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Competition Mathematics
SMS offers three different competition math clubs:
1. MathCounts for any grade level mathematician.
2. Algebra Mu Alpha Theta – for students enrolled in Algebra I
3. Geometry Mu Alpha Theta – for students enrolled in Geometry
- The MathCounts club meets every Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00.
- Algebra Mu Alpha Theta meets Mondays from 4:00 to 5:00
- Geometry Mu Alpha Theta meets Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00
Monday’s club meeting is open to Geometry students who cannot attend on Fridays and Friday’s Geometry club meeting is open to Algebra students who cannot attend on Mondays. Qualified students can attend both Mu Alpha Theta and MathCounts club meetings if they wish to compete in both divisions.
Club meetings are used to develop teamwork as well as individual math skills. While competition level mathematics involves concepts similar to those learned in the core classroom; the level of difficulty can be significantly more challenging.
What is really cool is that there is no application process for competition mathematics. Because participation naturally improves students’ performance in core math courses, everyone is invited to attend.
Mu Alpha Theta competitions begin in December of each year with the Delegates Fund Raiser contest, to be held in 2011 at Hagerty High School. From January through March there will be one regional and one invitational competition each month. This school year the math teams will travel to Vero Beach, Tampa and Gainesville for invitational contests. Teams from across the state of Florida participate in the invitational competitions. Regional competitions are held at local high schools. The schedule for the 2011-2012 Mu Alpha Theta competition is as follows:
December 3rd, Delegates competition at Hagerty High School
January 7th, Invitational at Vero Beach High School
January 21st, Regional contest at Oviedo High School
February 4th, Regional contest at Hagerty High School
February 18th, Invitational in Tampa
March 3rd, Regional at Seminole High School
March 17th, Invitational in Gainesville
The Chapter MathCounts competition is usually held in February. The MathCounts team of four students, along with seven individual competitors (to include at least four 6th graders) will represent SMS at this competition. In April, the MathCounts Team of four plus an alternate will have the opportunity to compete at the state level contest. A national contest is held for the top four (overall) students at the state competition. Besides the chance to “make” the team, 6th grade students participating in the Wednesday MathCounts club will participate in a detailed curriculum to help prepare them for Algebra I Honors (and the associated Mu Alpha Theta competitions).
Parent support and participation are keys to the success of the program. We encourage parents to join us at the competitions not only to applaud the efforts of the students involved but to help with managing the 50 plus students who typically attend Mu Alpha Theta competitions. Parents who wish to participate will need to go the SCPS home web page and sign up as Dividends.
Sincerely,
Jim Stevens, NBCT
Competition Math Coach/Sponsor
Marjorie Dilmore, Sponsor
Tricia Panarello, Sponsor
Elaine Lin, MathCounts Coach
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