Math Club

Dear Parents of 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade SJC Students,

Your child is invited to participate in an in-house Math competition sponsored by the SJC Math Club on Thursday, February 23 from 3:30 – 4:30 PM in designated SJC classrooms. The purpose of this voluntary competition is to stimulate interest and confidence in Math, and to introduce students to the fun and challenges of the SJC Math Club!

This competition is run by the Illinois Math League, which is an organization dedicated to bringing challenging Math material to grammar and high school students (for more information, please visit the website www.mathleague.com ) . Each grade will be given a 30-minute grade-appropriate test; no additional knowledge beyond the student’s grade level is required. Prizes will be awarded to each participant after the competition; trophies will be awarded to the top 3 students in each grade once the results of the competition have been determined.

If your student is interested in participating in this Math competition, please complete the attached form and return to the School Office, Attn: SJC Math Contest, no later than Friday, February 17. Parental help is greatly appreciated, so please indicate below whether or not you can help us proctor this contest. Thank you!

Beth Korenchan: bkorenchan@comcast.net
Fadia Jugovich: fjugovich@hotmail.com
Karen Gordon: karen60558@yahoo.com

Click here to download the permission form.

Staff/Parent Moderator

Erin Kirk
John McAuliffe
Beth Korenchan
Fadia Jugovich

Grade Level

Grades 6, 7, & 8

Goal of Club

To challenge students and provide extra instruction that is useful for high school placement exams such as graphing calculator skills.

Meets Week/Time/Place

October 7 – February 10, Thursdays 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in Room 120

Communication

Parents

Description

Math Club is for interested 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders who are looking to improve their Math skills and who enjoy solving Math puzzles and problems.  Meetings are held in Room 120 on Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30 pm from early October through February for 7^th and 8^th graders; meetings begin in January for 6^th graders, and registration and payment for 6^th graders are due by December.  A calendar with specific dates will be sent home in the fall.  This is the 11^th year for the SJC Math Club, and it should be a great year!  There will be 15 meetings throughout the year covering the following topics:

• 5 meetings:  Review/practice tests from previous Math competitions Whether or not students choose to compete in Math Competitions sponsored by many of the area High Schools, these review sessions will help them build a solid foundation in mathematics.
• 6 meetings:  High School Placement Test (HSPT) Math review The HSPT is used by most of the H.S. Catholic schools that SJC students typically attend. Students will need to be members of the SJC Math Club in order to attend these sessions. Students will also need to purchase an HSPT review book either through a bookstore (Borders, etc.) or online for approximately $15 + tax and delivery.  Since the publisher periodically updates this book, more information will be provided in the fall suggesting which book to purchase.
• 4 meetings:  Introduction to use of graphing calculators. Graphing calculators are now required at all area High Schools.  Students will receive hands-on training on the TI graphing calculator.

Students interested in competitions can participate in Math and/or Academic contests sponsored by various area high schools.  Academic contests include Math and other subjects.  If necessary, student teams are organized by the appropriate grade-level SJC teachers.  Parents will be asked to volunteer to drive to and from competitions.  Parents may also be asked to stay and help during these competitions.  Competitions are usually held on Saturday mornings or afternoons and last for about 2½ hours.  Occasionally, they are held after school.

Once again, the Math Club will be mentored by Mr. John McAuliffe.  Mr. McAuliffe received an MA in Mathematics Education (2003) from DePaul University and a Master’s in Education (2006) from DePaul University.  Mr. McAuliffe has a State of Illinois Teaching Certificate in both secondary and middle school mathematics.

SJC Parent Coordinators Linda Fitzgerald, Fadia Jugovich, and Lisa Milani will coordinate activities and competitions.  Parental help in this area is always needed and appreciated!  Since Math Club meetings are held right after school, we strongly suggest that students bring their own healthy snacks as they are quite hungry at this time!

Fees for Math Club are $15 for 7^th and 8^th graders and $5 for 6^th graders.  Checks should be payable to SJC Math Club.  Fees and a completed permission form are due to the school office by the first Math Club meeting in early October.

Please contact Fadia Jugovich or Beth Korenchan with any questions or concerns.  We are looking forward to another fun and successful year in Math Club!

Fadia Jugovich fjugovich@hotmail.com 708.784.0984
Beth Korenchan bkorenchan@comcast.net 630.334.8959