Students to match wits in this year’s pentathlon

Madera County’s middle school students are putting their minds to the test during the 2019 Academic Pentathlon on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 16.

This year’s topic is The 1960s: A Transformational Decade.

More than 230 students from 14 schools from throughout Madera County will take tests in the area of fine arts, literature, science, social science, and will write essays. The Super Quiz will be the final event in this five-event competition and will be held Saturday, March 16, followed by an awards ceremony.

This year’s Super Quiz will be a collaborative effort. Students in each round will be allowed to discuss the question for 10 seconds and then answer the question independently. Questions will be based on all of the subject areas.

“Students work very hard studying and preparing for the competition,” said county Superintendent of Schools Cecelia Massetti. “Our pentathletes have risen to the challenge.”

“We are excited to see them demonstrate their knowledge of a variety of topics on the Super Quiz. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and recognize their efforts at the awards ceremony.”

Each school is allowed one seventh grade and one eighth grade team. Each team may have up to 15 students.

Students must compete in all five events. They studied the history, music and art of the 1960s, learned about laser technology, and read The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano.

Students in both seventh and eighth grades will receive gold, silver, and bronze medals in each individual event as well as fourth- and fifth-place medals. Rosette ribbons will be awarded to the winning Super Quiz teams. The overall winning teams will receive a team plaque and perpetual plaque. All students receive a participation certificate and pin.

The Super Quiz will be held at Ranchos Middle School at 9 a.m. on March 16. The awards ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend both events.

“Students have had so much fun discovering the 1960s and learning about this year’s topic,” said Massetti. “We are happy to welcome the students from the Raymond-Knowles School District back to this year’s competition.”

Other participating schools include: Chawanakee Academy Charter, Coarsegold Elementary, Eastin-Arcola, Howard Elementary, Jack G. Desmond Middle School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, Mountain Home Charter, North Fork Elementary, Ranchos Middle School, Rivergold Elementary, Sherman Thomas S.T.E.M. Academy, Spring Valley, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, and Wasuma Elementary Schools.