Abacus Bee logo shows simulated cranmer abacus with the text APH Abacus Bee over the rods

2024 New Jersey Abacus Bee
October 27, 2024
Edison, New Jersey

A regional event of the APH Abacus Bee
Hosted by VISTAS Education Partners & National Federation of the Blind NJ

Group of children and adults wearing pink NJ Abacus Bee t- shirts stand in front of a NJ Abacus Bee backdrop and a large abacus made of twisted balloons.

The 2024 New Jersey Regional APH Abacus Bee® was an amazing day filled with exciting Math contests and family-friendly activities!

It was a celebration of Math for blind and low vision kids of all backgrounds and skill levels. Each contestant was able to shine in their own way in leveled contest groups.

This year, the Rovers group was the most popular! This category is designed to introduce children to the Abacus Bee at a non-competitive level, allowing them to explore math in a fun, low-pressure setting.

Some of our Rovers used abacuses to perform calculations, while others used counting cubes or even clapped to count! It was great to see the various methods and tools each student used to approach the challenges. 

After completing their Math challenges, the kids had a blast exploring 3D-printed games and activities, thanks to the incredible Ian Matty and his dedicated team from the Mountain Lakes Library Makerspace. 

And the fun didn’t stop there! The event also had a Zumba break to get the kids moving and grooving after lots of brain work. 

A huge congratulations to all the contestants for their hard work and dedication! We hope to see them back next year!

Rovers 

Gold: Juniper Eisenberg

Silver: Connor Drummond 

Bronze: Sophia Aguilera-Murphy

Participation: Mia Barone

Participation: Ryder Mondillo

Starters

Gold: Gael Lopez

Silver: Ireland Reynolds

Movers

Gold: Ryan Kennedy

Silver: Emma Marah

 

The New Jersey Abacus Bee was made possible through the generous support of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and our wonderful partnership with the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey (NFBNJ).

Thanks to the team of  volunteers who helped to make sure the event ran smoothly: Sandra Abuelyamin, Claribel Asare, Braden Flax, Ryleigh Guba, Julianna Matta, Brianna Murray, Rania Saad, George Stevens, and Kristen Witucki.

Want to know more about the Abacus Bee? Check out the APH webpage for information about the contest and how it works. Here’s an excerpt:

“The APH Abacus Bee is a fun and engaging competition designed to ignite a passion for mathematics in students who are blind or have low vision. By allowing the use of various formats like print, braille, UEB math, or Nemeth code, the competition ensures that participants can use methods that suit their individual learning styles. The APH Abacus Bee encourages the use of mental math and abacus skills, unlocking students’ full mathematical potential. The preliminary regional Abacus Bee events provide a platform for students to compete locally and showcase their skills within their communities.”

 

 

VISTAS Education Partners
P.O. Box 4214 Highland Park, NJ 08904 | 732-835-6672 | info@vistaseducation.com