Mossy Creek wins Region Middle Grades Academic Bowl; Bonaire wins Runner-up

HOUSTON COUNTY, GA – Mossy Creek Middle School won first place in the Regional Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Academic Bowl for Middle Grades, Region 8. Bonaire Middle School won Runner-up. The event was held on Dec. 8, 2018, hosted by Feagin Mill Middle School. Teams from Bibb, Peach, Jones and Houston Counties competed at this Bowl.

 Mossy Creek Middle’s team now advances to the PAGE Academic Bowl State Championship Competition on Jan. 26, 2019. The state contest will be held at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.

 The team is pictured (from left, front to back): Billy Bath, Brianne Davis, Carson Williams, Cecilia O’Neill, Alexander Rodriguez, Dallas Mundy, Shiva Soundappan, and Abhi Patel; (back) Charity Smith, Luke Copeland, Canon Steinbart, Nathaniel O’Neill, Weston Rankine and Christianna Moore. Not pictured are Marshall Honaker, Olivia Stegner, Miles Stelson and David Battle. Their coach is Carol Kohn.

 During the Bowl, students answered questions about math, science, language arts, social studies, the fine arts and miscellaneous. The questions are primarily developed based on the Georgia curriculum. Sample questions from the competition follow, with answers provided at the end.

 Math:  A 6-foot man casts a 48-foot shadow. How many feet tall is a flagpole next to him that casts a 320-foot shadow?

 Science: Because angular speed decreases with radius, an inner planet could pass another, causing a phenomenon in which the latter appears to move backwards. Name this phenomenon.

 Language Arts: Emerson defined them as the happy ways of doing things. The dictionary says they are the graces of being, of conduct, the polite ways of social behavior. Parents probably insist upon them. What are these things?

 Social Studies: In 1864, Union General William T. Sherman, during his famous March to the Sea from Atlanta, presented this city to President Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift. Name the city.                         Fine Arts:  This instrument takes so long to make sound that its players must anticipate the conductor. Sousaphone is the marching-band version. Name this valved brass instrument whose bell points upwards.

 Miscellaneous: In classical mythology it commonly represented the sun, but in Scandinavian myth it is usually associated with storm and gloom. In Christian art it is the symbol of St. John the Evangelist. The Romans bore a representation of it on their military standards. Name this bird, which appears on most U.S. quarters.

 The Director of Gifted Education Jan Jacobsen, said that academic bowl competitions promote engagement and acquiring knowledge in a fun and competitive environment. Jacobsen commented, “We are learners by nature and children are intellectually curious. They like to think and enjoy creative problem solving. The teams delight in this authentic competitive challenge.”

 Academic Bowl contributes to continuing efforts for recognizing and promoting academic excellence and good citizenship in the following ways:

·        creates good work/study habits;

·        broadens individual horizons of factual information;

·        develops students’ poise and confidence;

·        develops teamwork and good citizenship qualities; and

·        instills an appreciation for the pursuit of knowledge.

 In addition, Mt. de Sales and Stratford placed first and second, respectively for Region 8. Mt. de Sales also advances to state. For more information, contact Jacobsen at 478-988-6395, ext. 10393, or jan.jacobsen@hcbe.net or visit https://www.pageinc.org/academicbowl/.