GALLERY: Southeast Bulloch High Hosts 41st Annual Penny Sikes Math Competition for 5th & 6th Grades

Each spring Math takes center court in Brooklet as fifth and sixth-grade mathletes from Bulloch County’s public, private, and home schools face off and make mathematics a spectator sport.

Organized and hosted annually by faculty from the Southeast Bulloch High School Math Department and sponsored by Morris Bank, the competition includes both an individual and ciphering round for each grade level. This year, on Saturday, March 16, 16 school teams participated including all of Bulloch County Schools’ 13 elementary and middle schools, two  Bulloch Academy teams, and a sixth-grade team from Trinity Christian School, plus homeschooled students competing individually. The competition is open to any public, private, charter, or homeschool students in Bulloch County, and entry is free.

Penny Sikes is a former Bulloch County Schools math teacher and administrator, who began the tournament in 1983, with an innovation grant from the school system.  The tournament is one of three local math competitions held annually which include Georgia Southern University’s Invitational Math Tournament for middle and high school students, and the Reggie Dawson Memorial Math Tournament for third and fourth graders.

Thank you to the SEBHS Math Department faculty and their volunteers for their dedication to this event: Maria Oliver, Steven Jarrel, Rachel Cobb, Katie Toole, Gillian McGalliard, Paula Kitchings, Savanna Landis, and Melissa Schubert

Fifth Grade Elementary School Individuals: Grace Choi, Brooklet Elementary – first place; Bert Batchelor, Brooklet Elementary – second place; Grant Mackelprang, homeschool – third place; Ethan Bennett, Portal Elementary – fourth place; Crue Baker, Bulloch Academy – fifth place; Carrie Nichols, Bulloch Academy – sixth place; Will Herman, Mattie Lively – seventh place; Davine Chen, Brooklet Elementary, eighth place; Turner McCormick, Brooklet Elementary – ninth place; Jada Smith, Mill Creek Elementary – tenth place.

Sixth Grade Middle School Individuals: Nancy Watanabe, William James Middle – first place; Ethan Key, Trinity Christian – second place; Wade Strickland, Bulloch Academy – third place; Asher Denmark, Southeast Bulloch Middle – fourth place; Daniel Spencer, Portal Middle – fifth place; Charlie Erney, Southeast Bulloch Middle – sixth place; Jai Patel, Southeast Bulloch Middle – seventh place; Lalie NeSmith, Portal Middle – eighth place; Sadie McGalliard, William James Middle – ninth place; Henry Runyan, Southeast Bulloch Middle – tenth place.

Fifth Grade Elementary School Ciphering Teams: Brooklet Elementary- first place with a perfect score; Bulloch Academy – second place; and Julia P. Bryant Elementary – third place.

Sixth Grade Middle School Ciphering Teams: Trinity Christian School – first place; Bulloch Academy – second place; and William James Middle – third place.

Fifth Grade Elementary School Overall Winning Teams:  Brooklet Elementary – first place; Bulloch Academy – second place; and Julia P. Bryant Elementary – third place.

Sixth Grade Middle School Overall Winning Teams:  Bulloch Academy – first place; William James Middle – second place; and Southeast Bulloch Middle – third place