Second ‘Math Night’ draws nearly 600 | News | Berkeley Independent

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Second ‘Math Night’ draws nearly 600

Published Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:44 AM

By Dan Brown
Berkeley Independent

Dan Brown

More than 568 students from Berkeley Elementary and Intermediate Schools turned out for the second Math Night.

Dan Brown

Austin and Alexis Keener of Berkeley Elementary School compare their check sheets.

Dan Brown

A Food Lion employee for 17 years, Lisa Green dressed up for the kids.

Last year’s Math Night proved to be such a hit among students that Food Lion store manager Bruno Ortiz wanted to do it again.

Last Thursday night the management and staff of the Food Lion supermarket on Highway 52 hosted its second Math Night, this time inviting students from Berkeley Elementary and Berkeley Intermediate Schools.

“The evening was a huge success,” said Ortiz, who estimated the crowd to be in excess of 568 students ranging from Kindergarten to fifth grade and their parents. “We had to stop counting at 568 because we had them lined up out the door and into the parking lot well before 5 p.m. The store was packed.

“This was the biggest crowd I have ever seen in the square feet we have in this small store. The response was overwhelming.”

Students and their parents scurried down aisles on a scavenger hunt involving daily home and food products and math.

“The Family Math Night program transforms Food Lion from a grocery store to a live classroom,” Ortiz said, “This gives families an opportunity to work together, applying math skills in a fun and friendly environment.”

Each student and parent received a math worksheet based on the student’s grade level. The worksheet allowed the student to apply math skills to real world activities, in this case grocery shopping.

“Our first Math Night last spring with Whitesville Elementary was a great starting point and we decided we wanted to try this again with another Moncks Corner area school,” Ortiz said.

Refreshments of cake and soft drinks were served outside and a raffle was held for gift certificates and prizes, including the grand prize, a 10-speed bicycle.

The winner of the 10-speed bicycle sponsored by Coca-Cola was Alice Warren.

“She had mentioned that her son wanted a bicycle for a while now,” Ortiz said. “Naturally, this was a huge surprise and this big win came at the right time for her and her son. She was totally surprised and very happy to win.

“This is about giving back to the community. This is about making the town grocery store the community center like it used to be in our parents’ day, a place where families can come and shop, but also visit and keep in touch with community events.”

Ortiz thanked Antoinette Jones, the Berkeley Elementary School facilitator, and Tracy Gaskins for their work and support for making Food Lion’s Math Night a success.

“Antoinette did a tremendous amount of groundwork in spreading the information to generate the large turnout of students,” Ortiz said. “Ms. Gaskins was very supportive for this big event for the kids.”

Thanks also went to Moncks Corner Police Department Corporal Kurt Zimmerman, in attendance at both Family Math Nights at Food Lion.

“I want to thank Kurt Zimmerman for his outstanding support and providing school supplies and important information about the police department,” said Ortiz, who added that a third Family Math Night is in the works.

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