Help Your Child Discover
MATH By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson T
he Treasure Valley has many mag- net and charter schools and special academic programs within exist- ing programs to prepare budding
engineers, scientists, health professionals, and mathematicians. As the emphasis for a stronger math and science concentration intensifies for students, opportunities have increased to meet academic needs and inter- ests.
Most of the high schools in the Treasure
Valley offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP classes allow students to learn at a college level in a high school setting. If students get a passing grade on the AP Exam given at the end of the course they can receive college credit. Check with your stu- dent’s high school to find out what courses are offered and check with the colleges your student is interested in to find out if they accept AP credits. For more information on Idaho’s
revised math standards and new high school graduation requirements in the areas of math, science, and technology, go the State Department of Education’s website,
sde.idaho.gov. Interest? Need? Where can you turn if
your student would like to explore a more concentrated mathematics and science cur- riculum?
MAGNET SCHOOLS Your child may benefit from a magnet
school—a public school that offers a unique curriculum specializing in a particular area of study. There are elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools that emphasize math, science, and technology in the Treasure Valley.
Meridian’s Summerwind School of
Math and Science (K–5) Principal Joseph Palaia observes, “Children are curious by their nature. They want to know why or how.” To keep students interested in science throughout their lives, Summerwind teach- ers encourage students to ask questions, explore, and discover the answers. “Math instruction looks different than
when we went to school,” states Palaia. “Teachers are making math learning more interactive and less about algorithms as they create ‘problem-solvers.’ Math is about the process of understanding numbers and how you solve problems. The answer is impor- tant, especially if you want the billion-dollar satellite to actually make it to space, but being able to solve problems outside of the classroom environment is the ultimate goal.” “We incorporate technology into the
core curriculum in innovative ways,” says Kelly Davies, principal at Meridian’s Lewis and Clark Middle School (LCMS). “We also have some unique elective classes at LCMS for technology. We have a Personal Finance and Careers class and a digital filmmaking class.” In 2011, the filmmaking class par- ticipated in the novice division of i48, a film competition and festival in which teams are given 48 hours to make a short film. “We are the only middle school that participates,” asserts Davies. “(Our) film won Best Use of Dialogue and the video was played at the ‘Best of the Best of i48’ at the Egyptian Theater in June 2011. Former LCMS film- making students were represented at this year’s i48 competition. Their start came at LCMS and they have continued to pursue filmmaking and acting because of their experience here.”
30 TREASURE VALLEY FAMILY MAGAZINE | March 2012 Treasure Valley Math and Science
Center (TVMSC) is a magnet school in the Boise School District with a rigorous math and science program and unique approach to learning. TVMSC offers chal- lenging mathematics and science courses for high potential students in 7th through 12th grades. Students learn the scientific approach by using it every day, inside and outside the classroom. “The students who thrive in the TVMSC program are students who enjoy thinking deeply and sharing their insights with others,” notes Dr. Holly MacLean, Supervisor Principal of TVMSC since the school’s founding in 2004. “This is a school to join when you wish to be part of an active, student-centered and inquiry- based learning environment where we cel- ebrate mathematics, science, engineering, technology, and research daily.” Past achievements of TVMSC students
include having three of the four top students in the 2011 State MATHCOUNTS competi- tion, the two highest scores in Idaho in the 2010 American Mathematics Competitions, and first place in the 2008 National Fuel Cell Competition. A trophy case showcases the accomplishments of TVMSC students but the real achievement is the success of former TVMSC students at Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Purdue, Johns Hopkins, and other internationally recognized research-oriented universities. Dr. MacLean notes: “These students have acquired the necessary skills, discipline, and experiences to enable them to perform with the top college students in the nation.” Kearney Thompson, who will graduate
a year early in May, is currently interning at R Squared Digital Media, an animation and
MATH and SCIENCE SCIENCE
“There is nothing which can better deserve your patronage, than the promotion of science and literature.”
—George Washington, First Annual Message to Congress, January 8, 1790
EDUCATION & SCHOOLS
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