Competitions and Contests

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is clearly is another example of MCPS not leveling the playing field for all students at every school. Please do not get me started on the offering pertaining to languages!
Mom of DS who has for the past 5 years topped out on PARCC and carries a MAP-M score over 280.

No, it's not. It's about schools who want to participate or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is clearly is another example of MCPS not leveling the playing field for all students at every school. Please do not get me started on the offering pertaining to languages!
Mom of DS who has for the past 5 years topped out on PARCC and carries a MAP-M score over 280.

My guess is that participating high school math competition is not part of MCPS curriculum. It is after school activities and likely sponsored by PTA. MAP-M 280 is very high at most school but is rather normal (perhaps at the lower end) among magnets. Also math competition has little to do with PARCC or MAP-M as they are more about math knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park Middle is participating in a high school-level competition?
I think it's sort of funny that it is the only middle school in the sea of high schools competing. Has to be full of math geniuses.

It is. It feeds Blair STEM. Those kids are crazy talented in the Maths. That said, there are just as talented kids in other math programs across the county, including schools that aren't W Schools and magnets. I know that some MSs have Math Clubs that meet after school and participate in competitions - perhaps the Clubs know and disseminate the information instead of relying on the school itself, which is why most don't see it? Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not just math competitions. Magnet kids at Eastern and Blair get to compete in the CSPAN Student Video Competition. They get to use class time and have teachers to mentor them to WIN. Asked my kids world studies teacher at a non-magnet, and they had never even heard of it.

The World Studies teacher likely isn't familiar with it because the class time that is used is in MEDIA class - a class that is not offered in neighborhood MSs and is an integrated part of the unique curriculum at Eastern and Blair CAP. It takes ALOT of effort across the 100 or so kids and teachers in each cohort. To put that time, effort and $$ up for the 5-10 kids in a neighborhood school that could be interested in an afterschool program just doesn't work. If your kid is interested in filmmaking and isn't going to Eastern (which is a tough curriculum in the humanities - lots of writing and reading far beyond what is required in home MS) - enroll him or her at Imagination Stage filmmaking - its not documentary filmmaking, but it does a very good job at teaching the fundamentals and helping with narrative filmmaking. Then, if your child is DCC, apply for CAP for HS. It's a great program also focused on the humanities and communication arts - and yes, gives a very good broad-based foundation in filmmaking, journalism, scriptwriting, etc.

It's about resources - there simply aren't enough kids in each public school to support this curriculum in each school. Maybe in a private school that is taking $40K a year in tuition + whatever $$ they can fundraise, they can afford to support such a program for 10 kids - most public schools cannot. So, funnel them into one or two schools (Poolesville competes as does Clemente), the resources can be allocated more meaningfully, and then watch the accolades roll in as talented kids with the right instruction 'blow them all away.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is clearly is another example of MCPS not leveling the playing field for all students at every school. Please do not get me started on the offering pertaining to languages!
Mom of DS who has for the past 5 years topped out on PARCC and carries a MAP-M score over 280.

May I ask what grade for MAP-M score over 280?

[Anonymous]

It's not about MCPS leveling the playground. I know Hoover AMC 8 was recently initiated by involving parents. Parents push it forward strongly every year. As previous poster mentioned, teachers are not rewarded appropriately for organizing ECAs. Most of the clubs and teams in non-magnet schools are either run by parent volunteers or student volunteers, if they're lucky, some teachers may volunteer to help. Only those magnet schools, only TPMS, Eastern and Blair got the MCPS attentions and school organized ECA for competitions. This is why when MCPS starting to roll out 'cohort' at local school similar to the magnet program, parents complained nothing is comparable at all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not just math competitions. Magnet kids at Eastern and Blair get to compete in the CSPAN Student Video Competition. They get to use class time and have teachers to mentor them to WIN. Asked my kids world studies teacher at a non-magnet, and they had never even heard of it.

The World Studies teacher likely isn't familiar with it because the class time that is used is in MEDIA class - a class that is not offered in neighborhood MSs and is an integrated part of the unique curriculum at Eastern and Blair CAP. It takes ALOT of effort across the 100 or so kids and teachers in each cohort. To put that time, effort and $$ up for the 5-10 kids in a neighborhood school that could be interested in an afterschool program just doesn't work. If your kid is interested in filmmaking and isn't going to Eastern (which is a tough curriculum in the humanities - lots of writing and reading far beyond what is required in home MS) - enroll him or her at Imagination Stage filmmaking - its not documentary filmmaking, but it does a very good job at teaching the fundamentals and helping with narrative filmmaking. Then, if your child is DCC, apply for CAP for HS. It's a great program also focused on the humanities and communication arts - and yes, gives a very good broad-based foundation in filmmaking, journalism, scriptwriting, etc.

It's about resources - there simply aren't enough kids in each public school to support this curriculum in each school. Maybe in a private school that is taking $40K a year in tuition + whatever $$ they can fundraise, they can afford to support such a program for 10 kids - most public schools cannot. So, funnel them into one or two schools (Poolesville competes as does Clemente), the resources can be allocated more meaningfully, and then watch the accolades roll in as talented kids with the right instruction 'blow them all away.'

Now a lot of middle schools have a large enough so called 'cohort', but what did MCPS do other than putting those kids in a same classroom and getting bored together? NOTHING

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 kids going to 2 different HS. One school shared info about this, and there was radio silence from the other. Why is MCPS not sharing such info to everyone?

https://www.math.umd.edu/highschool/mathcomp/2019.html

The 41st Annual (2019) University of Maryland High School Mathematics Competition

The format:
Part I - 25 multiple choice questions, 75 min;
Part II - 5 problems, 2 hours.
Part I of the Competition is open to all students enrolled in high schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia. High scores on Part I will qualify to participate in Part II of the Competition. The three participants earning the highest combined scores on both parts will win $500, $400, and $300, respectively. Among those completing both parts of the competition, the highest scorer in each county and in Baltimore City and in the District of Columbia will be awarded a prize of $100.
The top three overall scorers* will be offered a scholarship for full tuition and expenses if and when they enroll at the University of Maryland (for non-seniors, this might be a few years from now). (*To receive a scholarship, a student must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident.)

In addition to a sound knowledge of high school mathematics (up to, but not including, calculus), both parts will require a fair amount of mathematical insight and ingenuity.
The dates for 2019:

Part I, Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 1:00 - 3:00 pm;
Part II, Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

The competition is usually given at the student's school. For special situations (for example, home-schooled students), contact Dr. Ebrahimian (math-comp "at" umd.edu). There is no registration fee for the competition. It's free.


Registration information:
Students who would like to register should contact their high school teachers. Teachers who will administer the exam should click here for information on how to register.
Registration deadline: October 13, 2019

Here is the list of schools from which registration emails were received. (interesting to note that only W schools and magnet schools participate. Among MS, its TPMS but not Clemente.)

https://www.math.umd.edu/highschool/mathcomp/hslist2019.html
If you have questions or requests, please contact the chair of the competition committee, Dr. Ebrahimian. e-mail: math-comp "at" umd.edu tel.: [phone] fax: [phone].

Huh????
What about Northwest and Sherwood?

Here is the complete list:
https://www.math.umd.edu/highschool/mathcomp/hslist2019.html

Northwest, Sherwood, and Richard Montgomery (and maybe others, I didn't check thoroughly) are listed along with the incomplete list posted previouslyd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not just math competitions. Magnet kids at Eastern and Blair get to compete in the CSPAN Student Video Competition. They get to use class time and have teachers to mentor them to WIN. Asked my kids world studies teacher at a non-magnet, and they had never even heard of it.

The World Studies teacher likely isn't familiar with it because the class time that is used is in MEDIA class - a class that is not offered in neighborhood MSs and is an integrated part of the unique curriculum at Eastern and Blair CAP. It takes ALOT of effort across the 100 or so kids and teachers in each cohort. To put that time, effort and $$ up for the 5-10 kids in a neighborhood school that could be interested in an afterschool program just doesn't work. If your kid is interested in filmmaking and isn't going to Eastern (which is a tough curriculum in the humanities - lots of writing and reading far beyond what is required in home MS) - enroll him or her at Imagination Stage filmmaking - its not documentary filmmaking, but it does a very good job at teaching the fundamentals and helping with narrative filmmaking. Then, if your child is DCC, apply for CAP for HS. It's a great program also focused on the humanities and communication arts - and yes, gives a very good broad-based foundation in filmmaking, journalism, scriptwriting, etc.

It's about resources - there simply aren't enough kids in each public school to support this curriculum in each school. Maybe in a private school that is taking $40K a year in tuition + whatever $$ they can fundraise, they can afford to support such a program for 10 kids - most public schools cannot. So, funnel them into one or two schools (Poolesville competes as does Clemente), the resources can be allocated more meaningfully, and then watch the accolades roll in as talented kids with the right instruction 'blow them all away.'

I have 3 kids (one in college), and we are in the DCC. All my kids have been wait-pooled in these magnet programs. I get it, my kids didn't make the cut, but it meant they were stuck in lackluster MS programs with no enrichment or differentiation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is clearly is another example of MCPS not leveling the playing field for all students at every school. Please do not get me started on the offering pertaining to languages!
Mom of DS who has for the past 5 years topped out on PARCC and carries a MAP-M score over 280.

No, it's not. It's about schools who want to participate or not.

All the competition was done by after school clubs. To run the club, you need a supportive principals. When my DC was in MS, the principal only allowed sport teams and a homework club. If you have a supportive principal, you needs to find a teacher who is willing to sponsor the club or team. The teacher has to go to the compitition on a Wednesday afternoon after school or on Saturday.
Acadamic competition is not as popular as sports in MCPS. You have homecoming party after a foorball game but no one cares if your math team placed top three in MD.