Students test math skills

Seventeen third-, fourth- and fifth-grade contestants from seven parish schools competed Monday in the 10th annual Multiplication Learning Wrap-ups contest.
The contest consists of wrapping a string around a math multiplication key. The students who quickly complete the facts correctly win.
Each of the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders representing Aucoin Elementary, Centerville School, Hernandez Elementary, LaGrange Elementary, Patterson Junior High, Raintree Elementary and Hattie Watts Elementary competed at the school level earlier this month. The students with the best times advanced to the district level.
Angelia Vaughns, math paraprofessional, said, “The purpose of the Math Wrap-ups Contest is to award those students who work diligently all year to learn their multiplication facts. Since the beginning of the school year, we, the math tutors, have been working with our students and preparing them for the highlight of the year, the multiplication learning wrap up contest at the district level.”
Sharon Brown, Title I instructional specialist, said students whose test results show there is a need for additional assistance in math are selected to the program in which they work with paraprofessionals all year.
Throughout the year, students are added to or subtracted from the program as needed. Currently there are 354 elementary students receiving the extra math help in St. Mary Parish, Brown said.
The contest is only a small portion of what the students do each year, she said.
In the past, principals expressed a need for kids to learn multiplication facts, so the program came to fruition after a training Brown attended a decade ago.
The contest “gives the kids a sense of accomplishment because concepts that they didn’t initially know, now they know,” Brown said.
In order of placement, the students are:
—Third grade: Damori Austin, Hernandez; Bailey Ladd, Raintree; Amircle Tillman, LaGrange; Trinajah Williams, Centerville; Elena Javier, Watts; and Natalie Perez, Aucoin.
—Fourth grade: Paola Sanchez, Aucoin; Dustin Ladd, Raintree; Ryan Romero, Centerville; Nijah Bowles, Hernandez; Zorrie Spain, Watts; and Xavier Bourgeois, LaGrange.
—Fifth grade: Jaysean Mack, Hernandez; Tryeck Colbert, Centerville; Bar-Kim Thomas, LaGrange; Diana Perez, Aucoin; and Makiyla Griffin, Patterson Junior.