Cave Spring Elementary has taken top honors in the 2012 Academic Quiz Bowl

Media release: Cave Spring Elementary has taken top honors in the 2012 Academic Quiz Bowl in the elementary division for Floyd County Schools. The Academic Quiz Bowl is a county-wide academic competition that was held on Monday, February 13 at Shorter University.   The elementary competition was started eleven years ago to bring all Floyd County gifted students together to compete in academics. Fifth-grade gifted students in Floyd County Schools participate in the elementary division. The students compete in academic areas of math, science, vocabulary, spelling, trivia, literature, and geography.

Cave Spring Elementary placed first in the competition with 490 total points, Pepperell Elementary finished second with 467.5 points, and Garden Lakes Elementary finished third with 395 points.  The Cave Spring team was coached by gifted teacher Sheila Shealy.  Judy Roebuck, gifted teacher at Pepperell coached the Dragon team and Allison Espy, gifted teacher at Garden Lakes coached the fifth graders from Garden Lakes.       

The quiz bowl competitions promote student academic growth in problem solving, critical thinking, communication skills, and advanced research skills. The activities also promote leadership and provide motivation for students to excel in academics. The quiz bowls are local school system events with no region or state competitions. McCall Govignon, director of advanced academic programs for Floyd County Schools, considers this type of academic program important for elementary and middle school children.  Govignon said, "Academic competitions, like the quiz bowl, gives these children the opportunity to showcase their talents and better prepares students for participating in academic decathlon competitions at the high school level."

 Cave Spring team members included: Kaylee Clayton, Sean Ford, Trent Marshall, Zac Mitchell, Ashleigh Ray, Emily Stager-Holder, Andrew Stephens, Kathleen Winn, Ethan Yagadics and coach Sheila Shealy.