Students at the Penn-Kidder Campus in Jim Thorpe Area School District traded pencils for buzzers last week as kindergartners through fifth graders squared off in a math competition timed to the approach of Pi Day.

Nine students from each grade advanced to the schoolwide contest after classroom-level competitions selected the top competitors.

On the day of the event, students buzzed in game show-style as families cheered them on from the audience.

The competition was organized and run by Ashley Baillie, along with fellow Title 1 mathematics teacher Kassandra Stewart.

“Students from grades K through fifth faced off in a fun and friendly contest,” Baillie said.

Each grade level tackled age-appropriate material. Kindergartners worked on counting and adding with 10 frames, while first graders took on addition facts and second graders focused on subtraction. Third and fourth graders faced multiplication problems, and fifth graders answered division questions.

Every competitor — dubbed a “mathlete” — went home with a certificate and a math-themed toy.

The top three finishers in each grade earned additional prizes.

“The top three from each grade were awarded a Pi Day shirt, medals in gold, silver or bronze, a superhero cape and mask, and T.O.R.C.H. tickets for our schoolwide positive behavior program,” Baillie said.

The Pi Day shirts came from a school fundraiser.

The competition was one part of a broader Pi Day celebration later in the week. Staff members took pies to the face, with students randomly selected to participate in the event. All 2026 mathlete competitors were also recognized at the celebration.

Gold medal winners by grade were: Kai James (kindergarten); Elizabeth Mazzola (first grade); Aiden Agosto (second grade); Noah Chiaramonte (third grade); Yianna Klados (fourth grade); and Lucas Mailliard (fifth grade).

Silver medalists were: Sylvie Karlin (kindergarten); Addison Cosgrove (first grade); Gianna Fatzinger (second grade); Elijah Gaston (third grade); Jonathan Spitzer (fourth grade); and Julian Fialkowski (fifth grade).

Bronze medals went to: Lily Riverson (kindergarten); Sophia Montgomery (first grade); Coen Daniels (second grade); Jalen Calcano (third grade); Jackson Barnes (fourth grade); and Gianna Roman (fifth grade).