Third graders from Mrs. Sybert's class participated in the First Tennessee District Sumdog Math Competition. Sumdog is the largest series of mathematics competitions America has ever seen. Sumdog adapts its questions to each student's ability. In addition, teachers can restrict questions to specific grades within the Common Core State Standards. All contests start at 8am on Friday and end on the following Thursday at 8pm.

During the contest, 4 local school competed, 217 students played, and answered a grand total of 77,748 questions (67,035 correctly). The 18 students from Ketron Elementary answered 11,922 questions correctly between them. The contested ended with Ketron as the clear winner with 518 points. Bluff City Elementary followed with 322 points and Vance Middle School took third with 264. Of the participating students, Mrs. Sybert had 10 students score in the top 25%: Brycen Hartgrove, Dakota Hamilton, Matthew Eaton, Jasmine Fugate, Miguel Almaguer, Austin Nelson, Malachi Short, Mercedes Standley, Kelani Fleck, and Roman Price. Special recognition to Brycen Hartgrove who earned 1^st place, he answered the most correct questions with the highest percent of accuracy. 

Second graders in Mrs. Sherre Vaughn's class at Rock Springs experienced a unique Common Core unit based upon the Beatles.  In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the "Fab Four's" arrival in America, Mrs. Vaughn developed a Common Core unit based upon the essential question, "What if the Beatles had not come to the U.S.?"   Students searched for and identified relevant information in various non-fiction texts such as Beatlefan Magazine and biographies.  Data was gathered, interpreted and represented as classmates surveyed and graphed  favorite Beatles songs.  Integrating technology allowed students to collaboratively research and then present projects on England. Mrs.Vaughn says the timing was perfect because the children were seeing so much on tv specials that they could bring in to the classroom.   The unit culminated with food experiences including Strawberry Field cupcakes, John Lemonhead candies, Twist and Shout Pretzels, Ringo Starrburst candy and more.  When students used various media to interpret song lyrics through art, the story was reported upon by internet publications in California, Japan, Beunos Aires, Denmark and the United Kingdom.  

ISE fourth graders entered the 4-H Bread Baking contest held on February 6.

We had forty-nine student entries of cornmeal muffins.  Thank you, Vickie Clark and Walter Malone, 4-H Extension Agents for making 4-H so much fun.

MRS. ROBINETTE'S HOMEROOM
First Place, Grayson Dugger
Second Place, Emalyne Hubbard
Third Place, Sadie Bellamy

MRS. MAINS' HOMEROOM
First Place, Dillon Pierce
Second Place, Anthony Henderson
Third Place, Grayson Williams

MRS. CALHOUN'S HOMEROOM
First Place, Emma Grace Niebruegge
Second Place, Perry Roller
Third Place, Taylor Strickler