By Dave Matlow
The extraordinary problem solving potential of Westport’s Staples High School students was put to the test tonight with the launch of the first Staples Spectacular Students Challenge.
The five judges of the Staples Challenge included (l-r) Richard Cole, John Rountree, Maxine Bleiweis, Robin Batteau, and Shelly Kassen. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The event was a follow-up to the school’s 2006 milestone victory in the Moody’s Mega Math Challenge when Staples was awarded a first place $20,000 check for its recommendations on how to deal with the challenges of Social Security. (See WestportNow, April 10, 2006)
After that achievement, the Staples leadership asked themselves the question, “Why don’t we apply our school’s expertise to solving a local problem?” In response, a committee was formed to create the challenge and the environment to present it.
The challenge: “How do we make Westport a greener place to live?”
The Spectacular Students Challenge Committee is comprised of three Staples educators: Trudy Denton, math; Julia McNamee, English, and Kathy Sharp, social studies. The committee was organized by Principal John Dodig.
Tonight five teams of five students each who researched a solution to the challenge presented their recommendations to a panel of five judges.
The judges were Maxine Bleiweis, director, Westport Public Library; Richard Cole, president and CEO, Connecticut Academy; Selectman Shelley Kassen; Robin Batteau, songwriter and music producer, and John Rountree, a solar consultant.
Each presentation was followed by an intense question and answer segment. Judges challenged the presenters with questions. The teams responded in an ad hoc manner without notes.
Following the completion of all five presentations the judges convened to vote on which group best presented the most viable solution to the challenge. The selection of the winning team will be announced in March.
