Pentathlete Corner, Saving of Family Game Set, Tournament Info
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December 2015 Newsletter
To:
Each year the Pentathlon Institute offers a Gift of Learning Special allowing individuals to purchase Family Game Sets at a reduced cost.  Both the Regular Family Game Set and the Premier Family Game Set are on sale at:

Link to: GIFT OF LEARNING SPECIAL
November 24 through December 31
Order by Dec 17 to ensure delivery by Dec 24.

PENTATHLETE CORNER - RAMROD

If Pentathletes are to be good Ramrod strategists, they need to know many more Two-Rod Captures than some of the longer, more obvious Captures.  Therefore, before learning the rules to the game of Ramrod make sure that students know the numeric values of the rods as described in the Ramrod Chapter, Adventures in Problem Solving, Book I, Activities II and III, pp. 142-143.   This is very important when students are trying to discover all of the various combinations of Two-Rod Captures in the Purple Playing Area.  Also, make sure that students practice the Complements of Values in the Purple Playing Area as suggested in Activity VII, p. 154 and Ramrod Complements Worksheets, Activity VIII, pp. 155-157.  While doing these two activities Pentathletes are practicing the Missing Addend Form of Subtraction that is algebraic in nature.  After students have learned the rules to Ramrod and have discovered some of the more obvious Captures, Pentathletes should investigate other, lesser known Captures, which will make them much more flexible and strategic players.  In addition, through guided discovery, Pentathletes should learn how to defend three and four-step Captures.  "It's Your Move" problems in Investigation Exercises Book I, pp. 11-17, assist with this process.

Math Pentathlon &
the STEM Fair
Hosted in Indianapolis, IN

The City of Indianapolis is hosting the 4th Annual VEX Robotics Championships at the Downtown Convention Center on Sunday, January 24, 2016.  On the final day of this event, the City's Steering Committee is sponsoring a STEM Fair.  TechPoint Foundation for Youth, a sponsor of this event, has again asked Math Pentathlon to participate at the STEM Fair.  The goal of the STEM Fair is to take advantage of the captive audience of students who have already identified themselves as interested in STEM subjects, by virtue of being on a robotics team or attending a STEM fair, and help them to understand how to turn their interest into a career.  The Math Pentathlon picture to the left was taken at last year's STEM Fair in Indianapolis. 
   
CALLING ALL COACHES
When parents register their child online and sign up as a Game Monitor, please be aware that there is no longer a drop-down menu for selecting a specific game to monitor.   In the past this frequently led to confusion since the Coach had not yet completed their Game Monitor assignments and the parent signed up for a different game then the Coach had intended.  This year please encourage your parents when registering online to sign up as a Game Monitor and that at a later date you will be informing them as to which specific game they will be monitoring.  Once you have all (most) of your parents assigned, then complete and submit to your MPT Center Director the official MPT Game Monitor List.  As in the pa st , PLEASE make sure that your GMs are equally distributed across each of the 5 MP Games.

2016 TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

The National Mathematics Pentathlon Academic Tournament Highlights are hot off the press.  These are one-page summaries of each game's most critical rules.  Each Highlight Sheet is divided into 3 sections:  Basics, e.g. Goal, Start, Game Time Limit; Game Specific Rules; and Challenges.  Each year any updates/changes in MP Rules are highlighted in red and are especially pertinent for National Tournament use.  For each Division there is also a Common Rules page that describes rules that apply to all of the 5 games.
Link to Highlights 
MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION

When making your yearly donations please consider including the Pentathlon Institute, a Not-for-Profit Educational Organization.  All funds raised through donations assist Pentathletes who are experiencing financial difficulties or are used to promote the Math Pentathlon Program in new areas.  Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated.

Donate 
 
REGISTRATION FOR
NATIONAL MATHEMATICS PENTATHLON ACADEMIC TOURNAMENTS

Tournaments are limited by space.  We take registrations on a first come-first serve basis.  Several of the tournaments last year SOLD OUT before the Late Registration Deadline. 

Please check with your School Contact Designee for registration directions.   

Tournament fee is  
NON-REFUNDABLE & NO SUBSTITUTIONS
$39 Regular Registration ~ Sept 1 - Feb 15, 2016
$53 Late Registration ~ After Feb 15 
$80 ~ 10 Days Prior to Tournament
(Closed Thursday - Saturday week of Tournament)

2016 NATIONAL MATHEMATICS PENTATHLON
ACADEMIC TOURNAMENTS DATES

The dates for next year's National Mathematics Pentathlon Academic Tournaments are:

INDIANA/OHIO CENTER 
     Division I (K-1): April 23
     Division II (2-3): April 30
     Division III (4-5): April 9
     Division IV (6-7): April 9 

MICHIGAN/OHIO CENTER
     Division I (K-1):  April 16
     Division II (2-3):  March 19
     Division III (4-5): May 7
     Division IV (6-7): May 7

TEXAS - AUSTIN METRO CENTER 
     Division I (K-1): April 2
     Division II (2-3): April 16
     Division III (4-5): April 30
     Division IV (6-7): May 14 
 
TEXAS - DFW METRO CENTER 
     Division I (K-1): April 9 
     Division II (2-3): April 9
     Division III (4-5): April 23 

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