Members of a new club at Joseph Martin Elementary are taking on math in a fun but educational way.
The math club is comprised of students in third, fourth and fifth grades. Each team has a coach who is responsible for providing fun, engaging, standard-based math activities.
Curriculum coordinator Mesh Morris is the third-grade coach, Assistant Principal Dr. Kathy Moody is the fourth-grade coach, and Principal Sue Tolley and gifted resource teacher Connie Klein are the fifth-grade coaches. 
The club members said their meetings have been very rewarding. In October, the club met its business sponsor, Fred Mingledorff, who is the owner of Hinesville Ford on Highway 84.
Mingledorff spoke with club members about upcoming events in which members of his staff will share mathematical information, such as how percentage rates and taxes are calculated when someone buys a car.
Mingledorff also announced the winner of the club’s T-shirt contest, which he judged based on creativity.
The club members cheered and applauded when Mingledorff announced the name of the fifth-grade winner, Bhavi Patel.
Students and coaches received T-shirts sponsored by Mingledorff to wear during their math meetings.
One of the club’s goals is to prepare third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students for the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests in April.
Mingledorff encouraged club members to do well in math this year.
“Listen to your teachers and parents,” he said. “You need math in everything that you do in life.”