Superintendent Luna Teams Up with Boise Hawks, Pioneer Federal Credit Union to Host Monday Math Nights

It's summer time again, and that means it's time for America's favorite ol' pastime -- baseball.

This year, State Superintendent Tom Luna is teaming up with the Boise's own baseball team, the Boise Hawks, and Pioneer Federal Credit Union to host Monday Math Nights at every Monday night Hawks home game in 2010.

Superintendent Luna will kick off the first Monday Math Night on opening night – Monday, June 21 – by throwing out the opening pitch.

“The Monday Math Nights are a great way for Idaho students to have fun with math. It gives kids the opportunity to see the relevance of mathematics and how they use math every day in activities such as baseball,” Superintendent Luna said.

On Monday Math Nights, kids attending the games will each receive a fun set of baseball-related math problems at the gate. Kids who solve these problems before the 7th inning stretch have the chance to win prizes. Volunteers from the State Department of Education and Pioneer Federal Credit Union will be on hand to help students throughout the evening.

The State Department of Education worked with the Boise Hawks to host one Math Night last year. Based on its success, they decided to expand the program to every Monday game in 2010.  The Monday Math Nights will be held June 21, July 12, July 19 and August 16.

Students can also win free tickets to these Monday Math Nights at the Boise Hawks through the Idaho Math Initiative’s web-based math instruction tool, called Apangea Math. Students use Apangea Math during the school year and throughout the summer to improve their math skills. The more math problems they solve through Apangea Math, the more points they can earn and redeem for prizes or donate to a local charity.

This summer, students can redeem Apangea points earned after June 14 for a free reserved ticket to a Boise Hawks game on July 12, July 19 or August 16.  Don't already have an Apangea account? Don't worry. It's easy! Kids can just visit the Department's website and sign up for a free Apangea account online.

The 30 kids who participate the most in Apangea Math online this summer will receive a free ticket to the Boise Hawks game on August 16, a meet-and-greet with the Boise Hawks players, a certificate of completion for the Summer Apangea Math program, and an Add + Up the Fun T-shirt! The top 30 participants will be published on the Boise Hawks's website in early August!

~ Melissa M.