These students are up to the “Challenge”

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008

Gallery (click any photo to view the gallery)
Kids on Tates Creek Elementary's Team G put their heads together to come up with answers at their last practice before the Academic Challenge Invitational.

Kids on Tates Creek Elementary's Team G put their heads together to come up with answers at their last practice before the Academic Challenge Invitational.

Kids on Tates Creek Elementary's Team G put their heads together to come up with answers at their last practice before the Academic Challenge Invitational.Students will wear their "academic team" T-shirts during the competitions. Paraeducator Jason Vires and UK student teacher Amber Johnson handed out the shirts for coach Denise Finley.Denise Finley, who coordinates the primary teams, arranged the children in four rows for their yearbook photo Thursday afternoon.Around 7:45 a.m. Saturday, the kids lined up with their teams at Tates Creek Elementary before walking together up to the high school.Team G coach Denise Finley gave out pencils, paper and last-minute instructions before the competition began.Taylor Hodges got a sip of tea from her mom, Shawn Ray, as they waited for the start Saturday. Round 1 was delayed about 15 minutes because some moderators were stuck in traffic.Tates Creek's Team G came up a few answers short, losing in the first round. Virginia Cheek, a retired teacher, was a first-time moderator at the Invitational. "I just thought I'd come give it a try," she said.Win or lose, every participant receives an academic achievement certificate.After shaking hands with the kids on Meadowthorpe C and Veterans Park A, students on Tates Creek's Team G congratulated one another on their efforts.

The kids at Tates Creek Elementary are fired up and ready to show what they know!

Three years ago, only nine students participated in the One Community, One Voice Academic Challenge. This Saturday (Nov. 15), 80 will compete in the first of three competitions scheduled for the 2008-2009 school year.

“We are showing by our actions that we are pumped up about academics,” said 28-year teaching veteran Denise Finley, who coordinates the seven primary teams at Tates Creek. “When we come together, we have our parents, teachers … support from the whole community. To know that they took time out of their Saturday morning to be there, it’s exciting to me.”

Since 2004, One Community, One Voice initiatives have focused on increasing parents’ involvement in their children’s education. The centerpiece has been the Academic Challenge program, which aims to foster a culture that encourages all children to embrace education as a worthy endeavor, allows all students opportunities to compete in rigorous academic contests, involves parents and prepares students to compete for the “big prize” – a good life and a bright future.

Finley wants her students to develop a lifelong thirst for knowledge and to be connected with other people who embrace learning. So for her, coaching these academic teams is a calling.

“I am a passionate person about anything that I believe in. Sometimes my passion is overwhelming,” she said. “I jumped into this Challenge team program with ‘two feet’ for many, many reasons. It’s hard to balance the needs and responsibilities of a classroom, a coach, being a mother, but I love it!”

Colleague Kimberly Stevens, who leads the intermediate kids, Finley and their fellow coaches will be at school early Saturday (Nov. 15) to meet up with students and parents. They’ll walk with their respective teams across campus to the high school, where about 1,800 children from across the district are expected to compete in the Invitational.

All Fayette County Public School students in grades 1-5 are eligible to participate on either an intermediate team (grades 4 and 5) or a primary team (grades 1, 2 and 3). Teams are formed in schools or at neighborhood sites.

If Finley’s “Team G” falls early in the rounds, she will catch up with other groups and follow the Tates Creek kids who advance.

“This is not about winning. We’re celebrating academics,” said Finley, who first got involved with the Academic Challenge events three years ago. “When the parents sacrifice seeing their own child compete to become a moderator or to coach another team, that’s powerful.”

When a contest is done, Finley and crew debrief the kids and review what went well and what areas need attention – much like UK football coach Rich Brooks does after a game, she said.

“We come back and we work on those things, and the next time it gets stronger,” Finley said.

At Tates Creek Elementary, the kids practice for an hour after school each Thursday. They mix up the ages and spread the strengths evenly after they figure out who is good in math or who excels in geography, for instance. “The goal is working together and trusting each other,” Finley explained.

Her students, whom she urges to stand tall and be confident, should not be surprised or upset during the actual competitions. “They’re already seeing that different teams are winning” at practice, she said.

And as with a football team, these coaches teach their kids to offer a “Good job!” and shake hands with their opponents afterward – no matter the outcome.

“We try to be an example to everyone. You have (to keep) your chin up,” Finley said. “It’s not just winning – it’s the process of learning.”

Academic Challenge

The Invitational, sponsored by One Community, One Voice and Fayette County Public Schools, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday Nov. 15 at Tates Creek High School, 1111 Centre Parkway.

The teams are divided up three per classroom. A moderator reads a question, and the children have 45 seconds to confer and write their team’s answer on a white board. Each round consists of 20 questions, and each correct answer is worth a point. In the single-elimination format, the winning team moves on to the next round. Ultimately, the three top teams meet in the auditorium for the finals. First-, second- and third-place awards are presented in the primary and intermediate divisions, and each student receives an academic excellence award certificate. Check www.fcps.net under “Latest news” on Monday for the results.

The Academic Challenge series also includes the Principal’s Cup, scheduled for Jan. 24, and the Superintendent’s Cup, set for March 7.

Want to help?

We have the teams, we have the coaches. What we need are moderators to ask the questions – especially if the Academic Challenge events keep growing. If you are interested in lending a hand, contact Andrea Downs for more details.