Math; A Passport To Learning And Fun

ESSEX, CT — With an eye toward learning and fun, Essex Elementary School math coach, Shannon Vandermale, along with funding from the Essex Elementary School Foundation (EESF), inspired and engaged students this summer with the inaugural Math Passport program.

One hundred and fifteen Essex Elementary School students, in grades first through sixth, participated in the innovative program and spent part of their summer vacation "traveling" through town looking for answers to math equations.

Students received their passports the last week of May, which contained math questions at various grade levels related to businesses, non-profits, buildings, and historical sites located throughout Essex such as; visiting Scoops Ice Cream to calculate the cost difference between a small and large cone, or looking for and documenting geometric shapes found at the town park. The questions were specifically formatted so that students who were away on summer vacation could also participate in the fun.

According to Sarah Wadle, owner of First Position Media, who represents EESF, the Foundation proudly supported the Summer Math Passport Program by funding the printing costs of the passports, along with prizes for those who participated.

Participants who completed at least six activities received a deck of playing cards, and every student who turned in their passport was entered into a grade-level raffle to receive a gift certificate to Toys Ahoy in Essex, also donated by EESF. The Foundation is so proud of the students and their math accomplishments that it has already committed to supporting the program again for the summer of 2022.

“We were thrilled to see the number of students who participated in this inaugural program,” said Bill Jacaruso, President of the EESF. “The Foundation looks to continue to support programs like this to help students continue to develop their math skills all year long.”

The Grade Level Winners of the Summer Math Passport Program:

Grade 1: Abigail Fryxell
Grade 2: Teagan Sullivan
Grade 3: Jayda Harp
Grade 4: Ginny Paulin
Grade 5: Robbie Giacobbe
Grade 6: Daniel Charbonnier

Great job EES students!

.