Foxcroft, Notre Dame take top prizes at Math/Science Day
If the Ferrell McClean Math/Science Competition, held April 4 at Foxcroft School, was supposed to give girls a chance to experience the challenge and satisfaction of an academic competition, the day was an absolute success.
If it was meant to fuel friendly competition among three local independent schools -- Foxcroft, Highland School and Notre Dame Academy -- it was an absolute success.
If it was to show any remaining doubters out there who still think girls "don’t get math and science," it was an absolute success.
Mostly, though it was just fun.
If it was meant to fuel friendly competition among three local independent schools -- Foxcroft, Highland School and Notre Dame Academy -- it was an absolute success.
If it was to show any remaining doubters out there who still think girls "don’t get math and science," it was an absolute success.
Mostly, though it was just fun.
Anyone wandering the halls of Foxcroft’s Schoolhouse Saturday when more than 100 girls competed in a variety of fun and offbeat math, science and engineering challenges on could see that.
The competition, which was a Foxcroft -- only event in its debut last year, went interscholastic and nearly doubled participation with 22 teams, made up of girls ranging from grades 8 through 12. Competing in teams of three to five girls each, they took on six different challenges. Groups were given 30 minutes for each of the activities, which ranged from "Murder She Wrote," where the girls solved murder situations by logical deduction, and "A Bridge Too Far," which involved building the strongest 40 cm bridge possible with popsicle sticks and rubber bands, to "Separation Anxiety," a simple Chemistry exercise and "Quick Sand," which took serious logic, math and scientific knowledge.
After all the teams had completed every challenge and everyone had dinner, the top three teams faced off in a "Final Jeopardy" round in FoxHound Auditorium. Thos teams were Notre Dame’s Team Cranium, composed of Lizz, Iris, Kelsey and Emily, and Foxcroft teams Vertex (Ellie '10, Amy '11, Jialin '10 and Erica '11) and Alpha (seniors Julia, Lauren Alex, Olivia and Caroline). They were all quick on their feet -- and with the buzzers answering questions in such categories as Chemistry, Geometry and Astronomy some were easy and some required a flawless computation along with knowledge of key equations.
Cranium won Jeopardy, thereby taking the overall team title, but Foxcroft took the school championship -- and the biggest trophy -- based on point total by tree teams from each school. Foxcroft finished with 66 points to Notre Dame’s 48 and Highland’s 31.
Cranium also won two of the six individual event titles, as did the Foxcroft Isotope Team of sophomores Lida, Charlotte and Isabel. Highland’s Integral Team and Foxcroft’s Beta Team (Vivian '09, Sohee '11, Shelly '10 and Jae '11) each won one event. Two terrific gift baskets went to Effie '11 of Foxcroft and Iris for a combination of brains and luck. They solved problems offered during the breaks in the team competition, earning a chance to be in the raffle for the baskets -- and were drawn.
After all the festivities were over, students and faculty moved to Currier Library, where Sandra Song, associate director of Georgia Tech’s Women in Engineering Program, spoke about opportunities for women in engineering and the program at Tech, which graduates more female engineers than any other university in the nation.
The next day, Notre Dame and Highland signed up for next year's competition!
Many thanks to Math Department Chair Susan Erba and all the Math and Science Teachers for organizing this wonderful day and to Ferrell Page McClean '64 for her support of the math Department -- and giving the girls a chance to see how challenging and how much fun an academic competition can be!
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The competition, which was a Foxcroft -- only event in its debut last year, went interscholastic and nearly doubled participation with 22 teams, made up of girls ranging from grades 8 through 12. Competing in teams of three to five girls each, they took on six different challenges. Groups were given 30 minutes for each of the activities, which ranged from "Murder She Wrote," where the girls solved murder situations by logical deduction, and "A Bridge Too Far," which involved building the strongest 40 cm bridge possible with popsicle sticks and rubber bands, to "Separation Anxiety," a simple Chemistry exercise and "Quick Sand," which took serious logic, math and scientific knowledge.
After all the teams had completed every challenge and everyone had dinner, the top three teams faced off in a "Final Jeopardy" round in FoxHound Auditorium. Thos teams were Notre Dame’s Team Cranium, composed of Lizz, Iris, Kelsey and Emily, and Foxcroft teams Vertex (Ellie '10, Amy '11, Jialin '10 and Erica '11) and Alpha (seniors Julia, Lauren Alex, Olivia and Caroline). They were all quick on their feet -- and with the buzzers answering questions in such categories as Chemistry, Geometry and Astronomy some were easy and some required a flawless computation along with knowledge of key equations.
Cranium won Jeopardy, thereby taking the overall team title, but Foxcroft took the school championship -- and the biggest trophy -- based on point total by tree teams from each school. Foxcroft finished with 66 points to Notre Dame’s 48 and Highland’s 31.
Cranium also won two of the six individual event titles, as did the Foxcroft Isotope Team of sophomores Lida, Charlotte and Isabel. Highland’s Integral Team and Foxcroft’s Beta Team (Vivian '09, Sohee '11, Shelly '10 and Jae '11) each won one event. Two terrific gift baskets went to Effie '11 of Foxcroft and Iris for a combination of brains and luck. They solved problems offered during the breaks in the team competition, earning a chance to be in the raffle for the baskets -- and were drawn.
After all the festivities were over, students and faculty moved to Currier Library, where Sandra Song, associate director of Georgia Tech’s Women in Engineering Program, spoke about opportunities for women in engineering and the program at Tech, which graduates more female engineers than any other university in the nation.
The next day, Notre Dame and Highland signed up for next year's competition!
Many thanks to Math Department Chair Susan Erba and all the Math and Science Teachers for organizing this wonderful day and to Ferrell Page McClean '64 for her support of the math Department -- and giving the girls a chance to see how challenging and how much fun an academic competition can be!
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
