Nike Bonhomme: "This is a huge achievement for me." Bonhomme celebrates her award with her former teacher, Da'Jhon Jett. When Troup School eighth grader Nike Bonhomme got on stage and her school auditorium filled with cheers to celebrate her surpassing her math goal last year, she was filled with motivation to do it all again this year.Bonhomme was one of 20 students who were celebrated Friday morning at the Dwight K‑8 school for achieving i‑Ready​’s annual stretch growth goal. That means the students proved more than a year and a half’s worth of growth during the 2023 – 24 school year. An additional ten students who were eighth graders last year and have since graduated were celebrated at Troup’s middle school graduation last year for reaching the same goal. Friday’s school-wide celebration was held in the Edgewood Avenue school’s auditorium, and included parents who wanted to join in the school’s recognition of its developing mathematicians. Troup Math Coach Keshia Hogan kicked off the celebration by first reminding students of the school’s ongoing math competition, which is challenging each homeroom class to accrue the most ​“touchdowns” before the Super Bowl. A class earns a touchdown when it surpasses 300 math lessons on MyPath. So far, two classes have each scored a touchdown. The challenge winner will be awarded with a pizza-and-ice cream classroom party. Then Hogan offered some math warm-up questions to each grade level, testing students’ ability to read analog clocks, find the area and perimeter of shapes, and count coins. Principal Foreman presented math awards to students. Troup Principal Eugene Foreman thanked the handful of Troup families who joined Friday’s celebration and encouraged the students to continue reaching similar or bigger goals this school year. Several videos were also shared with students. Those videos showed district leadership and Troup educators who congratulated them on their growth and pushed them to keep it up. “You keep doing that and you will be beyond your grade level in no time,” Supervisor of Mathematics Monica Joyner said in her recorded message.As students were called up individually, they received certificates and goodie bags to celebrate their success last school year. Hogan noted that Friday’s celebration is part of the school’s effort to close its achievement gap for students in subjects like math and to get them on grade level or further, as a few students currently are. With support from the district’s math leads, Hogan said she’s excited that math is becoming more visible and exciting for students. She concluded that the school-wide celebration also aimed to offer inspiration to all grades. Two current Troup students are approaching the end of the middle school i‑Ready math program, and if they complete it before the school year ends, they will begin taking algebra through Khan Academy.After receiving her award for the success she saw in seventh grade, Bonhomme recalled struggling with math in the past, particularly when it came to graphing. ​“In math I felt dumb and lost, but now it comes more easily,” she said. ​“This is a huge achievement for me.” She noted that with the school’s new phone ban, she is able to focus more on her work and feels motivated to reach goals like the one she was recognized for on Friday. “A celebration makes kids feel better about themselves, and for me, I know I can keep accomplishing goals going forward,” she said. Troup's Super Bowl math competition. Awardees with math coach Keisha Hogan.