Spring Branch Middle School Math Awards

Four students on the Spring Branch Middle School math team competed recently in the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA) State Meet, which was held April 5 on the University of Texas at San Antonio campus.

The student team included seventh-graders David Nemoto and Edy Lipianu and sixth-graders Asha Ayya and Thara Ayya.

The team’s sponsor is math teacher Marlo Wilson. The Spring Branch Middle math team competed in several local contests in preparation for state competition, and the team successfully ranked high enough at three qualifying meets to compete at the TMSCA meet along with the state’s best students. TMSCA is dedicated to promoting excellence in math and science through student competition, and it awards more than $30,000 in annual scholarships.

Competition includes the following categories:

• Number Sense – a 10 minute, 80-question mental math test on high school and/or middle school mathematics courses. Students develop shortcuts and practice the applications in order to finish the test.

• Calculator Applications – Calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, powers, exponential, logarithms, trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions. In addition to calculation problems, this contest includes geometric and stated problems similar to those found in algebra, geometry and trigonometry textbooks, as well as previous contests and League materials related to the contest.

These problems are adjusted for middle school competition.

• Mathematics - Tests knowledge and understanding of algebra I and algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, math analysis, analytic geometry, pre-calculus and elementary calculus. These problems are adjusted for middle school competition.

• Science - Challenges students to do a wide range of reading in biology, chemistry and physics to gain an understanding of the significance of experiments rather than to recall details, to be alert to new discoveries and information in the areas of science, to gain an understanding of the basic principles as well as knowledge of the history and philosophy of science, and to foster a sense of enthusiasm about how science affects our lives. The middle school science test in this area covers earth science and life science.

Congratulations to Spring Branch Middle’s Math team and teacher Marlo Wilson!