Welcome to the Math Team 2017 – 2018
The Math Team represents SMS at math competitions with five other relatively local schools: Marblehead and in Lynn Breed, Marshall and Pickering. There are over 70 teams statewide that participate in the IMLEM Math League. Though we compete with local teams SMS is ranked in a division with similar performing schools. We will host one competition and travel to the other four, usually returning around 5:30 pm.
The dates of the competitions are:
10/19 – hosted by Marblehead Veterans Middle School
11/30 – host to be determined (Probably Collins Middle School in Salem)
1/11 – hosted by Swampscott Middle School
3/1 – host to be determined (Probably Marshall Middle School in Lynn)
4/5 – hosted by Breed Middle School in Lynn
All of the competition dates are Thursdays, but because of an SPS Calendar change, all of the practices will be on Wednesdays between competitions from the end of school until 3:30. However, I stay until 4:00 and students are welcome to stay until then. If students are required to leave early because of the late bus, they are welcome to stay until the bus comes.
The competitions consist of five individual categories and a team event. The topic for the team questions varies each meet. The five individual categories are:
Mystery, Geometry, Arithmetic, Number Theory & Algebra
The meets require participants to compete in three of five categories and then as a team. The individual categories give the students 10 minutes to answer three questions on predetermined topics in the specific categories. I am allowed to field two groups of ten: Regulars and Alternates. The fifth graders would always be alternates. In the team competition, each group of ten tries to answer six questions in 20 minutes, working together. There are prizes for the highest scoring participants in each grade and division winners for the particular meet.
The practices will begin with instruction on the specific topics that will be part of the next meet. Then I will have some old test questions for the kids to work through. I go around and try to help the kids that are having trouble. Usually, the kids help each other if they get stuck. We also always have some kind of snack (not necessarily healthy).
You can learn more about the competition at www.imlem.org. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. You can reach me through my email or leave a message with the SMS office. Please include your contact information with Permission Slip
Sincerely,
Mr. Sweeney
781-596-8820
