Please visit TVMSC's Calendar Page

TVMSC Application Process for 2012 - 2013

Summer School Information

For students who wish to take accelerated classes in mathematics during summer 2012, please visit the following link and scroll down to the 'TVMSC' classes section.  Registration information and courses are provided.  The courses include Accelerated Math 7 (PreAlgebra), Accelerated Algebra 1, Accelerated Geometry, Accelerated Algebra 2, and Accelerated PreCalculus. http://www.boiseschools.org/summer/index.html

TVMSC also offers three 8th grade courses.  These include Reading 8, PE 8 and Health 8. Scroll down to 'Secondary 8th Grade' for registration information.

TVMSC's summer courses are available for any students to register for with their counselor's approval.

Posted April 14, 2012

Donations

For individuals or organizations who wish to make a donation to the Treasure Valley Math & Science Center, please reference the attached document.  All donations to TVMSC are processed through the Boise Public Schools Education Foundation. Donors will receive an acknowledgement of contributions letter for use when filing taxes.

Donor form

Posted January 31, 2012

Congratulations!  

Boise State University's 'Science Competition Day'

On February 2, 2012, students from the Treasure Valley Math & Science Center participated in Boise State University's 'Science Competition Day.'

Several TVMSC students demonstrated exceptional performance, resulting in the following:

• Sam Chandler - (TVMSC and home schooled) ... 1st place overall... earning a $20,000 scholarship to Boise State University ($5,000 per year for up to 4 years)
• Noel Eddie Smith - (TVMSC and Capital High) ... 2nd place overall
• Alex Baca - (TVMSC and Capital High) ... 3rd place overall

Former TVMSC students also demonstrated admirable performance:

• Sam Faucher - Boise High and TVMSC 2007 - 2008 ...4th place overall
• Adam Jiang - Boise High and TVMSC 2008 - 2011 ...7th place overall
• Zach Puett - Boise High and TVMSC 2008 - 2011 ...10th place overall

Earning recognition for subject specific performance:

• Alex Baca (TVMSC and Capital High) Top scores for both Geosciences and Physics
• Yoon-ji Ra (Boise High and TVMSC 2009 - 2011) Top score for Mathematics

Also competing admirably on this day's events were Daniel Fang, Eric Huang, James Xu, Veronika Peters, Luke Harmon, Carl Harmon, Kevin Brown, Peter Huang and Alex Thompson.

We congratulate these students for their outstanding performance in this highly competitive event! Thank you Boise State University for providing this wonderful opportunity for our students!

Posted February 26, 2012

Congratulations!

AMC- 10 and AMC - 12 Winners

In Spring 2012, numerous TVMSC students participated in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC-10 and AMC-12). http://amc.maa.org/

Of the students who participated in this series of events on behalf of TVMSC, Noel Eddie Smith, age 16, is the TVMSC winner on the AMC 12, qualifying to move on to compete on the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Exam) for 2012. Now in the 11th/12th cohort, Eddie is completing his sixth year of participation in TVMSC, having entered this school as a 6th grade student. Kevin Brown (age 17) and Chancler Vander Woude (age 15) earned the 2nd and 3rd places on AMC-12 for TVMSC.

Luke Harmon, age 13, earned the highest score for TVMSC on the AMC 10, qualifying to move on to compete on the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Exam) for 2012. Luke is completing his fifth year in the Treasure Valley Math & Science Center, having entered TVMSC as a 4th grade student. Luke is currently taking courses from the 11th/12th cohort levels. Vishnu Iyer (age 15) and Peter Huang (age 16) earned the 2nd and 3rd places for TVMSC on AMC-10.

We congratulate these students for their outstanding performance in these rigorous and demanding competitions!

Congratulations!  

Idaho's 'Regional Middle School Science Bowl' Event

On February 11th, 2012, students from the Treasure Valley Math & Science Center participated in the Idaho Regional Middle School Science Bowl Competition held at Boise State University. This regional 'team competition' event is part of the National Science Bowl's 2012 competition season coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Competing in the day's events were teams from Foothills, School, Idaho Virtual Academy, Marsing Middle School, Notus Junior High, Riverstone International school, Syringa Middle School, West Middle School, and Boise School District's Treasure Valley Math & Science Center.

After four hours of intense competition, TVMSC's 'Team A' emerged as the top team, earning the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Middle School Science Bowl from April 26 - 30th, 2012. Students on TVMSC's 'Team A' included:

• Karthik Mouli - age 13 (TVMSC and North Jr. High)

• Benjamin Huang - age 14 (TVMSC and North Jr. High)

• Ryan Zubery age 14 (TVMSC and Riverglen Jr. High)

• Luke Harmon - age 13 (TVMSC and Boise High)

• Nate Marshall - age 13 (TVMSC and North Jr. High)

The coach for this team is Mrs. Janice Poppenga, TVMSC's Earth Science and Research teacher.

In the Science Bowl competitions, students are tested on their knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, mathematics and general science in a series of  'Jeopardy-style' competition rounds. 

This is the first year that this regional event was held in southern Idaho. In previous years, teams had to travel to northern Idaho or northern Washington to compete in the nearest regional event.

TVMSC would like to recognize and express appreciation to Mr. Mark Anderson (former TVMSC and current Riverstone International School teacher) and Mr. Tony Baca (Hewlett-Packard Company and coach of TVMSC's High School Science Bowl team) for their hard work in coordinating a large cadre of volunteers and donors to support the establishment of this new Boise location for the Idaho Middle School Science Bowl Competition. We would also like to recognize the generous support of Boise State University's College of Engineering for hosting the event this year. Thanks also go out to Micron Technology Foundation, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, U.S. Department of Energy, Quizco Inc., White Cloud Analytics and Fred Meyers stores for their generous in-kind and financial support of this year's events!

TVMSC is proud of the fine sportsmanship shown by the students in this day's event, in addition to their exemplary academic performance! Good luck in representing the state of Idaho at the National Middle School Science Bowl Competition in Washington, D.C. in April!

Posted February 26, 2012

Congratulations!

HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE BOWL COMPETITION

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, TVMSC's High School Science Bowl team participated in the Idaho West Regional High School Science Bowl Competition at Boise State University.

Keen competition led to a first round loss.  The team rose to the challenge for the remaining rounds of the event's competition, winning each of their subsequent rounds to finish in third place for this event. As finalists for the Idaho West Regional High School Science Bowl Competition, the TVMSC team now advances to compete in the Idaho State High School Science Bowl Competition on March 21, 2012 in Idaho Falls.   The winning team from the Idaho State High School Science Bowl Competition will qualify to compete in the National High School Science Bowl Competition in Washington, D.C. from April 26 - 30th, 2012.

Members of TVMSC's High school Science Bowl team are Alex Baca, Kevin Brown, Eddie Smith, and Sam Chandler, Parth Raina, Hariank Mistry, Eric Huang and Miranda Tang.

We wish the team much success in the upcoming Idaho State High School Science Bowl Competition on March 21, 2012 in Idaho Falls.

Posted March 7, 2012

Congratulations!

SALMON BOWL COMPETITION

On March 3-4, 2012, the TVMSC Academic Team traveled to Corvallis, OR to participate for the first time in the Salmon Bowl Competition. This competition is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl events and is sponsored by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.

With their first place finish, this team of students now qualifies to compete in the 15th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl in Baltimore, MD. The TVMSC team is one of 25 teams from across the nation who will have an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl from April 19 - 22, 2012.

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is provided by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in order to encourage and support the development of student interest in ocean sciences for college and careers.

Congratulations to Alex Baca (gr. 12), Sam Chandler (gr. 12), Kevin Brown (gr. 12) and Eddie Smith (gr. 11) for their outstanding performance in this event.  Best of luck to the team in the upcoming competitions!.

Posted March 7, 2012

Congratulations!

MATH COUNTS

On Saturday, February 25th, the 2012 Southwest MATHCOUNTS competition was held in Boise.

Numerous TVMSC students participated in this event, competing for their home schools.  By the end of the event, 11 TVMSC students had placed among the Top 20 Competitors in Idaho. Of these, three of the top five students in the Southwest Chapter Event were TVMSC students, aged 12 - 14.

The 11 TVMSC students who placed in the Top Twenty of the 2012 MATHCOUNTS Competitors for Southwest Idaho were:

• Luke Harmon (age 13....First Place)
• Danny Takeuchi (age 14....Second Place)
• Jessica Liu (age 14 .... Fifth Place)
• Daniel Liu (age 13 ... Sixth Place)
• Alex Rooney (age 12....Seventh Place)
• Ryan Zubery (age 14... Eighth Place)
• Derek Stein (age 12...Eleventh Place)
• Benjamin He (age 12....Twelfth Place)
• Killian Richardson (age 14 ... Fourteenth Place)
• Hannah Mills (age 13....Seventeenth Place)
• Daniel Fang (age 13 .....Seventeenth Place)

A number of TVMSC also gained recognition for being a part of a winning school teaming the competition. As a result, these teams also go on to compete at the Idaho MATHCOUNTS Competition::

Lowell Scott - 1st Place team

• Danny Takeuchi
• Daniel Liu
• Jessica Liu

Riverglen Jr. High - 3rd Place team

• Daniel Fang
• Lois Bin
• Killian Richardson
• Ryan Zubery

TVMSC teacher, Mrs. Robin Betcher was recognized for being a 'Coach for a Top Ranking Team' as she served as the coach for the Riverglen Jr. High team.

TVMSC is very pleased for these students and their coach.  We wish them great success as they proceed on in the Idaho state MATHCOUNTS competition on March 10th!

Link to 'TVMSC's Teacher's Class Pages on School Fusion'

TVMSC's teacher's class pages can be accessed from the following link:

Scroll down until you see the link for TVMSC. Click on this to access individual TVMSC teacher's class pages.

 

These pages provide calendars with current and upcoming assignments, project due dates, as well as information on days when tests will be given.  Teachers also offer links to support material for their classes.

Important Partnership Update

It is with great pleasure that TVMSC continues to partner with Boise State University!

TVMSC's students who take the Center's 'Introduction to Engineering' course may apply for Concurrent Credit with Boise State University for Fall 2010-11. This course meets the requirements for ENGR 120 within BSU's College of Engineering (COEN) and will carry 3 credits

In support of this course, faculty of BSU's College of Engineering:

1. Will invite students in the TVMSC class to the BSU campus to participate in relevant events. 2. Will have BSU professors from each engineering departments within the college visit the TVMSC class to provide an overview of their discipline.

TVMSC's students who take the Center's Discrete Mathematics course may also apply for college credit. Discrete Math will carry Concurrent Credit through Boise State University's Mathematics Department for 4 credits (Math 187).

BSU's registration deadline will be in October. The procedure for registering to receive college credit for either or both of these courses through Boise State University will be explained at TVMSC's Back to School Night/Open House on the evening of September 23rd.

Posted July 21st, 2010

Commonly asked questions about TVMSC

• TVMSC is a school of choice for public, private, charter or home schooled students from throughout the Treasure Valley.
• Students who attend TVMSC are bused to and from their home schools in Boise and Meridian Districts.
• There is no tuition or cost associated with being a student in TVMSC. This is a public school program that is offered within Boise Independent School District.
• There is no cost associated with screening for consideration to enter TVMSC, however the scores from the screening will be used for the Student Selection process only. The scores will not be mailed home or shared from the screening as TVMSC covers all costs associated with testing and scoring these assessments.
• Students must have completed the equivalent of Accelerated Math 7 or a school year of Pre-Algebra before entering the program, as the first math course they enter is Accelerated Algebra 1 (with additional trigonometry). This course requires a thorough understanding of pre-algebra.
• All cohort levels in TVMSC are multi-aged. Students are placed in their cohort based upon their academic needs in mathematics. Cohort levels are not grade levels!
• If students have not completed or mastered pre-algebra at the time that they are screened, they have the option of attending TVMSC's Summer School program to take the Pre-Algebra/ Accelerated Math 7 course.
• Students who enter the TVMSC program at the 8th grade cohort level or higher will be placed into the mathematics course that is appropriate for building upon their current math background.
• Students spend half their school day at TVMSC and the other half of their school day at the school of their choice for the remainder of their classes.
• Students only need to go through the screening process once in order to qualify for entrance into TVMSC. As long as students maintain acceptable academic standards each semester, they do not need to reapply to continue with the program.
• Students may enter TVMSC as soon as they are ready for Accelerated Algebra 1 (regardless of their age or their grade in their original school). They may remain in the program until they graduate from high school, as long as acceptable academic standards are maintained.
• Students who have left TVMSC with acceptable grades in their last year while in the program are able to re-enter TVMSC by contacting our office. (854-6802)  They will need to provide the center with a copy of their transcript or report card showing the courses they have taken and grades earned while out of the program.

Posted July 21st, 2010

As part of TVMSC's technology recycling drive, Micron Technology Foundation, Inc. and many of our TVMSC families generously donated items that resulted in TVMSC receiving a check for $1,413.65!

Micron Technology Foundation provided the school with several boxes of used technology to recycle!  This donation provided an outstanding boost to this recycling/fund raising effort.

On behalf of all of the students and staff of TVMSC, we would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation for this support for our school!

Every dollar brought into the school through these fund raising efforts goes to directly benefit our students!

Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc. donation for TVMSC!

The Treasure Valley Mathematics and Science Center would like to express our most sincere appreciation for the generous donation of $5,000.00 offered by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc. in July, 2010 to support the educational efforts of our program during the 2010 – 2011 school year. This donation is offered in support of TVMSC's Chemistry and Biology programs.

A further $2,000 was provided in support for the Boise School District FIRST Robotics team, 'Team Tators'. This will be Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc.'s third year of sponsoring 'Team Tators.'

The funds provided by this grant will support:
-acquiring and replenishing kits, consumables and broken glassware in the labs
-'Team Tators,' the Boise School District FIRST Robotics team in designing, building, testing, and improving their robot.

Over the past four years, Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc. has generously provided support for the TVMSC program. This support has assisted TVMSC in acquiring equipment, materials and lab supplies for the full range of course offerings in the Center. The Foundation has also supported TVMSC's summer program, enabling the Center to offer valuable preparatory and study skills classes to incoming and current students. The grant further supported TVMSC's teachers in acquiring valuable professional development opportunities. The donation by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc. also enabled TVMSC's student to participate in mathematics and science competitions and to travel to locations in order to conduct valuable field research.

Since 2006, the support provided by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc. has greatly expanded the opportunities that the Center is able to provide for the students in the program. In turn, these funds have also enabled the Center to provide quality outreach programs back to the community, which further benefit our students, our staff and our guests from across the Treasure Valley who attend these events.

The Treasure Valley Mathematics and Science Center sincerely appreciates the continued support for our program that has been provided by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc.

Posted September 17th, 2010

The Treasure Valley Mathematics and Science Center is very grateful to Target's 'Take Charge of Education' program and the TVMSC families who have signed up to participate in this program on behalf of TVMSC.  Through this partnership, the students in the TVMSC program will benefit from a $300.30 donation to the school!

TVMSC is very appreciative of this support!

TVMSC Students To Travel for Chess Championships

Luke Harmon-Vellotti, is currently a student in the Treasure Valley Math and Science Center.

On October 10th 2010, Luke became America's Newest National Master while competing in Washington, D.C. This followed his successes on August 1st 2010, when Luke became the #1 Highest rated 11 year old in America.

Luke also achieved the title of Candidate Master (Expert) awarded by the USCF (the governing body for chess in the United States) for accruing enough official rating points during sanctioned chess competitions. His victories over higher rated adult players at a recent event in Seattle, WA put him over the top. Luke became the youngest Chess Expert in Idaho's history, and is on track to becoming the youngest Chess Master in the state as well.

On October 10th 2010, Luke became America's Newest National Master while competing in Washington, D.C. This followed his successes on August 1st 2010, when Luke became the #1 Highest rated 11 year old in America.

Luke has his own website: http://sponsorluke.com/

Posted November 19th, 2010

Boise's 'Team Tators' 2012 Robotics Team

The Treasure Valley Mathematics and Science Center is the sponsor school for the Boise School District's FIRST Robotics team, 'Team Tators,' for the 2011 - 2012 season.

The formal kickoff of the FIRST Robotics build and competition season occurs each year on the first Saturday in January. During the Kickoff Event, the teams from across the nation will watch a NASA-televised program that explains the challenge for the 2012 FIRST Robotics season. Teams then begin to envision, design and build their robot over the following six weeks. This year's FIRST Robotics season began with the Kickoff Event on January 7th, 2012.

Team Tators is extremely grateful to the 2012 sponsors of Team Tators. Sponsors included:

• Julius C. Jeker Foundation - $6,000
• Micron Technology Foundation, Inc. -  $5,000
• M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust ($5,000)
• Boise Public School Education Foundation - $1,000
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - $200
  

Team Tators will participate in two Regional FIRST Robotics Competitions this 2012 season;:

• Utah Regional FIRST Robotics Competition - March 15 - 18, 2012
• Spokane Regional FIRST Robotics Competition - April 5 - 8, 2012

If Team Tators earns a first place win in one of these Regional FIRST Robotics events, the team looks forward to representing Idaho in the World Championships.  Team Tators has participated in the FIRST Robotics World Championships in 2008, 2010, and 2011.

• FIRST Robotics World Championships - April 26 - 29, 2012 in St. Louis, MO.

To learn more about 'Team Tators' please visit the team's website: http://teamtators.org/

Team Tators also enjoyed a highly successful season in 2011, finishing as Finalists in the Seattle Regional FIRST Robotics Competition and finishing as the Regional Champions in the Utah Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.  The team qualified to compete in the World FIRST Robotics Championships in St. Louis where they finished as semifinalists for their division! This placed the team among the top 24 teams world-wide.

Team Tators was grateful for the support shown the team by the 2011 sponsors of Team Tators. Sponsors included:

• Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Inc. ($2,500)
• M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust ($5,000)
• Micron Foundation, Inc.  ($5,000)
• Jeker Family Trust ($6,000)
• Platt Electronics ($500 to attend the Championships)
• Micron Foundation, Inc. ($5,000 to attend the Championships)
  

Team Tators is extremely appreciative of the ongoing guidance and support provided to the team by mentors from Hewlett-Packard Company and Micron Technology, Inc.

FIRST Robotics is available for students in 9th through 12th grades.

To explore more about the opportunities offered by FIRST Robotics, please visit the US FIRST Robotics website at http://www.usfirst.org/

Posted February 26, 2012.

TVMSC's Dates to Note

• March 26 - 30 - Spring Break
• April 10 - Orientation Night for incoming and prospective families 7:00 - 8:30 PM