Math Team Calculates Fun

By Larissa Lytwyn

  The Newtown Middle School Math Team has been in existence for about a decade, but only recently has the group been growing in popularity.

  “It’s been great to see a high number of returning members,” noted seventh grade science teacher Lisa Pumas, the team’s advisor. “We currently have 18 kids involved!”

  Ms Pumas said students “try out” via a basic math assessment. “I make the test up myself,” she said.

  Many of the students involved are also members of the gifted-student Discovery Program.

  “We’re definitely all individuals!” declared member Allison Jagoe.

  Between solving word problems and deciphering prealgebra calculations, the group spent a lot of time laughing and talking with each other.

  “As members of the Fairfield County Junior Math League, we have five meets each school year,” said Ms Pumas. “We travel a lot.”

  On November 18, the math team is heading to a meet in Fairfield.

  “The meets really aren’t all that competitive,” said Ms Pumas. The emphasis, she continued, is on members’ applying their math skills in practical ways.  The group also promotes teamwork.

  “At this age, we really are just about maintaining student interest in math,” said Ms Pumas. “It’s a great group!”