Next year, Old Hammondtown School students can become "mathletes" thanks to a $1,109 grant awarded by the Old Rochester Tri-Town Education Foundation Lighthouse Fund.

Former interim Principal Charles Egan applied for money to fund a Math Olympiad Team at the school. The mathletes (the term combines "mathematics" and "athletes") will meet each week for an hour.

"I've seen this program do well in other districts I've worked in," said Egan, who stepped down as interim principal this spring. "This will be a good fit for Old Hammondtown and give the students a chance to practice their math skills outside the classroom."

The team is open to students in grades 4 through 6. Team members will explore a topic using materials provided by the Math Olympiad organization. The group provides materials to more than 150,000 students in the United States and 50,000 students worldwide.

Throughout the year, students will problem solve, study topics in mathematics and prepare for five contests held between November and March.

"Those competitions are highlights for the students," Egan said. "It's what they study for and gives them a goal to strive for. They're not just solving mathematical problems for the sake of it."

Egan said the team could accommodate 15 to 30 students. This will be the first time Old Hammondtown will participate in the program.

This year, the Lighthouse Fund awarded $4,874 to three recipients, including Egan.

The money is part of an endowed fund of the Old Rochester Educational Foundation Inc. developed through private donations to support education in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester.