Middle school students who have been recommended to participate in the math team have traveled to Georgia Power during the winter season to participate in many math solving competitions. These problems are almost college level and the middle schoolers are solving them. The students work very hard every year to do their best at these competitions, and this allows them to push themselves to their greatest capabilities. The math team also gives students an opportunity to learn tough math related ideas before they even take the class for it. The current middle schoolers on the math team have certainly proved their excellence throughout their competitions and even qualified for the state competition. 

This year the Armuchee Middle School Math Team had two girls qualify and compete at state. These two young ladies are both from different grade levels but practiced their hardest and were rewarded with the chance to go to state. This state competition was a great experience for the two girls, and Avery Riley, an 8th grader, said, “I enjoyed the state competition. We didn’t win anything but we got there and got to meet a lot of new people and we did alright.” Avery confirms that while they did not win anything it was still a great experience due to the fact she met new people and had fun. The state math competition was a new challenge for these two. Gabby Johnson, a 7th grader, was the second young lady to qualify for state, and she said, “The region competition had ten fewer questions and more middle school basics, and when we got to state, it was more calculus.” Gabby had done very well for her region competition, while struggling a bit during the competition. These two ladies qualifying for this state competition proves their excellence in math, and they will only continue to grow.

During the math team season, these middle schoolers have been to many places to participate in competitions. The middle schoolers have had many practices to prepare for these competitions, and their hard work pays off when they get to these competitions. Jaycee and Bennelli said, “We went to Georgia Power, and during practice, we [solved] difficult math problems.” This demonstrates how these 8th graders have used all their practice to compete at these events and solve these challenging problems. Mrs. Abston said, “Middle school math team recently competed at the Georgia Power Math Competition. Our team placed third out of

nine teams and had two students, Gabby Johnson and Avery Riley qualified for state.” All these students, especially the two students who qualified for state, have conveyed their dedication to the team because of this accomplishment. This demonstrates how the middle school math team has been working hard to participate and succeed in the many difficult seasons of math team.

Math team is a way for middle schoolers to present their skill and ability to interpret difficult problems concerning math, while also having fun in the process. One middle school member, Gabby Johnson, said , “I have definitely enjoyed my time on the math team because it gives you extra time to focus on things you’re good at.” Gabby explains how she has had an amazing time on the math team, expressing her passion and extreme capability towards math. Many kids may not want to participate in math team because it seems too hard, but even through the struggles, these middle school math team members have kept solving more math problems, learning new things along the way. Bennelli Dempsy and Jaycee Everett  said, “I would recommend the math team to new middle school students if they feel like they do better in math than in other classes.” Some students, like Bennelli and Jaycee, believe that only those who enjoy doing math could join math team. Gabby Johnson said, “I would definitely recommend this to upcoming students.” This reveals how much enjoyment she has found in the season of math team and how she would like new middle schoolers to experience it as well. Therefore, many of the participants of the math team have agreed that the math team is both a great way to express their math skills and also have fun.

While the middle schoolers have enjoyed math team, they have also learned new things along the way and were able to be challenged.  Jaycee, an 8th grade math team member, said, “I learned scientific notation before I learned it in this class.” Gabby Johnson even said, “The math team has taught me about factorials.”  These new challenging questions have pushed the math team members to do their best as well. Avery Riley, an 8th grade state qualifier, said, “It’s better for kids who already know how to do math. It’s a challenging class.” This proves that math team has been able to push the students who have excelled at math. Giving them challenges they needed to become better. All of these students have grown their math skills more due to the help of the Middle School math team. These students have been learning math beyond their grade level, and although they believe it is difficult they have grown as mathematicians.

Mrs. Abston has been leading the middle school math team these past two years, and it is because of her passion for math. Mrs. Abston said, “What convinced me to start a math team is my love of math!” With her love for math as motivation, Mrs. Abston has been able to push her students to the fullest in all their activities. Mrs. Abston leads all math teams however she is always able to manage all of them, even if it can be stressful at times. Mrs. Abston said, “It’s a little overwhelming at times because we have 3 math teams – middle, JV, and Varsity, but the students are fabulous kids!” She verifies how even when leading all math teams she still gives her best for the students, and that is what allows her to excel at what she does

All in all, there are many brilliant, talented, and determined children on math team. They have learned many new things this year at these math competitions and practices. They can carry and use these new capabilities with them into future years of high school, surprising all their upcoming teachers of their brilliance in math. These members have also enjoyed their time on the math team, expressing their knack for math. Gabby Johnson said, “I wanted to join the math team because it’s my best subject!”  Gabby explains how the math team is not only good for anyone, but it is an especially great opportunity for students whose best subject is math. Overall these middle schoolers have done wonderfully this year and will only continue to improve and grow as they move forward.