Three Garden City primary students advance to New York State First In Math championship
Garden City’s Locust School is proud to celebrate three of its outstanding students — Mason Flynn, Riley Urquhart and William Goldner — who have earned the opportunity to represent both their school and the Garden City School District at the New York State First In Math Championship Tournament on June 13 in Albany.
Through their dedication and hard work, Mason, Riley and William rose to the top in the First In Math program, a statewide competition that challenges students in grades 1 through 8 to strengthen their mathematical fluency through a combination of skill-building and strategic gameplay. By consistently practicing both in school and at home, they developed the speed, accuracy, and problem-solving abilities needed to excel.
Using the First In Math app, the students took ownership of their learning — setting goals, tracking progress and refining their strategies through mini-lessons and video tutorials. Their commitment to improvement helped them build both confidence and proficiency in working with numbers.
Their achievement is the result of years of growth. Since kindergarten, these students have been developing strong number sense and mathematical thinking, laying the groundwork for this moment and demonstrating how sustained effort leads to success.
In March, they competed in a highly competitive virtual regional tournament against students from across New York State. By finishing among the top performers, they secured one of the limited spots at the state championship — an impressive accomplishment that highlights their skill and determination. They will be the sole team representing the Garden City School District.
At the state championship, the students will collaborate as a team to solve grade-level challenges based on First In Math games and the 24® Game series. They will be tasked with creating as many “number wheels” as possible by combining four numbers in different ways, earning points for both accuracy and creativity. The competition not only showcases their mathematical abilities but also emphasizes teamwork, communication and innovative thinking.
“We are incredibly proud of Mason, Riley, and William for their hard work, dedication, and the spirit they bring to mathematics every day,” said Ms. Eileen Vota, principal of Locust School. “They are a wonderful example of what our students can achieve when curiosity and perseverance come together.”