By Delaney Crawford
Are you smarter than a fourth grader? Maybe, but probably not as sharp as the students who dominated the competition at Northfield Community School’s annual Noodlemania Trivia Contest held this year on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Noodlemania is all about brain power, teamwork and a whole lot of fun. This year’s fourth-grade knowledge bowl was the biggest yet with 17 teams from 10 schools across Atlantic and Cape May counties battling it out in five rounds of trivia. Questions covered a wide range of topics, including Disney, geography, math, logic, New Jersey, science, pop culture and brain teasers.
As I’m sure the name announces, Noodlemania isn’t like just any academic showdown. Between rounds, the Northfield gym transforms into a dance floor for segments like, Best Fan Dance and Mascot Dance-Off, while the Kindness Kidmittee spread good vibes (and snacks) throughout the day. The kids cover the dance floor during these breaks, getting to jump around before jumping right back into their brains as the next round of competition begins. With school spirit soaring and the competition remaining fierce, this year, Noodlemania once again proved that learning can be anything but boring.
Fourth-grade teachers Barbara Shenkus and Megan Hoti co-chair this event each year, ensuring it remains special and exciting for students. This was their fourth year organizing Noodlemania, and according to Shenkus, they are very excited for next year’s competition.
“All schools in Atlantic and Cape May counties are invited to send up to two teams to the competition,” Shenkus explained. “Each team consists of six students and a coach, and this year was our most competitive yet, with 10 local schools and 17 teams participating.”
This year’s competing schools included Northfield, Linwood, Somers Point, Margate, Brigantine, Egg Harbor City, Folsom, Lower Township, Woodbine and Stone Harbor. With such a strong lineup, the competition was intense, and all the kids got to challenge themselves in different ways against students from all over South Jersey.
Linwood’s fourth graders took home first place in this year’s competition, with the home team from Northfield securing second and Margate’s fourth graders claiming third. But beyond the trophies and rankings, the real victory was in the learning, teamwork and fun all the students had.
Shenkus and Hoti originally created Noodlemania to provide more academic and social competition opportunities for elementary students. They noticed that while middle and high school students had various academic contests, there was a lack of similar events for the younger students. As fourth-grade teachers, they were eager to offer something for their own grade as well.
“Our focus was on fourth grade because we felt they were ready for the challenge, and this also prepares them and gets them excited to participate in similar competitions as they get older,” Shenkus said. “After coming up with a plan, we presented it to our incredibly supportive principal, who immediately put our vision into motion. And just like that, Noodlemania was born!”
Noodlemania is more than just a contest, it’s an opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge, work as a team and develop confidence in a fun and engaging environment. Each student plays a unique role in their team, learning valuable skills like collaboration, problem-solving and sportsmanship while competing with peers from across the region.
While the event is a major success, organizing it each year requires an enormous amount of planning.
“We start making plans for the next Noodlemania the day after the competition,” Shenkus said. “But this event wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support from our fourth-grade students who volunteer, local schools and coaches, Northfield staff, our own fourth-grade team, and of course, our principal. Everyone comes together to make this happen.”
Above all, Shenkus and Hoti want every student who participates in Noodlemania to have a memorable and rewarding experience, one that makes learning feel exciting, fun and cool.
“We are so proud of our students and school, as we’re sure every school that participates is,” Shenkus said. “Bringing schools together and celebrating academics in such a positive way is truly something special.”
With another successful year in the books, the countdown to Noodlemania 2026 has already begun. If this year was any indication, next year’s competition will be bigger, better and brainier than ever.
One thing is for sure clear, Noodlemania is more than just a trivia contest. It’s a celebration of curiosity, teamwork and the students’ joy of learning. Whether they walked away with a win or just knowing they had a fun day, the hope is that each student left inspired, more confident, and eager for the next challenge.
With Shenkus and Hoti already brainstorming for next year, we can bet that Noodlemania 2026 will be another unforgettable showdown of smarts, spirit and, of course, a little bit of dancing!
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. After earning a BA in Communications, Delaney built a successful career in the newspaper industry, honing skills in, news writing, media, and content creation. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DC’s Social Media & Content Creation, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
