Math

HALFWAY -- For almost 38 years, Greg Eversole has worked hard to build up the confidence of his Washington County students. "I've been blessed every one of those years with great experiences and great rapport with kids and teachers," said Eversole, who turns 60 on Sept. 30. As a math teacher, he also wanted to help students see that math wasn't as difficult as they've been led to believe. "I'm a very visual teacher. They have to be able to see it to understand it," said Eversole, of Halfway.

Jamie Mason was recognized Tuesday as the Golden Apple Awards Teacher of the Year for 2009-10 during a Washington County Board of Education meeting. Mason is a math teacher at Clear Spring Middle School. Teacher of the Year finalists were: o Sara Belin, a fifth-grade teacher at Bester Elementary School o Amber Madigan, a math teacher at Smithsburg Middle School o Kevin Seburn, a science teacher at Washington County Technical High School o David Warrenfeltz, a math teacher at North Hagerstown High School o Tracey Wolbert, a first-grade teacher at Salem Avenue Elementary School o Amy Yingling, a French teacher at Springfield Middle School "These teachers represent the best of the best," Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Morgan said during the meeting.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Students at more than 70 percent of Eastern Panhandle schools scored higher in math or reading on West Virginia's revamped standardized achievement tests than statewide averages this spring. But the WESTEST 2 results released last week by the West Virginia Department of Education also show only 19 of 44 schools exceeded state averages of proficiency in both subject areas. C.W. Shipley Elementary School near Harpers Ferry, W.Va., not only scored higher, but the 221 students tested there in grades three through five notched a pair of the highest proficient percentages statewide, according to the results.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- While state lawmakers struggle to pass a budget in Harrisburg, the Greencastle-Antrim School Board managed to squeeze enough from its funds to buy K-6 grade students updated mathematics textbooks. In a 7-0 vote Thursday, the board agreed to spend $85,044 on a new math curriculum for its primary, elementary and middle school students through grade six. Assistant Superintendent Bob Crider said the program, enVision Math, will better prepare district students for state standardized tests.

o Is standardized testing a good measure of whether students are learning? Cast your vote HAGERSTOWN -- Every public elementary and middle school in Washington County met this year's proficiency standard for state testing, school district officials announced Tuesday. Also, the school system set records for scores in 12 areas -- each grade from 3 through 8, in both math and reading. Several schools posted their best scores ever in reading, math or both. One was Smithsburg Middle School's 93.7 percent proficiency in reading and 92.5 percent in math, which are record highs for the county.

Science, math focus of draft curriculum The Washington County Board of Education received a draft Tuesday of a five-year plan to improve science, technology, engineering and math instruction, also known as STEM. Sandra Graff, supervisor of secondary science for Washington County Public Schools, said those subjects already are part of the school system curriculum. However, the STEM five-year plan involves a more coordinated effort. "The plan reflects our intent to try to develop those connections and give students the strength of seeing those things at the same time," she said.

Steven Wolfe, this year's president and a member of the Grace Academy Missions Team for the past six years, is graduating from Grace Academy this spring. Hanna Eby became the new president at the end-of-year meeting on May 11. Hanna will be a ninth-grader in the fall, and has been very active on the Missions Team for the past two years. In the past six years, the Grace Academy Missions Team has volunteered at more than 100 events, with organizations such as Easter Seals, Mount Hope Prison Ministries, the Hagerstown Rescue Mission, The Salvation Army, Children In Need, Food Resources, WCRH, Western Maryland Hospital Center, Book Savers and the Boys & Girls Club.

David Giffin won the championship in the 24 Math Game Challenge May 7 at Hagerstown Community College. Giffin was one of four Sharpsburg Elementary students to compete in the event. Sharpsburg fifth-graders Victoria Trzaska, Blaine Morris and Kamilla Miller also competed against students from 25 other elementary schools. Victoria Trzaska was a finalist and placed second in the competition. Blaine Morris, one of the top four students from Sharpsburg, also participated in the competition.

HAGERSTOWN -- How many letters are in the Greek alphabet? How many zeros are in septillion? How many years did Marco Polo's journey last? If you answered 24 to each, you might be ready for the 24 Game Math Challenge. Greg Eversole, emcee of Thursday's 24 Game Math Challenge at Hagerstown Community College, yelled out the questions and others to more than 200 students who were about to take on the annual game. The students responded with a loud "24" to each question, obviously ready to go. "Let's get started!"

Arthur W. Hamilton, 86 JUNE 11, 1922-APRIL 10, 2009 CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Retired Lt. Col. Arthur W. Hamilton, 86, of Chambersburg, died Friday, April 10, 2009, at Penn Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chambersburg. Born June 11, 1922, in Saxton, Pa., he was the son of the late Wilbert and Maude Kay Hamilton. He received a bachelor's degree in both math and physics from Findlay University in Findlay, Ohio, and a master's degree in management and industrial engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. He also was a graduate of the U.S. Navy Line School and the U.S. Army's nuclear physics program.