Logan Elementary Students Enjoy

Challenging Julia Robinson Math Festival

NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa.; February 4, 2025 — Logan Elementary School students recently participated in a fun and educational activity as the school hosted its first Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival.

Students in grades 2-6 were able to learn about math outside the classroom setting, working individually and with friends to try to solve a variety of engaging and challenging math activities.

Hope Gerbi, a Mathematics Coach in the East Allegheny School District, applied for a grant to bring the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival to Logan Elementary. The festival helps students build confidence, joy and a sense of belonging around math in a non-competitive environment and develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

“Bringing the Julia Robinson Math Festival to our school was an incredible experience,” Gerbi said. “Watching students engage with math in a fun, hands-on way—solving puzzles, thinking creatively, and working together—was truly inspiring. This festival showed our students that math is not just about numbers; it's about discovery, problem-solving and joy!”

The math festival was held in the Logan Elementary Gymnasium and students were able to try a variety of activities, including: Apple Picking, Changing Colors, Dice Bingo, Domino Dissection, Dot Parties, Four Corners, Meepletown, Pentominoes and Wolves and Sheep.

“The Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival created opportunities for our Logan students to engage in creative and interactive math activities that fosters not only understanding but also a lasting joy for the subject,” stated Cara McKenna, principal at Logan Elementary. “By making math both fun and accessible, we aim to ignite curiosity, problem-solving skills, and build confidence in every student.  A huge shout-out to Hope Gerbi for applying for this grant for our students.” 

Volunteers at each of the stations included East Allegheny middle and high school students as well as parents of Logan Elementary students.

“I liked the Apple Picking, Magic Squares, the Wolves and rolling the dice,” said Jackie Ruffing, a second-grade student who was very enthusiastic about the math festival.

Gerbi said the response by the Logan students will prompt bringing the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival for EA middle and high school students as well as the district’s STEM Night on April 10, giving parents and their children an opportunity to do the activities together.

The Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival (jrmf.org) is a math education nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower schools and communities to create magical math moments for children and to have children leave feeling joyful and confident about math.