Photo by Christie Isler
State geography bee semi-finalist Caitlin Gard with PARADE teacher Susie Marshall, who also teaches a geography class and runs the school-level geography bee.

Carnation Elem. 5th grader Caitlin Gard named tate geography bee semi-finalist

The National Geographic Society has just notified Caitlin Gard, a 5th grader in Ms. Isler’s class at Carnation Elementary, that she is one of the finalists eligible to compete in the 2008 Washington State Geographic Bee.

Geography bees were held in schools with fourth through eighth grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s Geographic Bee winner. School level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. In each of the 50 states and in the territories, the National Geographic Society invited the student with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level.

Caitlin, with one of the top 100 scores, will now be participating in the 2008 Washington Geographic Bee which will be held at the Greater Tacoma Convention Trade Center on Friday, April 4th.

Caitlin’s love of geography comes from her dad whom she says, “is like a walking, talking geography book.”

She also has gained a great deal of knowledge in this area from games her family plays at home. Caitlin has competed in math competitions in the past, but this is her first geography bee.

Each year here in the Riverview School District, the PARADE program holds a school-level geography bee. The winner of this Bee then takes a state qualifying test. To prepare the students, PARADE teacher Susie Marshall teaches a geography class and then runs the school-level Bee.

This year Mrs. Marshall extended an invitation to Carnation students to participate as well. Caitlin joined Mrs. Marshall and her students in their quest and passed through both the school-level and regional level with flying colors.

So, how would you fare as a Bee contestant? At the school Bee level this year, students had to answer such questions as:

The United States Naval Academy is in Annapolis, the state capital located closest to what large bay? Answer: Chesapeake Bay.