Washington Steps Up for Math Challenge
Encouraging students to have fun with math is one of the primary goals of Washington Primary School teacher Christine Lofaro. The veteran educator was pleased when 45 third and fourth graders stepped up for November’s math challenge, striving to solve a set of problems on their own time.
Mrs. Lofaro teaches math at Washington School. Monthly math challenges are one of the tools the district is using to improve student skills and overall academic performance.
Washington Principal Marsha Neville commanded the building’s attention one afternoon last week when she utilized the school’s public address system to congratulate six students who submitted the correct set of answers to the most recent math challenge.
The contest drew entries from 28 third graders and 17 fourth graders. Third graders Nicholas Plachta, Ryan Avila-Aponte and Josephine Sullivan were honored along with fourth graders Lorena Ruiz Cely, Caroline McGreevy and Samuel Cirlincione for submitting the correct answers.
“We are so proud of the 45 boys and girls that chose to take up this challenge,” Mrs. Neville said. “It was my pleasure to congratulate our six winners for November. They were really excited to be recognized.”
Washington, like every other school in the Huntington School District, is determined to raise its state assessment results in every academic discipline, including math. Mrs. Lofaro and classroom teachers are leaving no stone unturned as they search for strategies to help each student develop to their fullest intellectual potential.
Teachers are participating in bi-weekly faculty meetings and regularly gathering with grade level colleagues to discuss efforts to improve classroom instruction and academic performance. Faculty members are also pursuing professional development activities after school throughout the year.