Wade team wins first place in SMECO Knowledge Bowl

Charles County Public SchoolsP. O. Box 2770, Radio Station RoadLa Plata, Maryland 20646(301) 932-6610/870-3814 - FAX (301) 932-6651Contact: Katie O'Malley-SimpsonFor Immediate ReleaseJanuary 25, 2011Wade team wins first place in SMECO Knowledge BowlA team from William B. Wade Elementary School, the “Wade Web-Sters,” won firstplace in the tri-county 2011 Southern Maryland Elementary School Knowledge Bowl held lastweek.The team earned the top spot out of 46 teams from 27 elementary schools in Charles,Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Teams work to answer 75 knowledge-based questions uploadedto the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) Web site, which sponsors the event.Each team has one hour to complete the questions, which focus on current events, mathematics,science and history.The Wade Web-Sters is comprised of fourth graders Amara Gammon, Adolf Accad,Claire Ouellette, and Megan Carr, and fifth graders Wassim Omais, Shelby Green, AndrewGausepohl and Mary Kate Cooper. Coach is Lisa Haldeman, technology facilitator at Wade.A team from Malcolm Elementary School placed third overall in the tri-county standings.The Mighty Mustangs team consists of fifth graders Tyler Cataldo, Brianna Corley, GrahamTroiani and Emily Martin, and fourth graders Christina Alvarez, Jacob Beltz, Tristan Elrod andBriana Lee. Team coach is Karen Dempsey, a gifted education teacher.Additionally, the “Whiz Kids,” from Berry Elementary School earned third place overallin the Charles County rankings. Student team members are fifth graders Lea Cole, CalebBlancaflor, Chyna Landon, and Hayley White, and fourth graders Ariel Simmons, AkeymahStitt, Krisha Patel and Torian Fulton. Team coach is Yvette Lewis, an instructional assistant.Each year, student teams in the tri-county area compete in the event. SMECO alsosponsors a regional Knowledge Bowl for high school students. For more information, visithttps://www.smeco.coop/.Charles County Public Schools provides 26,858 students in grades prekindergartenthrough 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, CharlesCounty Public Schools has 35 caring community schools that offer a technologically advanced,progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and preparesstudents for life, careers and higher education.The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability in its1

programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Keith Grier, Title IX Coordinator, or Patricia Vaira, Section 504Coordinator (students) or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. StarkeyAdministration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646. 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.2