Pi Day comes early in Somerville

On Friday, March 13, well over 200 students and their family members and teachers along with high school and community volunteers celebrated Pi Day early. Technically Pi minute would be  March 13 at 1:59 (and to be even more precise, 26 seconds, π = 3.145926...).  Congress even recognized Pi Day in 2009 with our own Congressman Capuano voting 

“yes” to encourage the celebration of this important mathematical holiday http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19952.html.

Middle school students from the Healey School were joined by students from East Somerville Community School at Cummings and from West Somerville Neighborhood School for an evening in celebration of Pi.  Pi was computed, estimations and predictions were made, π quizzes were taken, π posters were displayed, problems using π were solved, circles and other curves were drawn using lines, π buttons were made, birthdays were found in π’s infinite set of digits, graphs were drawn, and probability data was collected for later use.  Everyone worked on problem solving, estimating, predicting and enjoying π, and dined on pizza and juice.  Prizes of pie and candy, round ones of course, were awarded at the end of an exciting mathematical evening.  Everyone went home at the end of the evening with a small Table Talk Pie.

Businesses and individuals helped to make this possible.  Everyone appreciated Healey School and its principal Jason DeFalco for hosting this event.  The evening was planned by Wil Jacques (Healey School), Theresa MacVicar (ESCS, Cummings), Annette Fiore Bassett (ESCS, Cummings), Scott Weaver (WSNS). and Erica Voolich (Somerville Mathematics Fund).  Over 300 pies were donated by Table Talk Pie Company; Gerald and Debra Bickoff donated the pizza supplied at a discount by White Sport; Star Market (Beacon Street) donated a gift card used to buy juice.  The Somerville Mathematics Fund was honored to be able to sponsor this exciting, celebratory event with the support and time of the many wonderful individuals in the Somerville Schools and community, as well as, the generous donations.

The Somerville Mathematics Fund, an affiliate of the national scholarship organization Dollars for Scholars, was chartered in 2000 to celebrate and encourage achievement in mathematics in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts.  Currently, The Somerville Mathematics Fund is seeking applications from outstanding students for their renewable college mathematics scholarship. The application form is available at www.somervillemathematicsfund.org.

The Somerville Mathematics Fund Announces Winning Teacher Grants

The Somerville Mathematics Fund, an affiliate of Dollars for Scholars, is pleased to announce the winners of its 2011 Teacher Grants to encourage mathematics achievement in the classrooms in Somerville.  Again, the members of the board were pleased with the quality of the applications this year and with the exciting things that are happening in the Somerville classrooms.  Through the generosity of John Bullock and the Apple Tree Fund, The Somerville Mathematics Fund was able fund a record number of wonderful projects this year.  

The Math Fund wants to thank John Bullock and the Apple Tree Fund for generously underwriting the following teacher grants: 

• Georgia Arvanitis at Winter Hill Community School for  “iXL Software” (3rd)

•Annette Fiore Bassett at Winter Hill Community School for “K-2 and 3-5 Math Nights”

•Yasmina Belatreche at Winter Hill Community School for “Graphing Calculators” (7th & 8th)

•Sally Brith at Next Wave for “Algebra Curriculum Materials” (8th)

•Charlene Buckley at West Somerville Neighborhood School for “Math Closet” (1st & 2nd)

•Catherine Cannan, Patricia Murphy-Sheehy, Lily Ma, Justine Hebert, Jennifer Davis, and Maureen Halpenny at Somerville High School for “Kuta Software”

•Frances Carino at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner and Math Games” (4th)

•Maureen Cronin at Winter Hill Community School for “Math Book of the Month” (2nd)

•Susanne Douglas at A D Healey School for “K’nex Mathematics Materials” (1st)

•Donna Driscoll & Joan McGinty at West Somerville Neighborhood School for 

“Kindergarten/Preschool Math Center and Games Sharing Library”

•Sandra Dumas at Brown School for “Math Center Materials” (5th)

•Kristin Fraser at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner” (1st)

•Sandy Hong at Winter Hill Community School for “Algebraic Thinking Manipulatives” (6th - 8th)

•Debra A Hurley at J F Kennedy School for “Marilyn Burns Classroom Math Library” (1st, 2nd)

•Danáe Jacobs at A D Healey School for “Mobile Teaching Center” (7th & 8th, and 5th & 6th after school)

•Jonathan Killeen at Argenziano School for “TI-73 calculators” (7th & 8th)

•Eileen MacDonnell at A D Healey School for “Think-Tanks Problem Solving & Number Sense Materials” (3rd & 4th)

•Theresa MacVicar at East Somerville Community School at Cummings for “Algebra Models” (7th & 8th)

•Kimberly Murphy at West Somerville Neighborhood School for “Family Math Nights for Pre-k -2 and 3-5”

•Charlene O’Neill at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner and Math Games” (4th)

•Michelle Perry at Winter Hill Community School for “Marilyn Burns Mathematics Library” (3rd and 4-6th)

•Ana Potter and Mary McGivern at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner” (5th)

•Julie Scafidi at Winter Hill Community School for “Graphing Calculators” (7th & 8th)

•Celia Taylor at A D Healey School for “10th Annual Kindergarten through Second Grade Family Mathematics Night”

•Allison Walton at A D Healey School for “K’nex Mathematics Materials” (1st)

•Linda Wiegenfeld at East Somerville Community School at Edgerly for “Math Night (3rd & 4th) and Math Enrichment Club (2nd-4th)”

•Noelle Yankov at A D Healey School for “Mathematics Manipulatives” (2nd)

The Somerville Mathematics Fund, an affiliate of the national scholarship organization Dollars for Scholars, was chartered in 2000 to celebrate and encourage achievement in mathematics in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts.  Over ten years, the math fund has awarded $47,921 in teacher grants in the city of Someville.

In early April, the fund will be seeking applications from students who reside in Somerville for college mathematics scholarships.  Copies of the scholarship application form is available at  www.somervillemathematicsfund.org   For more information, to volunteer or to make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact Erica Voolich (666-0666 or mathfund@gmail.com).

The Somerville Mathematics Fund Announces Winning Teacher Grants

The Somerville Mathematics Fund, an affiliate of Dollars for Scholars, is pleased to announce the winners of its 2011 Teacher Grants to encourage mathematics achievement in the classrooms in Somerville.  Again, the members of the board were pleased with the quality of the applications this year and with the exciting things that are happening in the Somerville classrooms.  Through the generosity of John Bullock and the Apple Tree Fund, The Somerville Mathematics Fund was able fund a record number of wonderful projects this year.  

The Math Fund wants to thank John Bullock and the Apple Tree Fund for generously underwriting the following teacher grants: 

• Georgia Arvanitis at Winter Hill Community School for  “iXL Software” (3rd)

•Annette Fiore Bassett at Winter Hill Community School for “K-2 and 3-5 Math Nights”

•Yasmina Belatreche at Winter Hill Community School for “Graphing Calculators” (7th & 8th)

•Sally Brith at Next Wave for “Algebra Curriculum Materials” (8th)

•Charlene Buckley at West Somerville Neighborhood School for “Math Closet” (1st & 2nd)

•Catherine Cannan, Patricia Murphy-Sheehy, Lily Ma, Justine Hebert, Jennifer Davis, and Maureen Halpenny at Somerville High School for “Kuta Software”

•Frances Carino at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner and Math Games” (4th)

•Maureen Cronin at Winter Hill Community School for “Math Book of the Month” (2nd)

•Susanne Douglas at A D Healey School for “K’nex Mathematics Materials” (1st)

•Donna Driscoll & Joan McGinty at West Somerville Neighborhood School for 

“Kindergarten/Preschool Math Center and Games Sharing Library”

•Sandra Dumas at Brown School for “Math Center Materials” (5th)

•Kristin Fraser at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner” (1st)

•Sandy Hong at Winter Hill Community School for “Algebraic Thinking Manipulatives” (6th - 8th)

•Debra A Hurley at J F Kennedy School for “Marilyn Burns Classroom Math Library” (1st, 2nd)

•Danáe Jacobs at A D Healey School for “Mobile Teaching Center” (7th & 8th, and 5th & 6th after school)

•Jonathan Killeen at Argenziano School for “TI-73 calculators” (7th & 8th)

•Eileen MacDonnell at A D Healey School for “Think-Tanks Problem Solving & Number Sense Materials” (3rd & 4th)

•Theresa MacVicar at East Somerville Community School at Cummings for “Algebra Models” (7th & 8th)

•Kimberly Murphy at West Somerville Neighborhood School for “Family Math Nights for Pre-k -2 and 3-5”

•Charlene O’Neill at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner and Math Games” (4th)

•Michelle Perry at Winter Hill Community School for “Marilyn Burns Mathematics Library” (3rd and 4-6th)

•Ana Potter and Mary McGivern at Winter Hill Community School for “Scanner” (5th)

•Julie Scafidi at Winter Hill Community School for “Graphing Calculators” (7th & 8th)

•Celia Taylor at A D Healey School for “10th Annual Kindergarten through Second Grade Family Mathematics Night”

•Allison Walton at A D Healey School for “K’nex Mathematics Materials” (1st)

•Linda Wiegenfeld at East Somerville Community School at Edgerly for “Math Night (3rd & 4th) and Math Enrichment Club (2nd-4th)”

•Noelle Yankov at A D Healey School for “Mathematics Manipulatives” (2nd)

The Somerville Mathematics Fund, an affiliate of the national scholarship organization Dollars for Scholars, was chartered in 2000 to celebrate and encourage achievement in mathematics in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts.  Over ten years, the math fund has awarded $47,921 in teacher grants in the city of Someville.

In early April, the fund will be seeking applications from students who reside in Somerville for college mathematics scholarships.  Copies of the scholarship application form is available at  www.somervillemathematicsfund.org   For more information, to volunteer or to make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact Erica Voolich (666-0666 or mathfund@gmail.com).

Scrapheap Showdown 2010 -- Moving on up!

On October 24th, twelve teams of 3 students each competed in the 6th annual Scrapheap Showdown.  Tufts University generously hosted us in the Cousens Gym.

This year's problem was probably our biggest challenge because the students needed 4 hours to complete it.  The challenge was to move up to 15 each of cocoons, marbles and/or bottle caps from a table top on the floor to a standing table.  Their machines couldn't come within 12 inches of the upper table.  There were three small targets on table -- students got point for landing on the table and many more points if they could land within the targets.  There were bonus points for moving multiple types of objects into the targets and for landing in multiple targets.

The winning team had three elevators (see right) leading up to ramps with openings directly over the desired targets.  Each elevator was operated by a counterweight on the far left end of the machine.  Students would load the items to move into the cup elevator close to the floor (on right), and then the student on the left would release the weight.

The pictures of all of the other teams, along with their projects are on this link:

Scrapheap photos

The Somerville Mathematics Fund was charted in 2000 to celebrate and encourage mathematics achievement in Somerville MA.  We run the annual Scrapheap challenge and family math nights along with awarding scholarships and teacher grants.

For more information or to make a donation, check out the math fund's website.

Scrapheap Showdown is Coming!!

This year’s Scrapheap Showdown is on October 24th at Cousens Gym in “the Cage.”’

To enter a team of three, go to www.somervillemathematicsfund.org and download the  application.

It is due on October 14th, so it is time to get started on putting together your team.

To be eligible to compete:

You need to live in Somerville.

You can not have graduated from high school.

You need to “fundraise” $75/team ($25 each) by the day of the competition.

We are working on a new problem -- exciting and as challenging as before.  So come ready to have fun and meet our challenge!

For information, contact voolich@gmail.com

Somerville Mathematics Fund Scholarship Winners

Press Release

9 June 2010

The Somerville Mathematics Fund, an Affiliate of Dollars for Scholars

contact: Erica Voolich, voolich@gmail.com 

The Somerville Mathematics Fund Recognizes Outstanding Mathematics Students from Three High Schools

The Somerville Mathematics Fund is pleased to announce the winners of their renewable college mathematics scholarships.  The selection committee was impressed with the quality of this year’s applicants and pleased with the generosity of our donors who made it possible to give a record six scholarships.  At the Somerville High School’s award night Erica Voolich, president of The Somerville Mathematics Fund, commented on the outstanding achievements of Deepika Bhargo, Paulo Filipe Dourado, Nelson Moreira and Theodor Rich.  Then at Buckingham, Brown and Nichols, Voolich recognized the outstanding work of Kathleen Oshima, followed a couple days later she went to Chapel Hill - Chauncy Hall to recognize the outstanding work of Robert Merrell.  All are planning on pursuing mathematics or a mathematics-related major in college.  Each scholarship is renewable for up to four years based on performance.

The Somerville Mathematics Fund, an affiliate of the national scholarship organization Dollars for Scholars, was chartered in 2000 to celebrate and encourage achievement in mathematics in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts. Since it's founding, it has awarded $138,000 in mathematics scholarships to outstanding Somerville students.  Next fall, The Somerville Mathematics Fund will be seeking applications from teachers who teach in the city of Somerville who would like funding for classroom mathematics activities.  In October, the Math Fund will also be seeking high school students to compete in the sixth Scrapheap Showdown and will be celebrating their 10th anniversary.  For more  information, to volunteer, or to make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact Erica Voolich (voolich@gmail.com) or go to www.somervillemathematicsfund.org.

SPROUTS, a wonderful place for exploring math and science in Somerville -- check it out!

by Alec Resnick 

Sprout is an educational nonprofit which is starting up 

its first big season of programs in the next few weeks.

You can find a full listing at the programs;theprograms 

as well as more information about their open studios in 

Davis Square ourstudios.  What follows are some short 

descriptions of their math- and science-focused programs 

appropriate for both youth and adults in the area.  

Significant financial support is available, so if you'd 

like to make arrangements (or if you have any other 

questions), feel free to email Alec Resnick at
alec@thesprouts.org.

- EXPLORING MATH THROUGH COMPUTATION, AND VICE VERSA
turtlegeometry is a thirteen-week, hands-on seminar 

exploring how we can actively and personally explore 

questions of computer science, topology, and 

differential geometry using the programming languages 

Ruby, Processing, and Scratch.  In particular, this 

course will focus on exploring and unifying the 

aesthetic and computational aspects of these fields. 

No formal background in computer science or math beyond 

basic comfort with algebra is required.  There will be 

three tracks: one for educators and parents, one for youth, 

and one for a general audience.  Email Alec at
alec@thesprouts.org; if you have any questions or check 

out the seminar site turtlegeometry; for more details.

- ECOMODDING YOUR HOME eventbrite is a two month
seminar focused on identifying and implementing simple 

strategies to reduce electricity consumption. In this 

seminar, we'll use a special power strip developed at 

sprout. This power strip enables you to see how and 

when your appliances use electricity and ensure they 

only use electricity when you want them to--whether 

that means turning off your TV's standby mode 

while you're at work or dimming your lamp when its 

sunny outside.  This is accomplished by programming 

the microcontrollers which control the power strip--

a skill participants will be introduced to through 

this seminar.  No background in electronics or 

programming is required.

- FLUTES AND WAVES flutesandwaves is a weekend 

workshop in which participants will build their own 

flutes and begin to explore the acoustical qualities 

of those instruments.  Interested participants will 

have the chance to exlpore how their flute design 

affects their instrument's acoustics using a spectrum 

analyzer and working to understand the underlying 

physics of what's going on inside the flute. 

Instrument design is an amazing mix of craft and 

science--despite how much we know, we don't know 

much about how the finer points of instruments' 

sound work. This is a two-day workshop and studio 

(10AM-4PM on two, consecutive Saturdays) exploring 

how flutes are made, and how their design controls 

what sorts of sounds they can make.  This workshop 

is appropriate for people coming at it from the 

musical, acoustical, or simply interested perspectives. 

Email shaunalynn@thesprouts.org if you have any 

questions.

- DIGITAL GARDENING dg.eventbrite is a one day 

workshop coordinated by Keith Simmons, co-designer 

of the Wireplant microcontroller kit. Hosted at the 

MIT Museum, this workshop leads participants through 

the basic electronics and practical skills needed 

to understand and assemble an Arduino-controlled 

moisture sensor which lets you explore sensing 

and measurement in gardening.

- SIMULATION AND NATURE IN DESIGN nervous.eventbrite

is a thirteen-week, project-driven seminar exploring 

how computation and simulation can be used to take 

inspiration from the processes and phenomena of the 

natural world to produce physical and virtual

objects. Facilitated by Jesse Louis-Rosenberg 

(co-founder of the Nervous System n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com 

design studio), this seminar will explore how we can 

understand natural forms—from leaf venation 

to the growth of coral—with computational tools.  

Email jesse@n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com if you have any 

questions or check out the seminar site 

n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com/education for more details.