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WELCOME ISSUE
Things you need to know for math class
Helen Compton, Teacher
I bring you greetings from the Mathemat
ics and Computer Science Department! It is
hard to realize the summer is over and school
is back, but we are ready. The math teachers
have lots for you to learn about this year, and
we have some great problems in mind for you
to do.
I am sure you have heard lots of rumors
and stories about what it is like to study math
here. I will try to tell you some essential facts.
The math teachers love teaching and love
doing math. Our goal is for you to grow tre
mendously as a mathematician during your
stay at NCSSM. Here are some of those im
portant math facts:
• The most important part of your learn
ing is class time. Be there. Be ready.
• Every Monday through Thursday
evening from 6 pm to 8 pm we have math
tutorial. This is a great place to get help with
math. There will be at least one teacher and
m
•'Pres continued from Page 1
ernment Associa
tion (SGA) of
NCSSM. I encour
age you to meet
your SGA represen
tatives, and if inter
ested, run for a po
sition in SGA. The
Student Govern
ment offers leader
ship positions on
campus for juniors as well as seniors. And
if SGA is not your thing, there are many
other activities.
The final component in the Science
and Math equation (and probably the part
you’ve heard the most about) is academ
ics. Classes will start in a few days and
you will undoubtedly struggle with the
schedule and the new NCSSM learning
style. Don’t worry-it does take a while to
get used to.
But in all the excitement and hard
work, don’t lose sight of what NCSSM re
ally is. It’s not just about taking advanced
classes. It’s not just about taking courses
with 550 of the brightest students in North
Carolina. It’s an experience - it’s what
happens when those 550 kids get together
- that makes NCSSM the great school that
it is.
Roshan Baliga
President,
Student Goverment Association
several student tutors in Watts 306—ready to
help you figure out that question that has been
giving you fits.
•The graph of y=x is a line.
• You write a
lot in math class.
The tests even
^ave discussion
questions. Get
used to talking
and writing about
math. Certainly
you use algebra
and draw graphs,
but explanation
of assumptions
and methods will
very important.
Just why did you
do that problem Tetris anyone? TI-S3 i are common tools at Science and Math.
that way? Class
discussion and group activities will help you
be accurate and precise in your descriptions.
• Answers are important, but process is
equally as important. Keep up with how you
got that answer, write enough down to be able
to reproduce your methods, and pay atten
tion to decisions you made along the way.
Many of our ex
tended problems
or group activi
ties have “meth
ods in their mad
ness.” We want
you to learn
along the way!
• Learn
to work with
other people. Of
ten you will be
asked to work on
math with other
people. It will be
important to lis
ten to what they
say and equally important to talk about what
you are thinking about this problem. You have
probably noticed that the classrooms are set
up for you to work together—either in small
groups (like peas in a pod) or around big tables
(like board members).
• Questions are for asking. Remember if
you have a question, probably at least three
other people have the same question. You
can ask questions in class, at tutorial, after
class, when working with classmates.
■ Technology is a great tool for learning.
Sometimes that graph or list of numbers from
your calculator or from Mathcad give you in
sight into whether your idea for solving that
problem is anywhere close to right. Have you
calculator with you in class all the time. Use
it, but don’t forget that you provide the brain
power.
■ Math is not a spectator sport. We want
you to participate, to question, to answer.
We are happy to see you and look for
ward to a fun year exploring how math can
figure out when will the garbage dump be
full or when the skydiver should open the
parachute!
Science experiences and experiments
T
--pavp
Daniel Chun examines his flies during Fly Lab in Genetics (top
left). Amanda Vickers and Colin Moore do a titration for a
chemistry lab (top right). Carrie Burke and Teesha Boyd enjoy the
company of a cat in Anatomy and Physiology (bottom left). Haritha
Bodduluri measures the angle of the Gravitron for her State Fair
Physics Lab.
H.
Note To All Juniors:
Plciue pay special attnention in your Rre Safety and Se
curity Concurrent Group Sessions. You will have to know
this information for the rest of the year and it is for your
safety.
Ken Home, Head of Security