Good Hope Country Day School Captures MATHCOUNTS Champisonship In St. Croix District

ST. CROIX — A team from the Good Hope Country Day School (GHCD) won the St. Croix district 2017 MATHCOUNTS Chapter competition on Wednesday, after facing off at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Great Hall with four other district school teams.

Members of the GHCD team are Patrick Boring, the top scorer in the contest and also the winner of the countdown round, Molly Browsdon; Collin Grey and Maya Griffith.  The team is coached by Gary Molloy.

Fifty students competing represented Ricardo Richards Elementary, Alfredo Andrews Elementary, Church of God Holiness Academy, John H. Woodson, Jr. High and Good Hope Country Day.  Ricardo Richards and Alfredo Andrews Elementary Schools have been participating in the mathematical competition designed for junior high school students for several years.

Ricardo Richards School MATHCOUNTS coach Zahra O’Reilly is proud that her former students Marck Sinco and Christian St. Rose, competing with John H. Woodson Jr. High team are now on St. Croix’s MATHCOUNTS team.  Alfredo Andrews School MATHCOUNTS coach Loretta Whilby-Royes also expressed satisfaction that her former mathletes are now members of a junior high school team.  “I am bringing them out to this contest for the experience,” she said of her 5^th and 6^th grade students participating on the school’s team. “I see potential in them and by the time they reach the junior high level they are well prepared to take on the mathematical equations in the MATHCOUNTS competition.”  Michael Quinn and Stephen Marcel are the coaches for the John H. Woodson Jr. High and the Church of God Holiness Academy, respectively.

Students competed in the sprint round, the target round, team round and the countdown round, the latter being a fast-paced, oral contest for eighth top-scoring students based on scores in the sprint and target rounds. Subjects included algebra, probability, statistics and geometry.

Local sponsors of the 2017 MATCOUNTS competition include the Virgin Islands Department of Education, Rotary Club Mid-Isle, and Ocwen Mortgage Serving, LLC.

MATHCOUNTS is a national program designed to improve math skills among U.S. students. The program focuses on middle school students, who are at a crucial stage in developing and sustaining math interest and ability. Students who do not begin developing strong problem-solving, logical thinking and analytical abilities in middle school will face an uphill battle later in life if they wish to pursue a medical, scientific, mathematical, engineering or technical career.

Mathematics Coordinator Juanita Boneque produces the St. Croix District MATHCOUNTS competition for the Virgin Islands Department of Education Division of Curriculum and Instruction.

Feature Image: Good Hope Country Day School MATHCOUNTS Coach Gary Molloy poses with his winning team, from right, Patrick Boring, Cehara Briscoe, Saba Alfred and Molly Browsdon. (Credit: D.O.E.)