Staff Writer

The Biddeford Intermediate School math team is proving one trophy at a time that math can be fun.

The team – comprised of 10 fifth-graders in the gifted and talented program – brought home a third place trophy from a recent math meet in Portland. The win was the first for a Biddeford team in nearly 20 years, said teacher Leslie Jordan.

At the meet, students from 28 schools took two individual arithmetic and geometry tests and a group problem solving test. Biddeford team members said they are proud of their performance and excited for the next meet in January. The November math meet was a first for all 10 team members.

“It was weird because it was a new experience with a lot of other schools,” said 10-year-old Abigail Raymond.

Jared Douglass, 10, said he knew the math meet would be fun even though he had never been to one before. Leland Dyke, 11, said the team was confident because they took practice tests to determine which of the gifted math class’ 20 students would be on the team. Four alternates took tests at the meet but their scores did not count.

Brice Springer, 10, was bumped up to the sixth-grade team when a student was unable to attend the meet. He said he was surprised how easy the questions were, but thought the team problem solving challenge was more challenging.

“I think the opposite,” said 10-year-old Paige Lessard. “When you had team questions you had six brains instead of one.”

Melody Michaud, 11, said competing against teams from other schools was fun.

“I was kind of surprised we got third place,” she said.

When the winners were announced, the Biddeford team jumped around and screamed, Lessard said.

“We were so happy. We thought we would just get a ribbon,” Michaud said. “When they gave us the trophy it was great.”

Team members said they were eager to return to Biddeford after the meet to tell everyone about their accomplishment. Nick Plante, 11, said his parents were surprised to hear about the win.

“They were surprised because Biddeford doesn’t usually win trophies in math,” he said.

When they got back to the school, Principal Deb Kenney was just getting ready to leave for the night. She said she was surprised to hear a knock on her window and look out to see a group of kids jumping around and celebrating.

“I’m so proud of these kids. They’re outstanding,” Kenney said. “This group will go places.”

Jordan, who works with the students outside their scheduled classes, said they are the strongest math students she has worked with in years. The Biddeford School Department values its program for gifted students and provides opportunities for them to challenge themselves, she said.

Jordan said the math team’s win also shows the increase in time spent learning math each day is working. Starting last year, students work on math for an hour each day instead of 40 minutes, Kenney said. She said the school may increase math time again next year.

Now back to studying for their next meet, team members said they are glad their success shows Biddeford students can succeed in math. While some students are looking forward to seeing if they can win another trophy, others hope for team T-shirts and a Burger King lunch on the way to the meet.

“But mostly we just want to have fun,” Lessard said.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.