Greenvale Trio Qualifies for State Mathematics Tournament

For three Greenvale students in Cindy Tolomeo and Lauren Ingram’s third-grade class, the WIN Period is already paying off—literally. 

Last month, Jin Narigon, Yuto Fukaya and Francis Musso all shined in the qualifying round of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Statewide Mathematics Tournament, earning the right to compete in the state championships this June in Albany, NY.

But the trio’s performance thus far in the academic competition, which is run in conjunction with First In Math—a free online program sponsored by NYSED—speaks not only to the aptitude of the youngsters but also to the way their skills have been honed throughout the year in the WIN (What I Need) Period.

“Our math coach, Meera Rajani, came in and showed the students a video about the competition. These three students are really engaged and motivated by competition and by math, so this was the perfect opportunity for them,” said Tolomeo. “They really took to this program, so they have been spending time in the WIN Period working on these challenges, which I think helped prepare them to go on the computer and compete in this event.”

During the March 19 qualifier, the three students worked independently in a timed assessment that asked them to use two operations and a wheel of numbers to come up with equations that equaled the number 24. Their performance in this exercise put them among the top students in New York, qualifying them for the state championships—as a three-person team—at the end of the school year. 

Tolomeo credited the WIN Period—a flexible daily block that allows for students to receive personalized instruction, enrichment opportunities and targeted support in the classroom—with allowing Narigon, Fukaya and Musso an outlet to further hone their STEM skills and ultimately excel in this statewide competition. 

“Without the WIN period, they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to take these next steps and play these higher-level games,” said Tolomeo. “Sometimes, it can be difficult to challenge all students during a typical math period, but during WIN, I am able to pull students—including these three—and challenge them in other areas outside of the curriculum.”

In recognition of the trio’s state-qualifying performance, Greenvale will receive $1,000 dollars from NYSED. Winners at the June event can win up to $5,000 for their respective schools.

But beyond the prize money, Tolomeo said that this level of academic competition can benefit students in a number of ways, perhaps none more important than giving youngsters a chance to work towards a common goal in a competitive group setting. 

“They have been working individually on their computers, but now we’re transitioning them to working in a team of three; now, it’s not just ‘my way’ of solving a problem, they’re going to have to listen to their teammates, which can be a big change,” she explained. “I feel like third grade is a good time, when the students have enough skills and can work with others and listen to each other’s points of view.”