_______ _______ _______ _ _______ _ _______ ( ____ \( ____ )( ___ )| \ /\( ___ )( ( /|( ____ \ | ( \/| ( )|| ( ) || \ / /| ( ) || \ ( || ( \/ | (_____ | (____)|| | | || (_/ / | (___) || \ | || (__ (_____ )| _____)| | | || _ ( | ___ || (\ \) || __) ) || ( | | | || ( \ \ | ( ) || | \ || ( /\____) || ) | (___) || / \ \| ) ( || ) \ || (____/\ \_______)|/ (_______)|_/ \/|/ \||/ )_)(_______/ _______ _______ _________ ( )( ___ )\__ __/|\ /| | () () || ( ) | ) ( | ) ( | | || || || (___) | | | | (___) | | |(_)| || ___ | | | | ___ | | | | || ( ) | | | | ( ) | | ) ( || ) ( | | | | ) ( | |/ \||/ \| )_( |/ \| _______ _________ _______ _______ _ _______ ( ____ \\__ __/( ____ )( ____ \( \ ( ____ \ | ( \/ ) ( | ( )|| ( \/| ( | ( \/ | | | | | (____)|| | | | | (__ | | | | | __)| | | | | __) | | | | | (\ ( | | | | | ( | (____/\___) (___| ) \ \__| (____/\| (____/\| (____/\ (_______/\_______/|/ \__/(_______/(_______/(_______/ ********************* * Important details * ********************* Start date: Around April 2012 Location: Gonzaga Math Department # of Meetings: Approx 1-3 per month, for about 3 months until summer. Audience: Late Elementary - Middle School (4 - 8). Planned Session Topics: TBD Fee to get in: TBD ************ * Timeline * ************ [x] Contact Gonzaga [ ] Contact MIC [ ] Contact MSRI [ ] Contact Coaches and Teachers [ ] Contact The Splash [ ] Purchase "http://www.spokanemathcircle.com" [ ] Learn how to use Wordpress [ ] Speak at Middle School Math is Cool [ ] Create lectures [ ] Practice lectures **************** * Things to do * **************** ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Contact the math department of Gonzaga. http://www.gonzaga.edu/Academics/Colleges-and-Schools/College-of-Arts-and-Sciences/Majors-Programs/Mathematics/default.asp MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT Tom McKenzie Professor, Chair Gonzaga University Math Department MSC Box 2615 Spokane, WA 99258 Phone: (509) 313-6708 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// A letter for above? Dear Gonzaga Math Department, My name is DongGyun Kim (I prefer to go by DG), and I'm a mathematically motivated sophomore attending Central Valley High School. I'm sure as Gonzaga staff, you are quite busy with other endeavors, so I will attempt to keep this letter brief. Early in my mathematical life, I had heard of math circles, somewhere to learn mathematics beyond the normal school academics, and a place to collaborate with other students who shared the same desire to expand their knowledge. However, I never really thought twice as to not attending a math circle; I had never actually seen a math circle in action nor had I lived close to anything like it. This summer, I went to the AwesomeMath summer program (more information on this camp can be found at http://www.awesomemath.org). While I was at this camp, people were astonished to hear that I had never been to a math circle before! Most had been attending for years, and proudly wore their San Diego, Berkley and Seattle math circle shirts. Someone suggested to me, "why don't you start your own math circle?" I'd never been to a math circle, so I was fascinated with the possibilities that this may create. Since then, I found my new obession: to start a math circle for the Spokane area. I started my journey at http://www.mathcircles.org, the official site of all math circles, and read their informative article "circle in a box". Two of the most important tasks for a math circle organizer is finding a suitable location for holding the math circle, and finding lecturers. So I was wondering, would it be possible to use a room of the math department on days where classes are not happening? In addition, would members of the Gonzaga math department be willing to lecture once or twice? I would like to conclude this email by stressing the importance of creating more mathematical opportunties for students, and the benefits that both the community and the Gonzaga math department can reap from a math circle. At the moment, the choices students in the Spokane area have are limited. For most of my life in Spokane, I've had to rely on self study for my extracurricular mathematical studies. I purchase the books from the well known resource for students, Art of Problem Solving, participate in online Art of Problem Solving courses, and attend camps during the summer. Although independent study is important, it is nothing compared to the experiences of those who live in already established areas, where they are given free reign and chances to communicate and collaborate with professors, teachers and peers. Furthermore, an increased mathematical awarness can only help the Gonzaga math department. Perhaps there would be teaching oppotunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Gonzaga, a highly established university, would also have an opportunity to outreach to the youth of Spokane, and thus, Gonzaga would become the center of mathematics for the city of Spokane. As a final note, I would like to give some approximate technical details of this math circle. I plan for it to start about March or April, when things should finalize and I have had an opportunity to "advertise" it in our local math competition "Math is Cool". It will be directed towards 4th to 8th graders, and there would be about one to three meetings per month. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Please consider my request, and reply back to this email (donggyunkim@gmail.com) or through the following: (c) (509) 995-0018 (w) http://www.cyneer.com Thanks Again, DongGyun (DG) Kim ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Create a website/brochure for Spokane Math Circle This involves: > Getting a domain (probably www.spokanemathcircle.com) > Deciding on a logo > Deciding dates ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Write lectures.... need topics, possibly going through AMC's, Math Is Cool tests or the AoPS precalc book. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Need to contact the Math Is Cool people to be able to advertise in 6th, 5th and 4th grade competitions. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Edit and add to my biography on cyneer, so I can share my website... //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////