Jon Harder coaches fifth-, sixth-graders in prep for their participation
KNOWLEDGE BOWL COMPETITION – called “K-Bowl” to those familiar with the contest – has come to Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES). Jon Harder, Mountain Lake Public School Technology Coordinator, and a coach for both the 7-8 and 9-12 K-Bowl teams, has been working with students in grades five and six, laying down prep work for meets to be held at the beginning of next school year, and coordinated through Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative. This year’s sixth-grade participants will move on to the junior high team, while the fifth-graders will move up to be leaders for the elementary unit. An overview meeting will be Wednesday, April 9, as a means of recruiting this year’s fourth-graders (as well as more fifth-graders) into participating next fall. K-Bowl competitions include a written round and four oral rounds. Questions test the students’ recall, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Questions asked are inter-disciplinary on an elementary level, and include American history, world history, government, current events, economics and law, geography, literature, English, mathematics, physical science, life science, earth science, health and psychology, art and music and general knowledge of Minnesota. During the contest’s oral rounds, teams race against each other to be the first to “buzz in” and answer the question correctly. Above, Coach Jon Harder, center back, is surrounded by his energetic team members. Front, from left, Megan McCue, Jasmine Vongsy, Isaac Grev, Brett Willaby, Sabrina Hanson, Carly Osland and Hana Bergling. Back, from left, Alex Hernandez, Paxton Morin, Saige Wall, John Paulson, Coach Harder, Fletcher Hanson, Emilee Xayanourom and Delainey Janzen.
