Schools
Woodlands Academy hosts Mathalon for middle school girls
Nearly 40 7th and 8th grade girls from area schools used their math skills in creative ways during Mathalon at Woodlands Academy Oct. 5.
A trio from Bannockburn Middle School was the winning team at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart’s eighth annual Mathalon event Oct. 5. In all, 12 teams of 7th and 8th grade girls from nine area schools spent a Saturday morning putting their math skills to the test in creative, problem-solving ways at the all-girls college-prep high school in Lake Forest.
Finishing in second place this year was Palatine’s Quest Academy followed by Grayslake’s St. Gilbert School Team 1 in third place. Two schools from Chicago rounded out the top five: Sacred Heart Schools Sheridan Road Team 1 in fourth place and The Frances Xavier Warde School in fifth place.
Also participating in this year’s Woodlands Academy Mathalon were the following schools from Lake and Cook counties, listed alphabetically:
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- Carleton Washburne Middle School, Winnetka
- East Lake Academy, Lake Forest
- Lake Bluff Middle School
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Waukegan
Woodlands Academy’s new principal this year, Rocco Gargiulo, continues both his classroom role as a math teacher and his Mathalon involvement. “Our visiting teams of middle school girls tackle eight events, none of which are rote paper and pencil drills, with Woodlands students providing help and encouragement,” he said. “These events are hands-on cooperative activities that engage students to use mathematics in creative, problem-solving ways. They involve mathematical computation, estimation, visual/spacial reasoning, logic and the use of technology.”
Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic day-and-boarding high school for young women in grades nine through 12 that promotes academic, artistic and athletic excellence along with global awareness, social responsibility and strong faith.
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According to research cited by the National Coalition of Girls' Schools, all-girls' schools lead the way in graduating women who become our nation's scientists, doctors, engineers, designers and inventors. It’s also been shown that girls' school graduates are more likely to consider majoring in math, science and technology and are more likely to consider engineering careers compared to girls who attend coed schools.
Pictures of all the teams participating in this year’s Mathalon event can be seen on Woodlands Academy’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/woodlandsacademy.
