Alto Park Elementary and Model Middle are 2009 Academic Quiz Bowl champions for Floyd County Schools.  Alto Park Elementary won the elementary division for the second consecutive year and Model Middle swept all three middle school grade level competitions to take the middle school title. The Academic Quiz Bowl is a county-wide academic competition that was held this week at Shorter College.

The elementary competition was started eight 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.

Sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade gifted students across the county participate in the Middle School Quiz Bowl. This is the seventh year students have competed at the middle school level. Middle school students compete in the academic areas of math, literature, vocabulary, science, history, and geography.

The Fifth-Grade Kaleidoscope Quiz Bowl was held on Monday at Shorter College.  Alto Park Elementary placed first in the competition, Garden Lakes Elementary was second, and Armuchee Elementary finished in third place.  

The Middle School Kaleidoscope Quiz Bowl was held at Shorter on Tuesday.  Model Middle was the overall winner in the competition. Armuchee Middle finished second, Coosa Middle placed third and Pepperell Middle was fourth.  The middle school competition also divides the competitors into grade levels.  Model Middle finished in first place in all three divisions.   

The Quiz Bowl competitions were started to 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, coordinator of advanced academic programs for Floyd County Schools, considers this type of academic program important for elementary and middle school children.  Govignon said, “I believe that academic activities like the Quiz Bowl better prepares students for participating in Academic Decathlon competitions at the high school level.”