Shawsheen Tech Unveils New Math Team

(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by Shawsheen Regional Technical High School.)

When Debra Dew was hired at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School this summer, it was good news for the school’s math department in more ways than one.

Along with being an experienced teacher, Dew also brought a passion for something that had yet to be introduced at Shawsheen, a math team.

With Dew as its advisor, Shawsheen Tech’s math team competed in six different competitions this year against schools including Burlington, Bedford, Billerica, Westford Academy, Marian and Mount Alvernia. Shawsheen Tech represents the only vocational school in its league.

The math competitions are held each month, starting in October and running until March.

Math meets feature three individual rounds with five students from each school answering a question in a 10-minute time limit. Then, all 10 representatives from each school have 12 minutes to answer six more questions.

Every student participates in three different rounds with school receiving points for each correct answer. Individual students are also credited with points for correct answers.

Dew hosts occasional meetings, practices or sorts, after school for competitors.

“The topics are very broad,” said Dew. “But the kids are pretty excited about it. We’re getting almost 20 students a month and for kids to be willing to do extra math after school, that’s a pretty good turnout.”

Dew said the Shawsheen Tech students have enjoyed the atmosphere at the competitions.

“A lot of kids enjoy the fact that they are being exposed to something challenging and different,” she said.

Dew said that many of the Shawsheen Tech students that have tried the math team have expressed interest in careers in engineering or computer science.

Along with the regular competitions, the Shawsheen Tech students also attended a special meet hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute early in the school year. At WPI, the participants were able to take a tour of the school and even eat in its cafeteria while also competing.

Four Shawsheen students participated along with competitors from many other schools throughout the state. Students competed individually and the top scorer from each school earned a $1,000 scholarship to WPI if they ended up choosing to attend that college after graduating from high school.

While Dew admits that Shawsheen Tech hasn’t finished first in any of its meets this year, she is also pleased that the students have maintained their interest and enthusiasm no matter where they finish.

“I’m encouraged by the fact that the kids aren’t discouraged [about not winning],” she said. “It will only get better and easier.”

Dew encourages all students to think about the math team.

“It’s not a huge time commitment and it gives kids another place to belong,” she said. “The school has been very supportive. It’s getting kids involved and that’s what Shawsheen is all about.”