Math competition attracts well over a thousand students

Nearly 1,500 fifth-eigthth graders in 377 teams from 99 schools from across the state converged on the Blaine schools campus Saturday to compete in the Washington State Math Championship. The contest, the largest single-day academic competition in the state, is sponsored each year by ConocoPhillips Ferndale Refinery and hosted by the Blaine school district. Awards were presented to the top 10 individual performers in each grade and to the top 15 teams in each grade.

“The employees and families of ConocoPhillips Ferndale Refinery are proud to be part of this important event for young people in our community and across the state,” said Brent Woodland, Operations Manager, who presented a check for $5,000 to Blaine school district superintendent Dr. Mary Lynne Derrington. “Math and critical reasoning skills are as relevant to our operations today as they were when the refinery was built 50 years ago. We believe sponsoring events like this supports kids’ enthusiasm for excelling in education.”

The fifth grade team from Happy Valley elementary school in Bellingham won 12th place. The sixth grade team from Fairhaven middle school also in Bellingham won 13th place.

Blaine schools were well represented in the competition by three fifth grade teams, four sixth grade teams, two seventh grade teams and three eighth grade teams. A total of 22 elementary and middle schools in Whatcom County sent teams.

Numerous volunteers from the community came out to support the event by serving as room proctors and helping to correct the more than 3,500 tests taken. Many Blaine students helped out in various roles, including runners who picked up the tests from the classrooms and brought them to the high school science lab to be corrected.