Summerville High School Places 21st in National Math Contest
Seattle, WA – February 25, 2008 – Summerville High School has some of the best high-school mathematicians in the country, as demonstrated by their 21st-place finish in the 2008 Four-by-Four Competition, a national mathematics contest administered by National Assessment & Testing (http://www.natassessment.com). In this contest, teams of four participated in ten three-minute rounds in which they attempted to answer four questions. This effectively gives each student three minutes to answer one problem, but the team must also decide who will work each problem and whether their time would be better spent checking one another’s work on easier and more familiar problems or if they should attempt to answer all four questions.
After results from schools across the country were double-checked, the team of Brian Bowers, Taylor Edwards, Jim Neal, and Greg Kidd had the highest score at Summerville High School, leading their school to place 21st overall among the top schools in the country. Summerville High School will be participating in National Assessment & Testing’s next contest, the 2008 Collaborative Problem-Solving Contest, from April 2nd to April 9th. This contest allows a team to collaborate for one week on fifteen difficult and complicated problems, and rewards real-world problem-solving skills such as brainstorming, collaboration, research, and the application of technology. These skills are important for students to possess in college and their careers, but are infrequently emphasized in high-school classes.
National Assessment & Testing administers high-quality mathematics competitions that schools can participate in through the mail. Their contests span a variety of formats, including individual and team tests, as well as a variety of difficulties, from an easier 100 problems in 30 minutes to 15 more complicated problems in one week. National Assessment & Testing also produces the Middlementary Math Bonanza, a face-to-face math contest that high schools can administer to local elementary and middle-school students.
Registration 2008-2009
- Course guides given to students on February 14, 2008
- Students pick up Registration Paper in First Period on February 21, 2008
- Students take Registration Paper to each period teacher and collect signatures for class recommendations
- White copy is left with the student’s last period teacher of the day. Yellow copy goes home for parent signature.
- Student returns yellow copy to first period teacher with parent signature
- Counselor inputs data into system
- Student receives verification in late March/early April. Verification is to make sure the correct classes have been put into the computer correctly, not that the child will receive chosen electives.
**If a parent does not agree with the teacher’s recommendation, they are to send the student to the Guidance Department to pick up an override form. Signing this form states the student will remain in the higher designated class for the complete year.
**A student does not need an override if he/she decides to take a lower level class.
**Check out the Advanced Placement Link on the front SHS web page if interested in AP classes.
**Check out the Trident Tech site if interested in Dual Credit. There will be a Dual Credit information night in the near future and materials will be sent home to those interested.
**Ashley Ridge High School students have been identified at SHS and FDHS and they will go through the same process at the same time as other students.
Don’t forget about Open House!
SHS will host it’s Spring 2008 Open house on Thursday, February 7 from 6:00 - 8:00PM. All current students and parent/guardians are strongly encouraged to attend. Come out for some refreshments and meet the teachers and staff of SHS!