TSD Students Hit the Road to Compete in Mathematics Skills Challenge

TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Keena Miller
Phone: 512-462-5328, cell: 512-658-4444
Email: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas School for the Deaf Students Hit the Road to Compete in Mathematics Skills Challenge

MATHCOUNTS® Tournament for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

At Rochester Institute of Technology

April 5-7, 2013

Austin, Texas – April 5, 2013 – Today, the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) sends off top math students from grades 6th – 8th, to compete in MATHCOUNTS® at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID) in New York, against deaf and hard of hearing students from across the nation, April 5-7, 2013.

After months of practice and preliminary competitions, the TSD team is confident going in. The slogan selected by the students, and depicted on the team shirts, best describes their strategy for the contest —Keep Calm and Do Math.

“They’re excited”, says TSD middle school principal, Terry Robbins. “It’s great to see our students so fired up about math.”

Eight TSD students qualified for the 2013 national competition: eighth graders – Shane Carrizales, Rebecca Giuntoli, Lydia Kopp, Jared Miller, Damon Rush, Dylan Sicoli, Gabriel Veit, and seventh grader – Emma Giuntoli.

Accompanying them on the trip, students are traveling with TSD mathematics teachers/coaches – Dr. Dawn Hoyt Kidd and Dana Stoddard, and student coach – Reno Jannett. Jannett, now a high school freshman, competed on the TSD team in 2011, and was TSD’s team captain in 2012.

While in New York, students face tournament challenges that include three rounds of preliminary competitions. The Team Problem Solving Challenge gives teams 10 problems to solve in 90 minutes time. The Sprint (individual) Round tests accuracy with only 40 minutes time for 30 problems. And, the Target (individual) Round, consisting of two groups of four problems each, allows only 12 minutes for each group of problems, and features multi-step problems that engage students in mathematical reasoning and problem-solving processes.

Top scorers then advance to the finals. The final Team Countdown Round and Individual Countdown Round are fast-paced, written competitions where challengers are paired against each other, and the clock.

Prizes are awarded to the top three scorers within each division for the countdown round. First through third place will be awarded to top individual scorers and top team scorers. All winners receive a plaque in recognition of their achievements, and the top three who place receive cash awards ranging from $50-$300. Team prizes are divided equally among members.

Generous sponsors for TSD’s 2013 “Mathletes” include the Austin Sertoma Club and Sorenson Communications.

TSD was among the top MATHCOUNTS teams, placing nationally in 2010.

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ABOUT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (TSD)
The Texas School for the Deaf is the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas. Educating deaf and hard of hearing students of Texas since 1856, the campus also provides outreach and educational resources for students, their families and professionals in the field throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community at TSD, students form a unique identity based on their individual strengths and talents. TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about the Texas School for the Deaf, visit http://www.tsd.state.tx.us/.

ABOUT MATHCOUNTS® at ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF (RIT/NTID)

MATHCOUNTS® is a national enrichment, coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics through grassroots involvement in every U.S. State and territory, featuring a series of fun and engaging “bee” style contests. At the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), middle school students who are deaf and hard of hearing compete, with math problems provided by the MATHCOUNTS Foundation. With both individual and team challenges, MATHCOUNTS® competitions test speed, accuracy, teamwork as well as additional “mathletic” skills. To learn more, visit: http://www.ntid.rit.edu.