Somerville Mathematics Fund, a Dollars for Scholars Chapter, Named New England Dollars for Scholars® Chapter of the Year

Somerville, April 28, 2011 – Somerville Mathematics Fund, a Dollars for Scholars Chapter, is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the 2011 New England Chapter of the Year Award.  The Chapter of the Year Award honors and recognizes Dollars for Scholars^® chapters that have performed outstanding service to their community and that exemplify the commitment of Dollars for Scholars and Scholarship America^® to ensuring all students have access to and complete postsecondary education.

They were chartered in September 2000 to celebrate and encourage achievement in mathematics in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts. They offer renewable mathematics scholarships to students who were residents of Somerville during their high school years without regard to which high school the applicant attended.  They offer grants to K-12 teachers of Somerville students for projects to improve mathematics instruction in the classroom or in after-school programs.   As of January, they have awarded a total of  $138,000 in four-year mathematics scholarships to thirty-five students and $47,921 in teacher grants to support one hundred four teachers’ projects and fifteen emergency grants to ESCS teachers after their devastating fire.  They also run middle school family math nights to celebrate Pi, for example, and the Scrapheap Showdown, a high school engineering challege each October.

As the New England Chapter of the Year, Somerville Mathematics Fund, A Dollars for Scholars Chapter, will receive a $500 scholarship and will be entered into the National Chapter of the Year competition. The chapter selected as the National Chapter of the Year will receive a $1,000 scholarship. 

“We are honored by this recognition.  We couldn’t do what we do in the community of Somerville if it weren’t for our wonderful volunteers and donors.  I want to thank them for their continued support and efforts,”  said the chapter president, Erica Voolich, “this award is really recognition of everyone’s effort to make mathematics accessible and exciting here in Somerville.”

About New England Dollars for Scholars^®

·      Northeast Dollars for Scholars provides leadership and support for 280 chapters throughout the six New England states and the state of New York.

·      Northeast Dollars for Scholars actively promotes the Collegiate Partners Program of Scholarship America.  Almost five hundred colleges and universities agree to use Dollars for Scholars scholarships to reduce student and family loan debt and not adjust need-based institutional gift aid the college has already given to the student.  A number of Collegiate Partners also match chapter awards, effectively doubling the scholarship.  Northeast Dollars for Scholars works with 164 Collegiate Partners throughout the seven-state region.

·      In 2010, Northeast chapters awarded almost $19 million in scholarships to more than 15,000 students.  In 2010, Northeast chapters distributed an average of $75,000 each in college scholarships.

About Scholarship America®

Scholarship America mobilizes support for students getting into and graduating from college. The movement began in 1958 with the first Dollars for Scholars chapters. We became a national organization in 1961—and since then, we've helped more than 1.7 million students follow their dream of getting to college.  Go to www.scholarshipamerica.org

 to learn more.

After-School Math Fun at East Somerville Community School

While I was working with teachers at the Healey School to set up our Pi Night celebration (see the next Blog article), the teachers at the East Somerville Community School at Edgerly were holding their math night organized by Linda Wiegenfeld.

Delia Marshall wrote a wonderful article about the activities for the students and for the parents:
Math Fun at East Somerville School.
Take some time to read about all the wonderful things that are happening there.

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