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The 2008 MATHCOUNTS team –On the left: Math teacher Lisa Collins, Matthew Foster, and Jordan Webb. On the right, Middle School Principal Anne Martin, Katie Wilson, Reiko Pearson.

On April 3-6, Middle School principal Anne Martin, math teacher Lisa Collins, and four Middle school students went to Rochester, New York for a MATHCOUNTS competition sponsored by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. More than 50 students with hearing loss from across the country participated in the MATHCOUNTS competition. This competition - designed specifically for middle school students who are deaf or hard of hearing - is designed to promote math as fun and engaging. The competition had three rounds that tested speed, accuracy, teamwork and additional "mathletic" skills.

Tennessee School for the Deaf Middle school students Katie Wilson, Reiko Pearson, Jordan Webb, and Matthew Foster were the students in the competition. Twelve teams and 57 students from across the United States competed. The Tennessee School for the Deaf MATHCOUNTS team finished in sixth place and Jordan Webb placed second in the competition! Jordan received a $75 prize and a trophy. Congratulations to our MATHCOUNTS team and their sponsors for a great trip!

Trip to New York
By Katie Wilson

We went to Rochester, New York. Mrs. Anne Martin, Miss Lisa Collins, Jordan, Reiko, and Matt went with me to New York. We went there for the Mathcounts competition at RIT.

My best part of the trip was to make new friends. I made two new friends. Their names are Sarah and Hannah. I met many new faces from different states. I met people who are from Texas, Delaware, and New York. I had two roommates named Sarah and Unique. Sarah is from New York. Unique is from Delaware. They are nice and ecstatic (happy) girls.

My awkward moment was when I went on a trip with the three boys. They drove me crazy because they were wild, teased, and played with me. They teased me about when I fell over the huge box on the second floor of the Radisson hotel. I was so mortified (embarrassed). I hated it that I went with them, but I am glad that I am not roommate with boys!

At the Math competition, we won sixth place for our team. Jordan Webb won second place for individuality. Lots of people were impressed that Jordan beat three students except other one student who won first place named Ted Zoerner from California. Ted Zoerner won last year too. We called Ted a nickname,Teddy Bear. It was Matt's idea. We are glad that we beat six different schools. We are a great team!

After the competition, we went back to the Radisson Hotel. We stayed at the hotel for a while. We walked back to RIT/NTID. We ate Mexican food for supper. Then we went to ride a bus to go to the Clubhouse Fun Center and Go Carts. I challenged Jordan to dance a Slat Slot. I beat him so badly! I had a lot of fun in New York. I wish I could stay in the 8th grade next year. Then I can go New York again. Next year, please beat Teddy Bear!!!

Mathcounts In New York
By Reiko Pearson

We went to Rochester,New York. The people who went were Matt Foster, Jordan Webb, Katie Wilson, Reiko Pearson, Lisa Collins, and Anne Martin. We went to compete in Mathcounts.

When we went there , we went to Lake Ontario. We also saw RSD (Rochester School for the Deaf). We met many people from all over the U.S. who were deaf or hard of hearing.

It was very awkward to meet new people. It also felt weird to be in another state. I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach when the competition started.

The competition did not turn out bad. Jordan Webb got 2nd place and I won 35th place. That was not bad for our first year there.

Trip to New York
By Matthew Foster

I went to Rochester, New York. Jordan, Katie, Reiko, Ms.Lisa, Mrs. Martin, and I went together to New York. The reason we went was for Math Competition at RIT. I was excited to be going to Rochester for my first time. Rochester has some swamps there; it was cool! At Rochester I saw Ontario Lake, it was foggy too.

The best part of my trip is that we got to do activities for free! The fun activities that we had were bowling and the fun center. When we were driving on the way to New York, Reiko asked Ms.Lisa what her favorite "pro team" was and Ms.Lisa said "chicken". All of us looked at her in a funny way. Ms. Lisa thought they said "protein", and her favorite protein is chicken!

I did enjoy going to New York. It was my first time in my lifetime being there. It was my best weekend!

Trip to New York
By Jordan Webb

We went to Rochester, New York with Matt, Katie, Reiko, Mrs. Martin, and Ms. Lisa Collins. We went to Rochester for Math counts competition where we competed against other deaf and hard of hearing students from different schools. In Math counts competition, there were 14 schools, Tennessee School for the Deaf, Texas School for the Deaf, Illinois School for the Deaf, Delaware School for the Deaf, Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, New York State School for the Deaf, Florida School for the Deaf, Brighton/ Pittsford/ Penfield, New York School, Haggard Middle School, Honeoye Falls Lima Middle School, Liverpool Middle School, Rochester School for the Deaf, Venado Middle School, and Whole Me-Solvay Middle School.

My best part of this trip was socializing with other people and students in other schools. Friday night, the night before math competition, we went bowling and ate pizza there. We bowled terribly but we still had fun! On Saturday night after math competition, we went to Clubhouse Fun Center. There are go-karts, golf, and arcade. I also had fun there too!

I felt awkward because I was selected for the last five of the math competition championship or not. But I was selected in 5th place. I went against a girl named Vivian, who was in 4th place. I beat her in a hot contest, then I went against Ilan who was in 3rd place, I beat him in good matchup, then I went against Karissa who was in 2nd place. I was down 2-1 against her then rallied and came back and beat her 3-2! I went against the defending champion from last year, Ted. He beat me 3-0 and he is champion again! I am satisfied with 2nd place and represented TSD well by winning for my school.

I had fun in New York, socializing with new friends from different schools, and we also had fun together. I also learned new things at RIT and learned new magic from students. I hope next year some of you will go to New York and represent TSD well.

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