Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas. ~Albert Einstein Getting Students Engaged in Advanced Math Problem-Solving In the article the Math Revolution Peg Tyre reports on the growing number of U.S. students who are enthusiastically taking part in after-school and summer programs for advanced math problem-solving and the fact that America s teenage team won the gold medal at the 56 th International Mathematical Olympiad in Thailand last summer. Here s an example of the type of problem that students in these programs are asked to solve (more at http://expii.com): Imagine a rope that runs completely around the Earth s equator, flat against the ground (assume the Earth is a perfect sphere, without any mountains or valleys). You cut the rope and tie in another piece of rope that is 710 inches long, or just under 60 feet. That increases the total length of the rope by a bit more than the length of a bus, or the height of a 5-story building. Now imagine that the rope is lifted at all points simultaneously, so that it floats about the Earth at the same height all along its length. What is the largest thing that could fit underneath the rope? (a) bacteria, (b) a ladybug, (c) a dog, (d) Einstein, (e) a giraffe, or (f) a space shuttle. Problem-solving summer and after-school classes demand that the pupils execute the cognitive bench press: investigating, conjecturing, predicting, analyzing, and finally verifying their own mathematical strategy. The point is not to accurately execute algorithms, although there is, of course, a right answer (Einstein, in the problem above). Truly thinking the problem through creatively applying what you know about math and puzzling out possible solutions is more important. The Math Revolution by Peg Tyre in The Atlantic, March 2016 (Vol. 317, #2, p. 50-57), http://theatln.tc/1zkpr8a Rising 9 th Grade Parents, if you are interested in Summer Programs for Acceleration for your student, you can find further information at http://wjccschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/summer-program- Catalog.pdf.
Dr. Carroll will visit at lunch on Tuesday to talk with students interested in the Pathways Project. Students will have a chance to elect for the visit on Monday with their teachers. Monday, May 23, 2016: B Day Make up SOL s Physicals at WHS for rising WHS students 8 th grade girls going to JHS interested in playing basketball next year at Jamestown High School. Basketball workouts will be held on Monday, May 23 rd 5pm to 6:30 and Thursday, May 26 th from 4:30 pm to 6:30pm. Warhill High School (8 th grade students going to WHS) will be having cheerleading tryouts on May 23, 24, and 25 from 6pm-8pm. You must have an updated VHSL physical form in order to try out. Fall/Spring Bee Crew and current 8 th grade NJHS Students: applications to volunteer at the Blayton Field Day will be available during advisory and lunch in the school counseling office. First come, first serve basis. Tuesday, May 24, 2016: A Day Make up and expedited retakes for SOL s WHS cheerleading tryouts 6-8pm An interest meeting for all 8 th grade students going to JHS interested in trying out for Jamestown s cheerleading team at 5pm at Jamestown High School. Dr. Carroll here for lunch with interested Warhill Pathways Project students Wednesday, May 25, 2016: B Day Grade 8 Math SOL WHS cheerleading tryouts 6-8pm Attention all students wanting to try out for a sport next year: Hornsby will be hosting sports physicals after school from 3:15-5:30pm. These athletic physicals will be good for the 2016-2017 school year. The cost will be $20. Checks payable to Hornsby Middle School. If you need a physical form, please see Miss King in the gym. Thursday, May 26, 2016: A Day Grade 6 Math SOL 8 th grade girls going to JHS basketball workouts 4:30-6:30pm 8 th Grade Choir performs on the Jamestown HS Concert, 7:00pm Friday, May 27, 2016: B Day Algebra (7 th and 8 th grade) SOL Bridge Club in the Technology room Library Assistant applications due 5 th Grade Choir/6 th Grade Choir Collaboration Concert at JBB, 2:30pm Have a great weekend!
Announcements/Looking Ahead Wednesday May 25- Athletic Physicals offered after school until 5:30pm. (Cost $20) Checks payable to Hornsby Middle School. These athletic physicals will be good for the 2016-2017 school year. Please note: All students must have page 1 and 2 filled out on the VHSL physical form by a parent in order to have their physical completed on Wednesday by Dr. Quinlan from TPMG Sports Medicine. (VHSL forms are available on the Hornsby Athletic website). CURRENT 6 th and 7 th Graders interested in Student Library Assistant job for next school year: Student Library Assistant applications are now available in the Media Center and due back by May 27th. If you re selected, you will learn to check books in and out, how to shelve and organize books, and how to actually run the library. Yearbook news! In less than 2 weeks, our 2015-2016 Yearbooks will arrive! We do have extras for sale on a first come first serve basis starting with the 8th grade. They will be for sale for $40. Please look for more information on purchasing a yearbook next week when they arrive the first week of June! Just a reminder that the Bridge Club will continue to meet on Friday after school in the Technology Room for 2 more weeks. Newcomers are welcome! This game develops memory, logic, and strategy skills, in addition to being lots of fun! All interested students are welcome to join us today. Fall/Spring Bee Crew and current 8 th grade NJHS Students: applications to volunteer at the Blayton Field Day will be available during advisory and lunch Monday, 5/23, in the school counseling office. First come, first serve basis Attention 8 th grade students attending Warhill next year. If you are interested in playing a sport next year and haven t gotten a new physical yet, Warhill will be hosting athletic physicals on Monday, May 23 rd from 3pm 5pm at a cost of $20.00 Please plan to attend. Attention all 8 th grade girls interested in playing basketball next year at Jamestown High School. Basketball workouts will be held on Monday, May 23 rd 5pm to 6:30 and Thursday, May 26 th from 4:30 pm to 6:30. Come out and meet the coaches and other players. Attention all 8 th graders who will be attending Lafayette in the fall. If you plan to try out for cheerleading, please note that cheerleading try outs will be held from May 31 st thru June 2 nd from 4pm 6 pm at Layfayette High School Gym. You must have a VHSL Sports physical
Field Hockey (next season) Try-out Information: Mini-Camp: There will be a 4 day camp/clinic on August 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th. It will go from 4:00-6:15 pm. The camp is not mandatory; but will give players a chance to get back into the "swing" of things. Location: Hornsby Field Hockey Field Tryouts: Field Hockey Tryouts will take place on August 29, 30th, 31st and Sept. 1st. Players must attend tryouts to make the team. The tryouts will go from 4:00-6:15 pm ***You must have a current VHSL physical form in order to attend the mini-camp and tryouts. Please turn in your physical form to Miss King or bring with you on the first day. The VHSL form can be found on the Hornsby Athletic website. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email Coach Leslie Souliere at Leslie.Souliere@wjccschools.org or Athletic Director Leslie King at Leslie.King@wjccschools.org 2016 Cheerleading and Volleyball (Next Fall Season) Tryouts will begin the week of August 29. (Times TBA) There will most likely be open gym/mini-camp sessions prior to tryouts however those dates have not been scheduled yet. Please continue to check the Hornsby Athletic Page for updates. Football Information: June Mini-Camp (Mandatory for all players wanting to play Hornsby Football in the Fall.) Location: Hornsby Thursday June 9 th and Friday June 10 th After school until 6pm Saturday June 11 th - 9am- 11:30am August Mini- Camp (Mandatory for all players wanting to play Hornsby Football in the Fall.) Location DJ Elementary School Friday August 12 th 5-7:30pm Saturday August 13 th - 5-7:30pm First Week of Tryouts: August 15 th - August 19 th 4-6pm at Hornsby Saturday August 20 th 6-8pm at Hornsby For addition information: Please contact Head Coach Scott Jones at jonesie@cox.net or Athletic Director Leslie King at leslie.king@wjccschools.org a. Unite for Literacy website This free online library of a wide selection of narrated digital picture books is best for new readers: http://www.uniteforliteracy.com/?redirect=true.
b. Retrieval practice website This site http://www.retrievalpractice.org/summary has recommendations for using retrieval practice to improve pulling information from memory, research on why retrieval practice works, and a free guide. Important Dates: May 30 th School closed Memorial Day June 1 st Warhill Pathways Program applications due June 9 th 8 th grade play June 10 th Orchestra performance competition June 16 th and 17 th Early Release Exams June 16 th Stepping Up Ceremony 2pm at WHS June 17 th last day of school June 23 rd Report Cards Thank you!!! All our students are showing their academic prowess on the SOL s. You are doing an outstanding job! We are proud of you. Thank you to all the parents for supporting our students! Teachers have been working hard proctoring, monitoring, and doing hall duty. Thank you! Also, thank you for contacting parents for expedited retakes. Thank you to all students who were not testing this week who remained respectfully quiet and were flexible about their schedules. A big thank you to Ms. Pollard for organizing all of this! Thank you Mrs. Delgado and all the students and parents who helped with the Relay for Life. We had a fantastic turn out for this important event! Our students are wonderful! Students have been following the Hawk expectations. Our Hawks SOAR! Safe Organized Accountable Respectful Hornsby Hawks SOAR