Parent Teacher Magazine Gaston County Schools May 2014 | Page 6
Lowell Elementary wins Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
Event raises money for Ron L. Ensley teacher mini-grants program
Lowell Elementary won the Are You Smarter Than a Gaston County Fifth Grader?
competition held February 27 at Stuart W. Cramer High School. Lowell shared the
championship trophy with its business partner, PSNC Energy, which helped the
students to win the challenging contest.
The Gaston County Education Foundation sponsored the event and raised more
than $28,000 to fund the Ron L. Ensley mini-grants. The mini-grants are awarded
each year to GCS teachers to enhance classroom learning and support academic
programs.
“I’ve never seen adults and children have so much fun raising money,” said
Education Foundation executive director Jennie Stultz. “Our title sponsors Allen Tate
Realtors and Wells Fargo as well as 18 other businesses made a generous investment
to support our classroom teachers.”
Carmen Schultz was mistress of ceremonies for the thrilling program that
partnered each of the 12 schools with a corporate sponsor. The school teams and
business leaders participated in a series of question-and-answer rounds to determine
the finalists.
The championship round was exciting and extremely difficult as the Lowell
Elementary team faced McAdenville Elementary and W.B. Beam Intermediate. Lowell
Elementary correctly answered the final question – How many senators are there in
the North Carolina legislature? – to win the competition. (The answer is 50.)
Lowell Elementary was not the only school to claim a trophy. W.B. Beam
Intermediate and its corporate sponsor, Beam Construction, were presented with the
second place trophy. McAdenville Elementary and their corporate sponsor, Pharr Yarns,
were presented with the third place trophy.
Pleasant Ridge Elementary and its corporate sponsors, Gastonia Sheet Metal and
Gastonia Grizzlies, won the spirit award, which was given to the team that showed the most character and energy during the competition.
New Hope Elementary and its corporate sponsor, Sun Drop, won the theme award, which was given to the team that showed the most theme
between a business partner and school.
The contest featured the following schools and sponsors:
n W.B. Beam Intermediate and Beam Construction
n W.A. Bess Elementary and Summit Eye Associates and Hannon Orthodontics
n Bessemer City Central Elementary and Hunter Douglas
n Carr Elementary and Tind