More than 200 Norwalk-La Mirada middle school students won team and individual medals in the 2016 Orange County Academic Pentathlon for demonstrating their superior knowledge of the culture and history of India, the complexities of ecology and the writings of Rudyard Kipling.

Benton, Corvallis, Hutchinson, Los Alisos, Los Coyotes and Waite middle schools sent teams of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to the pentathlon, which mirrors the rigors of the Academic Decathlon for high school students. The pentathlon is hosted by the Orange County Department of Education and held in March, April and May, depending to grade level.

“Our students are learning valuable leadership, collaboration and creativity skills by participating in the Pentathlon, which will prepare them for success in college and career,” NLMUSD Superintendent Dr. Hasmik Danielian said. “I look forward to more of our students’ accomplishments in the years to come.”

The pentathlon – a one-day, five-event competition – fields nine-member teams from each grade level into three categories: three A students (Honor), three B students (Scholastic) and three C or below students (Varsity). Students complete 30-minute exams in five subject areas: literature, fine arts (art and music), mathematics, science and social science. Students also write an essay and participate as a team in the Super Quiz.

Pentathlon competitors study the subject matter for several weeks with their coaches before the contest. This year, students delved into the art, history and literary culture of India and read Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.” Ecology, algebra and statistics were the primary subjects for the math and science contests.

“The pentathlon is a competition, and we want to win as many medals as we can, but the overall focus is on establishing successful study habits and utilizing teamwork,” Hutchinson Middle School academic pentathlon coach Sally Hong said. “All students who compete are winners, because they have put in the extra effort to pursue subject matter they are unfamiliar with, and become proficient in those areas.”

All six NLMUSD middle schools won at least one medal, with Hutchinson earning the most individual and team medals across all grade levels. Hutchinson sixth-grader Hannah Ma received a first-place overall medal for the Honors division and Hutchinson eighth-grader Jeremy Duval received a first-place overall medal for the Varsity Division. The Hutchinson Hawks sixth-grade team won first place in Super Quiz.

“Congratulations to all of our participating students and their coaches, who found time in their busy schedules to prepare their students for the competition,” NLMUSD Board President Karen Morrison said.

The medal count for NLMUSD middle schools:

  • Hutchinson: 12 Individual, 9 Team
  • Waite: 3 Individual, 4 Team
  • Los Alisos: 1 Individual, 4 Team
  • Los Coyotes: 1 Individual, 4 Team
  • Corvallis: 1 individual, 4 Team
  • Benton: 4 Team

PHOTOS:

NLMUSD_PENTATHLON1: Benton Middle School sixth grade pentathletes win second place super quiz in the 2016 Orange County Academic Pentathlon.

NLMUSD_PENTATHLON2: The Waite Middle School teams get ready for the 2016 Orange County Academic Pentathlon. Students demonstrated their superior knowledge of the culture and history of India, the complexities of ecology and the writings of Rudyard Kipling.