NEWS RELEASE:
GALION– Students from Galion Intermediate School have been busy preparing for the annual Academic Challenge competition at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center Jan. 23 and Jan. 24.
Students have been preparing by practicing on Fridays after school with Mr. Neal Rinehart and Ms. Paula Seng. Students split into teams to practice answering challenging questions on white boards, play Jeopardy or other similar trivia-themed games and practice with the buzzers.
“The students work on understanding the format for answering and stealing questions from the other school when they miss a question as well as how the lightning round works,” said Rinehart, fifth grade teacher and coach. “The students also work on many types of questions in the areas of math, literature, geography, history, economics and science.”
This competition is important for students because it is an opportunity for students who have shown academic excellence in the classroom to be recognized for their hard work. Students get a chance to engage in fun, friendly competition with other bright students, making the Academic Challenge a great learning opportunity!
“I’ve even learned new things from attending tournaments the past few years,” said Seng, fourth grade teacher and coach. “The questions are tough, and the great part of coaching Academic Challenge watching how often the kids will come up correct answers to seemingly impossible questions!”
Fourth grade students competing in the Academic Challenge include: Paige Beach, Jacob Chambers, Logan Estep, Jazmin Fair, Adalie Flick, Ava Franks, Marissa Godfrey, Chloe Jutz, Carly Kent, Jasleen Mann, Autumn Miller, Emma Perman, Collin Pelen, Isabella Ruiz, Aiden Smith and Courtney Viock, Bianca White. Fifth grade students include: Carson Ahlefeld, Sarah Peoples, Cohen Pierce, Nathan McMullen, Jillian Capretta, Jaxon Manley, Ella Steele, and Jack Rinehart.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to coach this group of fifth graders,” said Rinehart. “We were together last year for academic challenge as fourth graders and look forward to success at the tournaments.”