school and is expected to return next year.

“This was the first year this activity was done at Gansevoort,” Core said. “We received so much positive feedback that we will continue to do it in the future as a yearly tradition.”