Newsletter Issue #5, June 2009
In This Issue:

A Letter from RSM Principal
Year End Award ceremony
Graduates and Colleges
Summer School
RSM-Marblehead Summer School
Promotional Discounts!
Tuition payment due on August 15
Check next year's Calendar and tell us what you think!
We need your help: Sderot Summer Camp-2009

Nothing to fear but fear itself...
A Letter from RSM Principal

Another school year has flown by and it's time for the last newsletter of the 2008 - 2009 academic year.

I've received many emails and phone calls after my letter "When it comes to math, talent is really overrated." Thank you all for sharing your thoughts, I am always very interested in your opinions and experiences.

We had a great year; once again practically all of our 8th graders made the Johns Hopkins list, and we also have outstanding results in the AMC 8 and AMC 10. RSM continues to prove that every child can learn, when the curriculum is right and the teachers know what they are doing. RSM continues to prove that anyone can score above 700 on the math portion of the SAT in the 10th grade provided that they spend at least 5-6 years with us. After all, the SAT is just a 2/3 algebra and 1/3 geometry test with added twists like extra conditions for problems, confusing wording, and very similar answers. If the child knows mathematics, the test is not difficult at all.

Why then, is the Massachusetts average on the math section 514? In my opinion, the Boston Globe just had the answer: It all starts with elementary school teachers. (Read the Boston Globe article Aspiring teachers fall short on math )

Instead of creating an interest for the subject at the time when children are just beginning to develop their cognitive thinking, many elementary school teachers merely transfer their own fear of math.
The fear of math is a very real fear. Even elementary school math is not simple at all. Yes, every problem has only one right answer, but there are so many different ways to derive this answer, so many different ways of thinking about the solution. If the teacher does not know mathematics, she can easily make a mistake and the children wouldn't notice. Therefore, a teacher who is afraid of math will never inspire a child to challenge her, to ask tough questions, to argue for his solution. She will never encourage them to think, because she is afraid of their questions.
Furthermore, these kinds of teachers will never find 5 different ways to explain something to the child that is challenging for him/her. She will continue to repeat her original explanation, the way she learned it, the only way she herself understands the problem. Every child learns differently, so the ability to explain a problem in order to suit a child's mode of understanding is crucial. Instead, the teacher will teach the children to memorize, because for her, mathematics is just a set of rules that she knows. There is nothing worse than to teach a child to memorize mathematics. What they've memorized, they'll remember for the immediate short term. Memory is temporary... understanding is forever.

For us, RSM teachers, math is fun. We enjoy seeing our students grow intellectually year after year. We believe to our core that math is instrumental in the development of critical thinking abilities, as well as good logic skills. We believe that learning mathematics the proper way will turn our students into overall better learners. We already have plenty of evidence that this is exactly the case.

Thank you for a great year!
Thank you for staying with us all these years! Our return rate for 2009-2010 is 93%!
Enjoy your summer and see you all after the Labor Day!

Inessa Rifkin

RSM - President
RSM-Newton Principal

End of the School Year Awards

To celebrate many outstanding results and achievments of RSM students we will be conducting the Year End Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 4th 5:30pm at RSM, 2nd floor.

We cordially invite all students and their parents to attend!

Many of RSM's graduates are accepted to the best colleges every year. This year we already have some awesome news! Congratulations and our warmest regards to all RSM graduates who were accepted to the college of their choice this year! Please let us know what college you will go to next year - and keep in touch!

Summer School at RSM-Marblehead

Our new branch is growing! Classes started in March and will continue through the Summer.Summer School dates: July 6 - August 14

Schedule:
Grades 1/2 9.00-11.00 Saturday - $210.00
Grades 3/4 11.15-1.15 Saturday - $210.00
Grades 5/6 1.30-3.30 Saturday - $210.00
Grades 7/8 9.00-11.30 Sunday - $258.00
High School algebra 11.45-2.15 Sunday - $258.00
High School geometry 2.30-4.00 Sunday - $156.00

NextNext Year Enrollment

Our re-enrollment process is almost over (all of our current students have re-enrolled for the next year) but we continue to enroll in New - beginner level classes. If you have friends who were planning to try our school, please remind them that the best time to have a placement test or to register for a class is now, before the start of Summer School - they will have the best selection of schedule.

For everyone who already registered:
Please remember that Tuition for 2009 is due on August 15th.

Summer Programs at RSM

As usual, we have two popular summer programs that could fulfill many families' needs for math enrichment: Summer School and Camp RSM@Sunapee (an overnight camp in New Hampshire).

Summer School

July 6 - August 14
This year Summer School is offered at 4 Locations in Massachusetts and in
San Jose.

We invite students in grades 1-12 to take advantage of this excellent way to jump start the next academic year! As usual, summer school will be held for six weeks, each class will meet two or three times a week.

This year we offer NEW classes "Math Challenge" at RSM-Newton and at RSM-San Jose. These classes are for students who already enjoy intellectual challenge similar to that offered at Olympiads or math competitions such as MOEMS, AMC 8, AMC 10-12, Harvard/MIT Competition. Modeled on famous Russian extra-curricular math clubs, or "math circles", the program offers unusual problems and ways to solve them, and provides wholesome intellectual fun.

Math Circle A (2,3 graders)
Math Circle B (4,5 graders)
Math Team I (6,7,8 graders)
Math Team II (9,10th graders)

Camp RSM@Sunapee

Camp SunapeeThis sleepover camp for grades 5-12 has been a favorite of our students (and non-students from many states) for over 12 years. This year several new cabins have been added, shower facilities have been upgraded and general improvements for the new season are going full speed since March.

See camp Photos.

Session 1 is closed!
Session 2 - More info and Application

Next Year Calendar

We worked hard to create the next year's calendar that includes 36 classes and follows most schools' schedule. But inevitably, some of the holidays or the eves of the holidays will be the days of regular classes. Please take a look at next year's Calendar and tell us what you think.

Children of Sderot Project - we need you help!

Sderot kidsThis year, once again, 50 children from Sderot (Israel) will go to a Summer Camp away from Kassams. They will be doing hiking, learning, swimming, and striking new friendships.

Since 2007, when 20 children from Sderot were first brought to the U.S. to spend a peaceful summer in New Hampshire, Camp for Children of Sderot became our tradition.

Camps are organized by RJCF. Counselors from our community will travel to Israel to work with children, to support our people, and our land.
Professor Geifman (a world renowned expert on terrorism) expressed an opinion that our help to Sderot is a very effective weapon against terrorism - where there is no life, we create life, where children are condemned to isolation, we create a community, where each man is for himself, we bring love, support, and friendship.

Please, let's do our share and contribute to the Summer-2009 Camp for Children of Sderot (this year it will take place in the vicinity of Jerusalem).

$500 will pay for ONE CHILD'S STAY IN A CAMP FOR ONE WEEK
$1,000 will pay for ONE CHILD'S STAY IN A CAMP FOR TWO WEEKS

Please do not get discouraged by big numbers, ALL and ANY donations are greatly appreciated. Click here to find how to make a donation online or by mail.

Thanks to all who donated towards this great cause in the past!
The RJCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

See the amount raised up to this date!

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Thank you for your continuing support of RSM and have a great Summer!

- RSM Administration