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RSM Newsletter Issue #3, December 2008
Greetings from RSM!
A letter from RSM Principal
Dear parents, In this letter I would like to share with you the results of this calendar year and to reflect on the results of 12 school years of RSM. 2008 was very good year for RSM. Our graduates were accepted to great schools and many of them received large scholarships. ( read more). Our students continue to impress us with their high achivments on the AMC 8, Johns Hopkins talent search and AMC 10 ( read more). Our enrollment grew more than 20%, once again. One new branch has been opened and one is ready to be opened. 12 years ago, just as we announced RSM to the World, we wrote in our mission statement:
"We founded this school in order to provide mathematical instruction that is more intensive and challenging than that of the majority of schools in the country; to develop each child's analytical and critical thinking skills; to create a friendly and creative environment in which each child will reach his or her full potential. We believe:
- Everybody can learn
- Learning happens in an individual way and at an individual pace
- Every student can and will succeed.
We see our school as something greater than a collection of tutorials where knowledge is dispensed at regular interval. We see our school as a community, a place where students can learn, grow, meet new friends, laugh and have fun. This is why our students, parents and teachers put a great deal of effort into organizing special events, such as dances, parties, plays and our unforgettable summer camp".
Reading these lines makes one realize that our core values have not changed and our commitment to the original principles just grew stronger. We are the School and our product is success of our students. I am very proud to share with you one success story. This success is not an academic one, but it makes us as proud as the outstanding results of our students and graduates. Some of you may know that 2 years ago we brought 10 children from Sderot to our overnight summer camp in New Hampshire. The Sderot children made such an impression on us that we decided to create the same kind of mathematical camp for them in Israel. We did it with the help of the RJCF ( read more). This past summer 5 of our graduates went to Israel to work as counselors in the first overnight camp in Israel for the children of Sderot. Those 5 counselors volunteered their service and even raized funds for their tickets to Israel. This November they were awarded the Young Leadership Award ( see the picture and read more from RJCF web site). On December 18 another group of 7 RSM graduates will go to Israel again to conduct the winter overnight math camp for the children of Sderot. They go as volunteers, to offer their service and energy. We are so proud that our vice principal Irena Khavinson and her husband Zachar Khavinson are going to Israel to lead the group. Here at RSM we are very proud that we have succeeded not only at teaching children mathematics, but also at teaching them to share their blessings with others less fortunate. On this note I must mention Mumbai. Dear families from India, please except our deep sorrow and please express our good wishes for all your relatives and friends in Mumbai. Believe me, we feel your pain and your pain is our pain as well. Throughout Thanksgiving I was glued to the TV; I couldn't stop thinking about the future of our kids, the future of the world. Here at RSM we want our students to grow to become strong individuals, but also very caring people who will add to the well being of the whole world. I wish that 2009 will bring only happiness to all of the RSM families and I pray that all of our children be safe, happy and healthy.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Happy New Year!
Inessa Rifkin
RSM Principal
AMC-8 Results
2008 AMC-8 results are spectacular! This year 125 RSM students took AMC-8.
4 students earned Honor Roll Certificate of Distinction;
20 students earned Honor Roll Certificate;
58 students earned Certificate of Merit.
This means that more than half of those who took the test (68 students) were officially recognized by The Mathematical Association of America. We are proud of you!
Congratulations to AMC-8 Winners!
9D NAGDA, DIPAL - 24
6B ZEMBOWICZ, THOMAS - 23
7A PETRY, RUSSELL - 22
8B YAO, TONY - 22
6B AGGARWAL, ASHOK - 21
9A DIMITROV, DIMITAR - 21
7B GAO, RUIYI - 21
7D KARMIY, MARK - 21
6C MATEJKA, MATTHEW - 21
7C RAHMAN, TAMJID - 21
6B DASTJERDI, ALI - 20
6B FEINSTEIN, JULIA - 20
7C GANDHI, KAVISH - 20
7C KING, NICHOLAS - 20
7E NEUWIRTH, BENJAMIN - 20
7C SANDERS, KENNETH - 20
6C GOLDSTEIN, DANIEL - 19
6B KHURANA, SONIA - 19
8C LERNER, DANIEL - 19
7A MALLICK, PAROMA - 19
6A SHEA, MARGARET - 19
7B TSVETKOVA, NATALIE - 19
6C VIETRI, RICCARDO - 19
7A YOUNG, CAROLINA - 19
Report Cards
Most of you must have received your children's first semester report cards. ask for them to share their expectations for the second semester. Remember that if you have any questions, you are always welcome to e-mail your teacher.
RSM students receive Young Leadership Award
We are proud to announce that this year five RSM students and graduates received the Young Leadership Award from the Russian Jewish Community Foundation. To learn more please visit RJCF website.
"Best Notes" Competition
This Competition is open for RSM grades 7 and above. Submit your complete class notes for the first term. The first prize is $200, the second prize is $100 and the third prize is $50. The Rules:
- The notes must cover all information that was presented in the class in the first semester.
- The notes may be in a form of notebook, paper report, or a poster.
- The notes may be hand-written or typed.
- If 2 works will be of the same quality, the presentation will definitely matter.
- Students may pair up, but in this case the prize will be also divided amongst the winning participants.
- It's possible that no one will get the first prize, if we do not find any work that covers all the material sufficiently.
Open Chess Tournament
On Tuesday, January 6, at 6:30 PM for the first time RSM will host an Open Chess Turnament.The tournament will be lead by the International Chess Master Mikhael Shur, who has coached European and World chess champions and who will be also teaching Chess Classes ar RSM on Tuesdays and Saturdays, starting January.
New RSM branch opens in Marblehead!
RSM-North Shore will open it's doors on February 1st. The new branch will be located in Marblehead. Please tell your friends and email the office to sign up.
Next year schedule
If you need specific schedule for the next academic year- January is the time to request it. Example: you have 3 children at RSM and would love 3 of them to be at RSM simultaneously. We can not guarantee this, but we'll try, especially if it's a long commute for you.
Dance Fever's Winter Showcase
Dance Fever's Winter Showcase will be held on
Sunday, January 11th 2009 at the SHERATON HOTEL GRAND BALLROOM in Needham, MA from 11am - 5pm
Featuring the best couples in Boston. Free Entry to all. Don't miss it!
Holiday Shopping Event
On Saturday, December 20th 9 AM-3 PM
the Miriam Gallery will be present with an assemblage of fine jewelry - all hand -crafted by artisans from around the world. A small sampling of their line includes: One-of-a-kind silver jewelry from internationally acclaimed Israeli designers, Semi-precious stones and gold-plated silver pieces from a and fine, hand-painted porcelain pendants, Brooches fashioned by a local designer.
As always, we appreciate your business!
Have a wonderful Holiday and Happy New Year!
- RSM Administration |
