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Elementary students describe Math Masters experience and board members urge more open-ended feedback
Summary
At the Paynesville Public School District board meeting, fifth graders described preparing for and competing in the Math Masters contest in Alexandria, reported placements and reflected on teamwork and nerves; a board member suggested returning to more open-ended student Q&A to capture feedback that leads to improvements.
At Monday's Paynesville Public School District board meeting, a group of fifth‑grade students presented their experience competing in Math Masters in Alexandria, describing how practice, teamwork and timed rounds prepared them for competition.
"I didn't like not eating lunch with my friends, but it was for practice," one elementary student said while reflecting on preparation. The presenters described the event format — a timed fact drill, individual word‑problem rounds and team rounds — and credited their coach, Miss Kemper, for preparing them for both the math and the competition logistics.
Student presenters and the board noted results from the event. A student who identified herself as Melanie Walker reported, "We got fifth place in the fact drill out of 132," and other students said classmates placed in the top 10–15 in individual rounds. Board members praised the students' teamwork and the field‑trip experience that included travel time together and pizza provided after competition.
Board discussion that followed the student presentations included a call to restore a more open, conversational format when students visit the board. One board member said letting students speak more freely had previously produced tangible improvements — including changes to school food choices — and urged staff to consider open‑ended prompts rather than tightly scripted questions when students present in the future.
Why it matters: The Math Masters presentation showcased curricular enrichment and experiential learning at the elementary level and prompted the board to discuss how to collect direct feedback from students. Board members framed student voice as a tool for identifying practical improvements in school programs.
The meeting moved on to secondary presentations and community announcements after the student reflections.
