Stanislaus County junior high school students are gearing up for the 17th Annual Stanislaus County Academic Pentathlon.  Approximately 100 students are slated to participate in a series of tests, speeches and essays featuring this year’s theme, “Water – A Most Essential Resource.”   The Super Quiz and Awards Presentation is on Saturday, April 30th at the Martin G. Petersen Event Center, 720 12th Street, Modesto at 1:00 PM. 

            Sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education and the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County, the Pentathlon promotes scholastic achievement and interschool competition in academics.  In the Pentathlon, 7th and 8th graders compete as individuals and as team members in Speech and in a series of five tests in subject areas including Mathematics, Fine Arts, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.

            Participating schools can send up to 18 students to serve as the team. The competition provides a forum for celebrating achievement and academic excellence in a team environment and allows pentathletes to participate in an educational activity that fosters a deep respect for knowledge, cooperation, and self-esteem.   Eight local junior high and middle schools are participating in this year’s event including: Blaker-Kinser, Denair, Great Valley Academy, Hickman, Keyes Charter, Oakdale, Our Lady of Fatima and Ross.