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May 22, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nan Ronis, Suntex International Annual 24 Challenge® Math Program NEW YORK, NY — The Verizon Foundation brought the intensely competitive 24 Challenge® Math Program back to New York City where more than 190 of the area's top math students competed for top honors. In addition to the Verizon Foundation's generous funding, Senator Charles Schumer supports the program as Honorary Chair. The tournament's National Education Sponsor is the Council of the Great City Schools, a coalition of the 65 largest school districts in the U.S.
24 Challenge® Grade 6 finalists, left to right: Kelly Halter; Kevin Peng; Grace Leishman and Meena Boppana. The current concerns for American students and their level of math proficiency have prompted a response from corporations nationwide to support more math and science programs. The Verizon Foundation is committed to promoting local education in the math and science arenas, and has also established campaigns for community support in the areas of literacy and technology education. "We are proud to enhance education for students in an innovative manner," said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut. "This program makes learning math fun for children and paves a path of preparation to a life of learning. This event at the New York Hall of Science celebrates students' enthusiasm for math and serves as an inspiration to all of us."
Grade 4/5 finalists, left to right: Shawn Yuan; Alex Zhang; Risako Narukama and Matthew Russo. "Math and science education is the key to America's continued prosperity in our global economy," U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said. "The 24 Challenge® tournament is a great opportunity for students to show off their math skills, to praise math and science teachers for helping their students excel, and is a step in the right direction to make sure we remain the global leader in math and science. That is also why I am championing legislation to increase the numbers of first-rate math and science teachers." The 24 Challenge has involved more than five million children over the past 17 years. Based on the 24® game, 24 Challenge tournaments help to sharpen basic skills such as mental math, number sense, critical thinking, problem solving and pattern sensing. Students competing at the Metro New York Area 24 Challenge have won previous competitions at the classroom, school, district and even county levels. The 2006 Metro New York City Area 24 Challenge® Grand Champions are: Grade 7/8 - Daniel Nunez; Grade 6 - Grace Leishman and Grade 4/5 - Risako Narukama. In attendance, representing principal sponsor The Verizon Foundation, were: Bill Martin; Kevin Mahoney; Hope Harley and June Jee. Click here for more NYC photos!
 Elaine Carmen, Mathematics Instructional Specialist for the NYC BOE (at podium) announcing the names of the grade 4/5 semi-finalists.
Grade 7/8 finalists, left to right: Daniel Nunez; Alex Stewart; Jayson Tan and Steven Luk. Verizon delivers technology that touches life. The Verizon Foundation uses that technology and its financial resources to improve literacy and K-12 education; help families victimized by domestic violence; and improve the delivery of health care. In 2005, the foundation awarded more than $74 million in grants to charitable and nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, which is one of the largest employee volunteer programs in the United States and responsible for 2 million hours of community service since 2000 and $35.6 million in combined contributions to nonprofits in 2005 alone. For more information on the Verizon Foundation, visit http://foundation.verizon.com/04001.shtml December 17, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jody Hecker, Suntex International PECO Sponsors 24 Challenge® Tournament PHILADELPHIA, PA— Suntex President, Robert Sun attended a press conference held at Spring Garden Elementary School, where School District CEO, Paul Vallas and members of the School Reform Commission received a $500,000 grant from PECO. This generous donation is part of PECO's "Energy for Education Partnership," a campaign to support key initiatives that benefit Philadelphia schoolchildren: Leadership development, Teacher Recruitment and a curriculum-based competition that will span all 10 Regions of the District. "I can't think of a better way to help improve education in Philadelphia than with this donation," said PECO President and CEO, Dennis O'Brien. A portion of PECO's donation will sponsor the 24 Challenge® Math Program throughout the District for the next two years. The 24 Challenge® uses the popular 24® game cards in tournament style competition. The grant money will provide support for this event in 2,400 district classrooms in grades 4-8 each year. "What we want to do is elevate the importance of math as an area of academic rigor which is so critical for our children to master," Vallas said. "The academic failures that many inner city schools have experienced in the areas of math and science are as detrimental as their failures in language arts." According to Vallas, the district's goal is to reform current instructional models, and give math the same priority as it has given to the reading and language arts curriculum. He pointed out that students who drop out of high school generally do so because they are failing their math and science courses, and hopes that the district can focus on developing math skills in primary grades to better prepare students who are to become the next generation of the city's workforce. Vallas commended Sun on his creating a series of games to encourage students to acquire requisite skills and acknowledged the 24 game, as a "magnificent math supplement,"whose online format has been implemented in all of the district's elementary and middle schools. "When you focus on those math basics like multiplication, division, critical thinking," Vallas said, "they lay the building blocks for future excellence in all areas of mathematics." November, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jody Hecker, Suntex International Local Elementary School Earns Top Places Nationally, Bethlehem, PA Fountain Hill Elementary School paves the way for math excellence in the Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) competing in the First In Math Online Program; local company provides supplemental math tool for educators that alleviates pressures of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) requirements. Fountain Hill Elementary, Bethlehem Area School District's (BASD) largest elementary school, with the most diverse student population, now holds the key to math achievement. The school is ranked 1st in the state among fifth grade students competing in the 2004-05 First In Math Program. One fifth grade classroom currently ranks 3rd nationally, and a third grade classroom ranks 1st nationally, as BASD schools in the program reached a district-wide milestone of over 1 million award stickers in just 2 months. First In Math award stickers, similar to points, serve as a record of student achievement. Principal of Fountain Hill Elementary, Joseph Rahs, is very enthusiastic about his school's achievement in the First In Math Program. "Our students are proud of their accomplishments in the program and are eager to share with their peers, teachers and others how well they are performing," states Rahs. Fountain Hill's Shawn Collier, whose third grade class is currently ranked 1st in both the state and the nation, says his students are more engaged in classroom math discussions and assignments. "They have definitely made the connection between that [the program] and the curriculum, students really focus and get into it," states Collier, "They have completely taken ownership of it, I think that is why they are so proud of it." The First In Math Program, which is the online version of the popular "24 game," developed by Suntex International of Easton, was piloted at Fountain Hill Elementary through a grant from Lehigh University last year. The school's fourth grade students embraced the program and demonstrated strong math skills. Many of the students who excelled in the program are now succeeding again as current fifth graders. Michelle Sames, fifth grade teacher from Fountain Hill, has the 3rd ranked team in the nation. According to Sames the program is student driven, and her students could not wait to start this year. "This class came to school, and pretty much pushed me into it," said Sames. All of BASD's elementary and middle schools are enrolled in the program this year. In addition to Fountain Hill Elementary's achievement, Farmersville Elementary, Calypso Elementary and Hanover Elementary are also currently ranked in the top ten, statewide, for fifth grade students participating in the program. Suntex International Supplemental programs for core curriculum subjects are becoming popular among area educators with the recent passing of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Many schools are stepping up to the challenge of providing students with tools needed to boost their performance on standardized tests to meet Adequate Yearly Progress or "AYP" requirements. The First In Math Program ties into national math standards. It is a useful supplemental program for middle and high school students as well. All students begin the program with one-step addition and move onto more rigorous problems consisting of fractions, decimals, integers, exponents, and multi-step algebra. The program can be used outside of school, as students can log onto the First In Math website at home, the public library or where they have Internet access. "Once I previewed the program I knew it was a vehicle I could use to help produce the most competent math students possible from my school," states Fountain Hill Elementary's Rahs. The implementation of the First In Math Program raises spirits for Fountain Hill Elementary and BASD, as the results from the 2003 PSSA (Pennsylvania State Standardized Assessment) showed not all student subgroups reached 35% proficiency in math. Julie Victory, Supervisor of Mathematics for BASD, is a strong supporter of the program. She oversees the program's activity in the district and has high hopes that students using First In Math will show improved performance on the PSSA. According to Victory, Fountain Hill Elementary is currently listed as "Making Progress" towards AYP in math, and hopefully will be able to move into the "Meets AYP" in all categories after PSSA testing in 2005. "It provides the opportunity for students to work on problems aligned specifically with the PA Academic Standards for Mathematics," states Victory, "This program harnesses the power of the computer and uses it to each student's advantage." A great benefit of the online program is that it provides educators with the benefit of student assessment in real-time. The First In Math Program can provide immediate feedback on student skill acquisition each time they log on to the website. Educators can intervene significantly earlier with this program when they witness a student having trouble with certain skills. Fountain Hill's Rahs says he feels fortunate that they made the decision to get on board with Suntex, and utilize their online program. "I could not be more committed to any one instructional program than I am to the First In Math [program]," adds Rahs. For more information on the First In Math Program, please visit www.firstinmath.com or contact Suntex International in Easton, at 1-800-242-4542. November, 2004 • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Farmersville Elementary Student Ranks 1st Nationally in Online Math Program Contact: Nan Ronis, Suntex International, Inc. Alexa Curto, 5th grade student at Farmersville Elementary School, is currently ranked first in the nation in the First In Math" online program. She earned the top spot while competing against more than 100,000 elementary and middle school students in 25 states. Her 5th grade classroom is also showing tremendous achievement as it is currently ranked fourth nationally. EASTON, PA - Students and teachers at Farmersville Elementary are beaming with pride after learning that one of their own is the top player in the nation in the First In Math online program. Fifth-grader, Alexa Curto was presented with a gold medal for her amazing achievement of attaining first place among more than 100,000 elementary and middle school students across the United States in the online math program. All elementary and middle schools in the Bethlehem Area School District are active in First In Math this school year. "It feels great!" exclaimed Curto after receiving her gold medal, "I play at home all of the time, and my parents are really supportive." In addition to being an outstanding math student, Curto is enrolled in many extracurricular activities. She currently is Student Council President at Farmersville, is in a gifted program called "Pegasus," and is a member of the school's chorus. Outside of the classroom, she finds time for art and sewing lessons. "Everything she does, she does to a 'T'," says Edward Yenolevich, Curto's teacher. Yenolevich is very proud of Curto's accomplishment and is amazed about how many hours Curto and his other students spend mastering their math skills in the online program. Yenolevich explains he uses a feature on the website to track how much time students spend on the site playing the various activities. "I am seeing kids, who normally are not excited about math, volunteering to not go out for recess and actually stay in and go on the computer, which is mind boggling," says Yenolevich, "They are having fun in the competition, seeing their scores against their classmates, as well as people in the state and nationally. There isn't competition amongst the children here as far as rivalry or nasty competition, it's friendly competition and they are spurring each other on." Students in Curto's 5th grade class share in her achievement. They are representing their school and are competing not only as individuals but as a class or "team" in the program. In their 5th grade category, Curto's "team" is ranked fourth nationally in First in Math. They are closely trailing another 5th grade class in the district at Fountain Hill Elementary, which is currently ranked third. "All of the students are extremely excited about it [First In Math], as all of the teachers and myself are," states Farmersville principal, Pamela Hubbard, "When I first learned about the First In Math program, I was one of the schools that asked if I could have it, right up front." Hubbard is thrilled about her school's achievement in the program, and was ecstatic when she heard that the top student in the nation was one of her own fifth graders. She made an announcement to the entire school when she received the news about Curto's national achievement. Farmersville Elementary received First In Math through funding from a federal grant entitled Enhancing Education Through Technology. According to Hubbard, the Bethlehem Area School District combines district funds and funds from various grants to implement intervention or supplemental programs. These programs provide workshops and classes both in class and outside of school for students who need extra time to be successful and meet grade level standards in Pennsylvania. "We are using, at Farmersville, the First In Math program as an intervention, not just for children that are lacking in the skills, but also for children that don't have computers at home," [and for students who wishe to extend their skills beyond what they are doing in class] explains Hubbard. "We're glad to provide that service so that everyone has the opportunity to compete in the program." Hubbard, along with many educators across the nation, is faced with the task of meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as determined by the No Child Left Behind Act. The First In Math program is one type of intervention schools are using to help students score proficient and above on state standardized tests, such as the PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment). The First In Math Online program stems from the popular "24 game" series developed by Suntex International, Inc., an Easton, Pennsylvania based company. The program can used in elementary, middle and high schools. Students begin with activities involving one-step addition, and progress to problems with fractions, decimals, integers, exponents and multi-step algebra. First In Math features a test preparation module where students can practice problems they may face on state assessments. Farmersville Elementary has shown improvement in math PSSA scores for the past four years. Hubbard states that it is a difficult task to maintain high levels of performance year after year. She looks forward to the 2005 PSSA tests and has high hopes that her 5th grade students participating in First In Math will perform well. "We feel that First In Math is what we are doing differently this year to still improve our scores in math," adds Hubbard, "The teachers can look at the [First In Math] assessments and see who's behind and needs the extra help. It will be very interesting to see." December 14 , 2004 • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Richmond School 5th Grade Student, Classroom Ranked 2nd Nationally In Online Math Program Contact: Nan Ronis, Suntex International Philadelphia, PA Mathematics is the "universal language" at Richmond Academics Plus School. Fifth grader Renajd Rrapi and his ESL (English as Second Language) classroom are both currently ranked 2nd in the nation for the First In Math® Online Program. Rrapi clinched this ranking while competing against more than 100,000 elementary and middle school students in 25 states. His classmates share the spotlight at Richmond, as they also are ranked nationally for First In Math among 5th grade teams. "This is great news!" exclaimed Peggy Savage, Rrapi's 5th grade teacher and "Team Leader" of her First In Math nationally ranked classroom. "My number one student happens to be an Albanian immigrant." Rrapi's family came to America over 5 years ago. According to principal, Dr. Anthony Ciampoli, Rrapi and his sister Enxhi, who is the top First In Math student for her 4th grade class at Richmond, did not speak a word of English when they arrived at school. Today, both students lead the way for their school in math success. "I think I am going to become first!" Renajd exclaims, wearing his gold medal and proudly displaying his First In Math certificate, "No one is going to catch me!" he claims, as students compete in the online program until the end of the school year. Rrapi is an outstanding math student and is not a newcomer to the 24 game, the primary component of the First In Math program, developed by Pennsylvania-based Suntex International. As a 4th grader, Rrapi competed in the Delaware Valley Regional 24 Challenge Championships last spring. The 24 Challenge uses the 24 game cards in a tournament-style competition involving students in grades 4-8. Suntex's First In Math program combines the 24 game with technology to help students sharpen basic skills such as computation, problem solving, number sense, critical thinking, and pattern sensing. The online capability of First In Math offers educators the opportunity for real-time feedback on student skill acquisition, and allows for earlier intervention. The program is a becoming a standard math supplement in many of The School District of Philadelphia's elementary and middle schools. The district witnessed increased scores on the 2004 PSSA in 5th and 8th grade student groups who demonstrated success in the First In Math program. Rrapi's goal is to take first place nationally in First In Math, and from his current standing this achievement appears imminent. He has already mastered two of the program's newest games, like the Multiply/Divide Fractions Gyms, which have only been available to First In Math players since last week. "He is so close to catching the girl to be in first place," Rrapi's sister, Enxhi adds. Rrapi's sister helps him keep tabs on the #1 player in the nation and how many stickers he has to reach the top spot. However, there is a bit of First In Math rivalry between the Rrapi's classmates' accomplishment is truly significant, as they share his national ranking for teams competing at the 5th grade level. Their class is an ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom, and includes students from Albania, Poland, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Like Rrapi, many of these students did not speak any English when they started attending Richmond. Their achievement proves that First In Math is a useful curriculum supplement in a diverse student population, and that math really can break language barriers. "They are working hard every single day; sometimes we're here at 7:30 in the morning to do First In Math," Savage, Rrapi's 5th grade teacher says. Savage is also the school's Technology Teacher Leader. She explained that their school does not have a computer lab for students, and that they are continuously researching grants to aid their need for new computer equipment. Savage adds that the local library announced that they will allow students to utilize library computers to play First In Math outside of school hours. "There's going to be a ‘renewed enthusiasm' now," Principal Ciampoli says, as he reflects on Rrapi and his classmates' national awards. He feels that more of his students will excel in the program despite all of the technology issues, "We have to get some of our tech problems straightened out in the next few weeks, and we are in the process of doing that," he states. According to Ciampoli, Rrapi and his classmates' success in First In Math is due in part to their teacher, Savage. "The teacher's enthusiasm is the key, there's no doubt about it," comments Ciampoli, "When the teacher's enthusiastic, everyone is on board." Richmond students are "on board," for maintaining AYP for a second consecutive year. Savage and Ciampoli have no doubts regarding their 5th graders' performance on the 2005 PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment). Richmond met AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) last year, however this year the benchmark jumps to 35% of students being required to meet the "Proficient" or "Above Proficient" level. "We're going to do it again this year," Ciampoli says with confidence, "It's attainable. We can do it, and this [First In Math] will help." He believes strongly in the recognition piece of First In Math to stimulate students' desire to excel in math and other school subjects, and plans on implementing weekly announcements to congratulate the top students actively competing in the online program at Richmond. "I think people just see how important it really is when people know their efforts are being recognized," Ciampoli adds, "It motivates them even more." Related Articles: November, 2005 Pennsylvania Intermediate Units and Suntex International Collaborate to Provide Statewide Consortium Price for First In Math A joint venture in Pennsylvania between Suntex International Inc., and the Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit system, has created a statewide discount or consortium price for their online program, First In Math. Montgomery County I.U. (MCIU) officials took the initiative in efforts to bring the discounted price to schools statewide this year. MCIU queried districts in various other Intermediate Units on First In Math, and the feedback was only positive about the program. "I thought a consortium buy might give some districts the means to subscribe to the program who might not have had the opportunity under [the] standing pricing scheme," said Marilyn Melstein, MCIU Instructional Technology Specialist, and one of the key people who worked closely with Suntex. WestEd, the nation's leading Regional Educational Laboratory, recently conducted a scientific-based study that shows FIM can motivate students and increase their achievement as measured by standardized tests. First In Math has made a tremendous impact throughout the School District of Philadelphia. The district is implementing the program for its third consecutive year in all elementary and middle schools through a grant from the National Science Foundation and the Urban Systemic Program. They have witnessed double-digit PSSA (Pennsylvania School System of Assessment) scores increase among their PSSA-tested 5th and 8th grade students in 2004 and 2005. As a web-based tool, the program can be played in school, at home or wherever students have access to the Internet. FIM is currently being implemented in 25 states and continues to become more popular among primary and secondary educators. Contact: Nan Ronis, Suntex International November 29, 2004 24 still giving 'mathletes' mental workout By Genevieve Marshall Alexa Curto is a shy 10-year-old with waist-length chestnut hair who fiddles with her dangly silver earrings when she's asked about her accomplishments. This month, the fifth-grader at Farmersville Elementary School in Bethlehem Township became the top-ranked student in the nation in an Internet-based competition of 24, a math game that includes polynomials and algebra — subjects few students tackle during their elementary school years. ''I got this medal,'' Alexa said, looking sideways as she tugged on a red, white and blue ribbon around her neck awarded to her last week by Suntex International, an Easton company founded by the creator of the 24 game, Robert Sun. ''And a certificate. That was cool.'' But the competition seems to be the real reward for Alexa, who admits to playing the game for as many as two hours a night to improve her score and advance through the game's eight levels. In an era in which schools are rewarded or reprimanded based on standardized test scores, the Bethlehem Area School District has inadvertently found a way to make math fun for its students. The concept is the same in the online version as the annual 24 game competitions held in the Lehigh Valley. Students add, subtract, multiply and divide the four numbers on a game piece to get to the number 24. The fast-paced game encourages competition by ranking students, classes and schools across the nation. Students are encouraged to try higher-order math problems in bonus levels, or ''gyms,'' that help them earn more points, or ''stickers.'' More than 100,000 students from 25 states are registered on the Web site http://www.firstinmath.com . ''While the children compete, they are also sharpening their basic math skills, such as computation, problem solving and pattern sensing,'' Suntex spokeswoman Jody Hecker said. This year is the first time all of the district's 16 elementary and four middle schools have signed on to First in Math, Suntex's online version of 24, said Julie Victory, Bethlehem Area's supervisor of mathematics. District officials used about $30,000 of a $361,000 federal grant to purchase rights to First in Math for Bethlehem's third- through eighth-grade math classes. Enhancing Education Through Technology grants are designated for programs that could improve students' academic achievement through the use of technology. A pilot program at Fountain Hill Elementary School and Broughal and Nitschmann middle schools last year proved so successful that Victory wanted all of the schools to have the opportunity to enhance their math curriculum with it. ''I saw how engaged the kids were competing against themselves and their classmates for better scores,'' Victory said. ''The kids absolutely loved it. The teachers told me were playing it at home because they couldn't get enough of it.'' The schools make laptops available three times a week before or after school for students whose families don't have computers or an Internet connection. In Edward Yenolevich's fifth-grade classroom, Alexa is not the only student who has caught the 24 fever. ''They're all crazy about it,'' Yenolevich said. ''They want to play math games when they have indoor recess.'' Alexa's success has encouraged her classmates to work harder. The game fosters a good-natured competitiveness, he said. Jay Newman, 10, sat on the classroom floor with his laptop, trying to work his way through the first game of skill set seven. When he hit a particularly tough problem, he asked Alexa for help. ''I can try to beat Alexa's score, but I'm never going to,'' said Jay, who practices at home a couple of times per week. ''Alexa's really good at fractions.'' Alexa demonstrated her math prowess by solving a three-part algebraic equation in less than 30 seconds. With her laptop computer resting on Yenolevich's desk, she quickly figured out that when x=2, 2(-2x+12) divided by 4 equals 4. Then she had to figure out how to get to 24 using that 4, plus another 4 and two 3's — through a combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. With a few rapid clicks of a mouse, Alexa answered that 4 x 3 + 4 x 3 = 24. ''Geez, she's fast,'' Jay commented from his place on the floor. Although she has completed all of the game's levels, Alexa said she continues to play because she wants to maintain her high score. Classmate Grace Mao, also 10, is nipping at her heels. Grace has the second-highest class score and is ranked eighth in the nation among other fifth-graders. ''My score would be better if I could play more at home, but sometimes my parents get mad,'' said Grace, who tries to fit in a half-hour of practice a day. ''I'm supposed to be practicing the piano or Chinese.'' genevieve.marshall@mcall.com |