RTG NewsMagazine | July 2017

RTG Education | Lifestyle | Recipes | Math Games | Did You Know?!

NEWS

TIPS

Making a big impact in many little ways | pg. 2

Summer fun activities | pg. 4

Keeping your children engaged at SoM Summer Camps | pg. 3

Yummy recipes contributed by our SoM Parents | pgs. 6-7

JULY 2017 ISSUE

LIFESTYLE

SoM NEWS

NEWSMAGAZINE

JULY 2017

PLAY

Have fun figuring out this issue’s Block Busters, learning about a fun fact, and playing our Sudoku Sizzlers | pg. 8

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KIM’S KORNER Giving back in little ways, can leave a big impact.

In June, as another school year came to a close I found myself watching again with pride, as our latest group of Spirit of Math graduates and assistant teachers stepped forward during our graduation to face the next phase of their lives. Like so many SoM alumni before them, they continue to demonstrate incredible enthusiasm, eager to show the world what they can do. It is inspiring to hear what our graduates have already done in their lives, and encouraging to know that they are going to be our future leaders.

KIM LANGEN CEO & CO-FOUNDER

About Kim A loving mother and wife, an innovative entrepreneur, and a voice of authority in education; Spirit of Math Schools CEO and Co-founder, Kim Langen, is dedicated to releasing the genius in every child around the globe.

Kim has an extensive background in mathematics and education; she holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Math and Science from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Biology from Queen’s University.

As a teacher, she has taught at numerous high schools in Toronto and was the Head of Academics at The Bethany Hills School before incorporating Spirit of Math in 1995.

Kim was named Entrepreneur of the Year by EY (Ernst & Young) finalist and is a member of Chatelaine’s W100 2015 List of Top Female Entrepreneurs, amongst her many mentions and awards.

NEWSMAGAZINE

RTG is produced and distributed by: RELEASING THE

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With such big aspirations, and with the huge potential of our alumni, we often expect huge successes, and those huge successes are often the only ones recognized. But, as I said during the recent graduation, it is not the huge successes, and the big rewards that make lasting effects: it is the little things along the way that make the most impact. When you add up one little successful impact after another, you will have made a big impact, and that will change the world.

This reminded me of a personal story of a small gesture made by a very old man that influenced my life in a significant way. This happened in my childhood and although it was very small, it left a lifelong effect. When I was just six-years-old, I was with my father in a small village in Uganda; as my father walked ahead to meet with the village leaders, I saw an elderly man sitting in the middle of a mud hut leaning over a small fire, cooking his meal. He gestured for me to join him, so I did. He was cooking a modest meal to feed his family. The food he was cooking would have been all his family would eat that day, nevertheless, with a smile on his face, and joy in his eyes, he gestured for me to join him and offered the food to me. We could not communicate verbally, but his face said it all: he was as proud as he could be to offer all he had to a little girl. I was a stranger, and this man happily offered me what little he had…because it was the right thing to do. This small gesture taught me the importance of giving from within oneself, no matter how little you have to offer.

Graduates, I would like you to remember that you have a huge amount to give but don’t just focus on the huge successes: it’s the little things that will add up and make a big difference. As individuals you will change the lives of others, and as a group you will change this world.

I wish all of our students and their parents, a very safe and happy summer 2017! z Spirit of Math® is a thought leader, influencer, change maker and an authoritative voice in higher education.

Spirit of Math Schools® (SoM) is an after-school program that provides challenging and advanced math classes and teaches problem solving, collaboration and critical thinking skills to high performing and gifted students from Kindergarten to Grade 11. For more than 30 years, SoM has taken students from the top of the class to the top of the nation, with almost 7,800 students filling 40+ campuses across Canada and in the USA. SoM’s unique curriculum focuses on problem solving strategies, logical and critical thinking to become the global standard of excellence in math education.

Since 1992, our students have consistently placed on national and international mathematics honour rolls and our alumni have obtained scholarships from some of North America’s top universities. Spirit of Math classes commence in Lahore, Pakistan in August 2017.

JULY 2017 ISSUE

SoM NEWS Keep your child’s mind busy this summer!

The summer holiday is a chance for students to recharge their batteries and refresh after a tough school year, but according to Kim Langen, CEO & Co-Founder of Spirit of Math Schools, staying sharp and mentally fit in the offseason is vital.

“In North America, many parents believe that it is a time to let kids relax, have fun and generally do what they want.

Why not, they say, kids are working hard all year, so they deserve a rest,” she explains. “Studies show that over the summer, students lose up to 20% of what they’ve learned over the school year. That’s equivalent to nearly two months worth of education.”

In 2011, the RAND Corporation, a non-profit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis, published a comprehensive report

Spirit of Math Summer Camps offer a wide range of fun and exciting programs that are designed to challenge students in Grades 2 to 9. Our unique curriculum paired with our strong partners, allows Spirit of Math Summer Camps to offer a diverse range of camps in robotics, chess, engineering and coding..

BECOME A CHESS MASTER The game of chess involves many elements of mathematics.

Problem solving and logical thinking are necessary skills if you are to master this stimulating game of strategy.

Founded in 1985, the Chess and Math Association (CMA) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting chess in schools throughout Canada. Open to chess players aged 5 to 14 years old, the CMA offers a wide range of summer and spring break camps to keep young minds

People must have the ability to think logically, work with mathematics, find information, be able to communicate properly and be able to work with others.

If taught properly, mathematics can do all of these things, and that is what Spirit of Math is doing. highlighting the importance of summer programs in student development entitled “Making Summer Count – How Summer Programs Can Boost Children’s Learning.”

sharp with their favourite game. Campers in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto will get the chance to learn from professional chess players in this intense program.

The report stated that when students return to school from summer vacation, on average, they perform one month behind where the school-year last ended. According to the report, summer camps and other educational programs in the off-season keep young minds sharp. “Because many students lose learning over the summer and some students need more time on task to master content, participation in summer learning programs should mitigate learning loss and could even produce achievement gains”, the report reads.

PREPARE FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

FIGHT OFF-SEASON LAG WITH SUMMER CAMPS There are many ways to keep students thinking during the long summer break. One of them is to enroll your child in good summer camps.

JULY 2017 ISSUE

Our world is becoming increasingly digital, which means talent in the tech sector will be in high demand.

Programming, web design, and coding are quickly becoming critical skills. Summer camps provide students with an outstanding opportunity to learn these skills, and have fun! Logics Academy introduces students to the exciting and growing world of robotics. Its Robot Sports program for students in Grades 4-6 challenges campers to code, design and build their own robot athlete for thrilling competition against their peers. If your child is into computers, Kids Learning Code has a program designed to help campers in Grades 4-6 confidently code websites. z pg. 3

SoM NEWS Releasing your child’s inner-genius!

At Spirit of Math, we are dedicated to Releasing the Genius in every child. SoM co-founder Charles Ledger, says everyone is capable of bringing the genius within them out into the world.

“It means that people are able to do things they don’t realize they can do,” Ledger said when asked what it means to Release the Genius. “To ‘release the genius’ means that you give them the opportunity, the background, and discipline so that their true genius ability can be seen.”

GRADUATES AGREE On June 3, Spirit of Math celebrated the graduation of our Greater Toronto Area students and the contributions of our assistant teachers (AT’s) at a ceremony at the Toronto Board of Trade. As graduates and ATs opened a new chapter in their academic careers, we asked them what our mission statement, “to promote co-operation, inspire confidence and release the genius in every child,” means to them. While each student offered a unique perspective, they all echoed the sentiment that there’s a genius hiding in all of us just begging to come out to make the world a better place.

Straight from Our Graduating Assistant Teachers and Grade 11 Students...

HASSAN ALIBHAI, Spirit of Math student since Grade 9

“As a little kid, I always thought these people (Alberta Einstein, Blaise Pascal, and other famous thinkers) had some kind of supernatural phenomenon. Spirit of Math has really shown me that a genius is someone that’s worked really hard on what they do and is good at what they do. If you really put your mind to it and if instead of walking away from math like a lot of people do, and embrace mathematics, you’ll realize that math is this wonderful thing that will continue to change, continue to evolve and really become ground-breaking. You will realize that you too can become a genius. You might not be able to get the theory of relativity, but there is a genius in every single person and a program like Spirit of Math helps release the genius within.”

CAROLINE CHEN, Spirit of Math student since Grade 6

“You click into an untapped potential that all kids have, but they haven’t yet found. Spirit of Math is more than just mathematical concepts and problem solving. It teaches lessons that you cannot develop in the classroom at (day)school, and that’s what I think releasing the genius in every child means.”

DANIELLE GRABKE, Spirit of Math student since Grade 5

“The program really enriches a person’s personality and their mind. It allows us to use whatever tools we’ve been given and apply them to our future. As we are graduating, we are able to use the knowledge and skills we’ve gained over the years and apply it to the rest of our lives to better the world.”

DARIA YAMPOLSKY, Spirit of Math student since Grade 5

“The moment someone ‘releases the genius,’ everything starts clicking. They are able to solve problems they weren’t able to. I find that moment fascinating. As an assistant teacher, I notice it all the time.”

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JULY 2017 ISSUE

SoM TIPS Fun things to do this summer!!!

Now that summer break is here, we know it can be a challenge to keep your children mentally stimulated. It’s not only important that students relax and enjoy the extra time off, but it’s also important that students continue to stay engaged in creative and challenging activities.

Something as simple as taking a day trip to your local science center or museum can do wonders in terms of keeping your child’s mind sharp. We thought we would put together a list of a few interesting, engaging and fun places you can visit this summer to keep your children active and mentally fit during this summer break. Enjoy!

BRITISH COLUMBIA

TELUS World of Science, Vancouver | With a mission to engage visitors in science and technology, the TELUS World of Science is a state-of-the-art science centre, planetarium, and OMNIMAX theatre. Check out a screening of a wide range of education films on the largest OMNIMAX dome screen in the world such as A Beautiful Planet and Wonders of the Arctic. scienceworld.ca

ALBERTA

TELUS Spark, Calgary | Let your child’s mind go wild with Lego.

A perfect opportunity to play and learn, The Legoland Discovery Centre features a wide range of unique attractions focused on the classic construction toy. Let your creativity thrive as you explore, investigate, and learn in a hands-on environment. sparkscience.ca Jurassic Forest, Edmonton | Alberta is home to some of the world’s richest deposits of dinosaur bones. The Jurassic Forest is a massive prehistoric reserve featuring life-sized, “living” and “breathing” dinosaurs! Learn about the province’s prehistoric past with a guided safari giving insight into the plants and animals that ruled the land more than 250-million years ago. jurassicforest.com

MANITOBA

Winnipeg Railway Museum, Winnipeg | Learn about how railways transformed Canada into a transcontinental nation by seeing Manitoba’s rich railway heritage first-hand. The Winnipeg Railway Museum is home to The Countess of Dufferin, the first steam locomotive to hit the rails on the Canadian Prairies. wpgrailwaymuseum.com

ONTARIO

Legoland Discovery Centre, Vaughan | Let your mind go wild with Lego. The perfect opportunity to play and learn.

The Legoland Discovery Centre features a wide range of unique attractions focused on the classic construction toy. Let your creativity thrive as you explore and learn in a hands-on environment. toronto.legolanddiscoverycentre.ca JULY 2017 ISSUE

ONTARIO

Gardiner Museum, Toronto | A unique museum that celebrates the art of clay with a range of exhibits, drop-in pottery classes, talks and more. The museum strives “to be an inviting destination that inspires and connects people, art, and ideas through clay.”

Best of all, admission is FREE for everyone under 18 years of age. gardinermuseum.on.ca Canada Science and Technology Museum, Ottawa | Learn about the events, experiences, people, and objects that helped shape Canada’s culture and history at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Like the Ontario Science Centre, the Canada Science and Technology Museum also features an IMAX Theater screen a wide range of engaging educational movies to captivate the mind. cstmuseum.techno-science.ca

NEW JERSEY

Jersey Shore Pirate Adventures, Brick | Take to the high seas like a real pirate would, and learn about nautical history as you and your family dress-up like pirates and set sail on an action and adventure packed journey. Experience the Jersey Shore’s unique naval history first-hand as you explore areas visited by famous pirates such as Captain Kidd and Edward Teach, AKA, Blackbeard. jerseyshorepirates.com pg. 5

SoM TIPS LIFESTYLE Carrot Dessert/ Gajar ka halwa

Super Easy Jamaican Jerk Chicken

BY NAINA JHAMNANI

BY DYLAN HARDY

This is an Indian desert that I make often because my family likes it, especially my daughter Suhana.

I hope you will enjoy making it too!

We love making this recipe because it is fast, easy and super tasty.

INGREDIENTS: 2 Bunches Green Onions/Scallions 2 Bunches Fresh Thyme 3-4 Scotch Bonnet Peppers (adjust # to desired heat) 2 tbsp Crushed Back Peppercorns 4 tbsp White Vinegar 4 tbsp Molasses 2 tsp Allspice 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon INGREDIENTS: 1 Kg Grated Carrots 3/4 tbsp Cooking Oil or Ghee 500 ml Milk Dried Fruit for Decoration and Slivered Almonds Add Sugar to your liking DIRECTIONS: 1. Slightly heat cooking oil and add grated carrots, keep mixing until the grated carrots shrinks to half their size.

2. Add milk and let it cook on medium flame, then add sugar.

3. Let mixture cook until the milk is fully evaporated.

4. Transfer mixture to a serving dish and decorate with sliced almonds. z pg. 6

1/2 tsp Ground Cloves 8-12 Chicken Legs 1 Can Coconut Milk (optional) DIRECTIONS: 1. Remove seeds from peppers and d-stem thyme.

2. Combine first 9 ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth to create marinade.

3. Place chicken and ž of marinade in zip-lock bag and refrigerate for 1-2 days. The longer the better (and hotter !). Reserve Ÿ of marinade for grilling mop.

4. Grill over medium heat, skin side down, with lid down. Turn occasionally and brush/mop reserved marinade onto chicken. For added flavour, smoke wood chips during the grill.

5. Brush with coconut milk once the skin is browned. z JULY 2017 ISSUE

SoM LIFESTYLE SoM TIPS Chunky Mushroom Soup/Soupe a la Fungi

BY HERBERT BRILL A.K.A. MORRISON’S DAD This is a recipe I have made for years. It’s a hearty soup that warms my family up on a cold day. Served luke warm, it works on a hot summer’s day too!

The tarragon provides a very enticing flavour, but you may have to experiment with the spices.

Likewise, to adjust the soup’s thickness, adjust the amount of flour or water added. The differential cutting of the mushrooms is important. The minced mushrooms add to the soup base, while the other types of cutting provide a variety of different sized chunks that make eating this soup a pleasure.

SERVES 6-8 DIRECTIONS: 1. Mince the onion, garlic, celery root or parsnip, and celery.

2. Mince 1/3 of the sliced mushrooms. Be sure to cut into very small pieces/slivers. Cut the second 1/3 into chunks. Leave the last third as is.

3. Mince 1/3 of the portabello mushroom. Cut the rest into cm-square cubes. (If using the whole shitake mushrooms, allow to sit in lukewarm water for thirty minutes.)

INGREDIENTS: 1 Onion ¼ Celery Root or Parsnip Diced 1 Stick Celery Diced 1 tbs Butter 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil 1-2 lbs Sliced Mushrooms Handful Tiny Whole Mushrooms Handful Dried Sliced Shitake Mushrooms 1 Portabello Mushroom Diced Simulated Chicken or Vegetable Soup Powder Mix 1 tbsp Mushroom Soup Powder Sliced Mozzarella and/or Cheddar Cheese (optional) Boiling Water with Tarragon (essential) White Pepper to Taste Black Pepper to Taste Flour to Thicken (add as needed) Old Bay spice to Taste 1 Egg White (optional) JULY 2017 ISSUE

4. Heat the oil and margarine/butter in a large pot.

Add the ingredients from #1 and cook until onion is transparent.

5. Add all the mushrooms except the sliced shitake.

Add the tarragon, old bay, and a dash of white and black pepper. Stir. Cover the pot, opening every few minutes to stir until the mushrooms have reduced.

6. Add six cups of boiling water, Stir in soup mix to taste.

7. Mix in more spice to own taste.

8. Bring back to a boil. Mix 1 tbsp. flour with egg white and water until consistent, add to pot and stir until fully mix in.

9. Reduce heat. Add sliced shitake mushrooms and simmer for 20 minutes covered.

OPTIONAL: Allow soup to cool. Fill an onion soup bowl with the soup, float a piece of toasted whole wheat bread on top, and cover with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

Bake in the oven at 350 F for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crispy. z SERVE IMMEDIATELY! pg. 7

SoM PLAY

Find the solutions online on our NewsMagazine page at engage.spiritofmath.com

Block Busters The difference between the total number of blocks in each of the consecutive pyramids is a sequence of special numbers. Write the first 5 numbers in this sequence.

_______, _______, _______, _______, _______.

Did You Know?!

Blaise Pascal

Sudoku Sizzlers

Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist and religious philosopher, who laid the foundation for the modern theory of probabilities.

Pascal was born on June 19, 1623, in ClermontFerrand, France. In 1640 he invented the Pascaline, an early calculator, and further validated Evangelista Torricelli’s theory, concerning the cause of barometrical variations. He later formulated the Pascal’s Triangle concept and was one of the great thinkers of the 17th century.

In 1669 his publication, Penssees (thoughts), revealed his interesting take on the history of the world. In his writings, Pascal is quoted as saying this, “Cleopatra’s nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed.” Pascal believed that Cleopatra, had her nose been smaller, would have lacked the dominance and strength which helped her rise to the power of Ptolemaic Egypt.

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JULY 2017 ISSUE