Finley Math Teams Enjoy Spectacular Performance

Math teachers Abigail Simon and Denise Grodzicki recently accompanied J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s Math Counts and Mathletes teams to the first ever Masters Invitational at Udall Road Middle School in West Islip where about 120 math whizzes spread across 20 teams from Long Island middle schools vied in a challenging completion.

The Finley contingent included seventh graders Katherine Gooch, Mia Hodgkinson, Owen Hoffman, Julia Lanzilotta, and Charlotte Rizzo and eighth graders Dylan Goodwin, Harrison Jennings, Gavin Kline, Hunter Kline and Heath Patti.

In between competition rounds, students were given a presentation about tessellations (defined as “a pattern formed by repeating geometric shapes/tiles that fit together without any gaps or overlaps, covering a surface completely”), participated in icebreaker activities with students from other schools and enjoyed pizza and ice cream.

Mr. Goodwin captured fourth place in the individual competition. He was one of only five students in the entire field of 120-plus to notch a perfect score.

The Finley team consisting of Owen Hoffman, Dylan Goodwin, Gavin Kline, Julia Lanzilotta and Charlotte Rizzo finished in second place in the team round, also achieving a perfect score.

“We are very proud of all students efforts,” Ms. Simon said.