MILLSTONE — Students at the township’s primary school will soon set about solving problems to help solve much greater problems for their peers. Through the annual Math-A-Thon event, children in kindergarten through second grade will spend two weeks working on math problems to help raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
“Obviously, it allows them to get some practice with math,” Christine Smith, a remedial math teacher at the school, said. “But I just feel it … gives them a chance to get to know about these [hospitalized] children. It allows them to work on their math skills while helping others.”
Set to launch Jan. 16, the Math-A-Thon has participating students solving a variety of math problems in the Scholastic-developed Math-A-Thon Funbook or online. Students are encouraged to complete as many problems as possible before the Jan. 31 deadline. Family members and friends of each student are asked to pledge to the Math-A-Thon, with all proceeds donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where all children in need of care are treated, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
To familiarize the students with the hospital’s mission of finding cures for and saving children with childhood cancer and other deadly diseases, the hospital sends a DVD outlining the institution to schools participating in the Math-A-Thon drive, Smith said.
“Some of [the students] are really enthusiastic and they want to help, and some feel the same, but they’re not so vocal,” she said.
Although some kids may not have an easy time communicating their concern and empathy for the children at the hospital, it shows in other ways. Students have the opportunity to receive prizes for reaching various levels of fundraising, and they have the option of donating their prizes to the kids at St. Jude.
“Alot of them do that, which is very nice,” she said .
According to Smith, most of the children who opt to have their prizes go to their peers in the hospital keep quiet about it, not looking to be patted on the back for their good deed.
“St. Jude [Children’s Research Hospital] is so appreciative as well,” she said. “They’re constantly showing their appreciation.”
Throughout the year, the hospital keeps in touch with the school, sending cards, holiday ornaments and letters about children being treated there, Smith said .
More than 10,000 schools nationwide participate in Math-A-Thon each year, making it one of the country’s largest education-based fundraisers, according to a press release from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The national program has been going on for 30 years.
The math materials developed by Scholastic feature the types of problems and skills necessary for taking state standardized math tests, making the fundraiser an educational experience, as well.
Members of the community can support students by making donations to St. Jude in honor of students’participation in Math-A-Thon by visiting www.mathathon.org and clicking on “Sponsor a Participant.”