Graduate Blog

 -------- Original Message --------
Subject:  Parkdale Mentorship Program
Date:  Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:06:35 -0500
From:  patricia.mighiu@utoronto.ca
To:  undisclosed-recipients:;    

===============================================================================
Dear student,

*WHO:* Parkdale Mentorship Program 2012!

*What:* A mentorship program that introduces high school students in
underprivileged communities to the wide variety of possible careers.

*When:* 10am-1pm for ten Saturday sessions between February 4th and May
5th.

*Where:* Parkdale Community Center (less than 30 minutes away from the
downtown campus by TTC).

*Why:*
- This is your opportunity to be involved in a fun and unique mentorship
program!
- No prep work on your part. Just come and be a mentor for your high school
mentee.
- Have the chance to participate in the weekly activities and various field
trips! Last year we had an Iron Chef competition for our culinary arts
theme and went on a field trip to the UTIAS (U of T Institute for Aerospace
Studies) and got to experience a flight simulator among other things for
our engineering theme.
- Free lunch!

*Breakdown of each session:*
- Guest speaker from the career represented that week.
- Opportunity to hang out with your mentee over the provided lunch.
- Fun and hands-on activities related to the career theme.

*Planned career themes:*
- Health care
- Trades
- First responses
- Engineering
- Art and Design
- Journalism and Media
- Politics and Law
- Business
- Teaching
- Science and research

If you are interested in becoming a mentor or helping out with the
program, or if you have any questions please e-mail *uoft...@gmail.com*.
E-mailing us doesn't imply that you are committed to the program. A lunch
meeting will be held in January where we will give you more detailed
information regarding the program and have an official online application
form.

Thank you!
Parkdale Mentorship Program Directors 2011-2012

COMC, Markers Still Needed!

The Canadian Open Mathematics Competition (COMC) is coming and we 
still need markers.  We are expecting a large number of papers 
(in the 1000's) and we need people to mark them.  

We only require a few hours of your time on November 12th and/or 13th 
and you can mark at either UTSC, UTM or St George.  

If you are interested, or require further information, please send an 
email to mhs@math.toronto.edu with your name, email, availability and 
preferred marking location.

We Need Your Help! Markers Needed!

We are looking for people to help us mark the 2011 Canadian Open Mathematics Competition (COMC).

Markers are needed on Saturday, November 12th and/or Sunday, November 13th from 10am – 4pm.  Lunch and snacks will be provided as will certificates.  If you are able to help for only one of the days, or for only part of the time that’s fine, just let us know.

A strong background in math is not required however, please let us know if you do have one.  All markers will be provided with marking sheets and answer keys.  You need only bring yourself.

If you’d like a chance to be a part of a great competition and make your mark on it then contact us at mhs@math.toronto.edu ASAP with your name, contact information, preferred marking location (UTM, UTSC or St. George) and math background.

We need many volunteers so please send this on to your friends and colleagues.

More information on the COMC can be found at: http://math.ca/Competitions/COMC/

To Graduate Mathematics Students:

Each year, I run an undergraduate mathematics competition and am on the
lookout for good problems. So I am appealing to you to contribute. Some
of you will have had lots of experience in competitions yourself, and so
may have access to some good material. However, I also find that some good
questions arise out of research. Perhaps you have proved or come across a
nice lemma, example or a special case of a situation that can be pressed
into purpose.

The problems should be accessible to first or second year honours
mathematics or engineering science students. The topics used so far are
calculus, linear algebra, theory of equations, basic probability,
combinatorics, basic group theory and differential equations, although
probloems of basic reasoning and game theory are also welcome. You can
see past papers on my website www.math.utoronto.ca/barbeau/home.html.

You can contact me at barbeau@math.utoronto.ca . I would be grateful if
the submissions were accompanied by solutions.

Thanks for your help. Ed Barbeau

Let's Talk Science is a national charitable organization committed
to building youth interest and engagement in science, engineering and
technology (http://letstalkscience.ca/). At the U of T St. George site,
we mobilize graduate student volunteers studying science, engineering
and technology to dohands-on/minds-on science activities with
children and youth.

Through a newly developed partnership with the Graduate Professional
Skills program, hours logged for Let's Talk Science earn credits toward
the notation on a students' transcript recognizing professional
development. Volunteers can earn up to 8 of the 20 required credits
through offerings including our Science With Impact training,
science fair judging, career mentorship and hands-on activities. 

Last year, we had over 250 graduate student volunteers registered with
our program who logged over 2000 hours of outreach preparation and
presentation time this year.

This year, we want to expand our volunteer pool and are looking for
more graduate students from all areas of science and engineering
to become leaders of their field and take their knowledge to youth
via classroom visits and on-campus events, such as StemCellTalks,
Chemistry Day, Physiology Day, etc.

If you are interested in learning more about Let's Talk Science,
join us at one of our information sessions on the following dates
held at Grad Room (66 Harbord Street):

Monday September 12, 12-2pm

Pub Night: Tuesday Sept. 13 @ 6-8 pm @ O'Grady's (second floor)

Thursday September 15, 12-2pm

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please attend one of the
following Science With Impact training sessions (earns GPS credits!)
held in the Red Conference Room in CCBR (2nd floor, 160 College Street):

Tuesday October 18, 5:30-8:30pm

Wednesday October 19, 5:30-8:30pm

We look forward to inspiring youth with the help of our volunteers
this year! 

The Let's Talk Science (UofT St. George) Team
lts.grad@utoronto.ca

——– Original Message ——–
Subject:     RE: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS! – TUTORING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS OF PORTUGUESE & SPANISH SPEAKING DESCENT
Date:     Tue, 9 Aug 2011 12:34:24 -0400
From:     Sonia Neves <sneves@workingwomencc.org>
To:     <murty@math.utoronto.ca>

*RE: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS! – TUTORING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS OF PORTUGUESE & SPANISH SPEAKING DESCENT *

Dear U of T University Faculty Member,

The /On Your Mark/ Tutoring Program is a tutoring program that offers academic assistance to students* of Portuguese-speaking descent and students of Spanish-speaking descent.*

*Your help would be greatly appreciated in promoting this volunteer position to your students. Please feel free to provide my contact information to anyone interested in the volunteer tutor or volunteer tutor supervisor position. I am happy to mail you more information about the program, including flyers and brochures for interested students, please let me know if you are interested. Please feel free to mention this volunteer opportunity to anyone interested over the age of 16 and provide my contact information. *

* *

An ideal Volunteer Tutor would posses the following criteria:

· Student or graduate of a secondary or post-secondary institution

· Excellent Communication skills in English (knowledge of Portuguese and/or Spanish an asset but NOT necessary) Volunteers do not have to be of Portuguese or Spanish speaking descent to become a tutor or tutor supervisor.

· Interest in the field of education and/or social services

· Some experience working with children at the elementary and/or high school level

· Flexible, innovative team player and self-motivated **

Also, if you know of a parent looking for educational assistance for their child(ren) (of Portuguese-speaking descent or Spanish-speaking descent) please feel free to refer them to the /On Your Mark/ Tutoring Program.

When Michael Ornstein’s analysis of “Ethno-racial Inequality in the City of Toronto” was released in March of 2000, the report cited the Portuguese and the Spanish-speaking communities as two groups experiencing extreme disadvantage in the educational system. The report noted that the situation of the Portuguese community and the Spanish-speaking community involves a unique combination of factors including a high proportion of non-high school graduates and very few university graduates.

The /On Your Mark/ Tutoring Program, an initiative established in 2001, was a direct response by the community to those stark statistics and has proven the community’s ability to organize and work together to support its youth and address student academic underachievement and drop out rates. The program, which is free to parents, will be marking its 10^th year of service to the community for the 2011/2012 school year. /On Your Mark/ annually serves close to 250 students of Portuguese-speaking descent and Spanish-speaking descent. The program welcomes close to 150 volunteer tutors and site supervisors a year and operates out of 10 schools, with 68 schools involved from various school boards, including the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, and the Dufferin-Peel District School Board.

Students in the program are in grades 1 to 12, are having significant difficulties in one or more subjects and are referred by a teacher./ /Eligible students work one-on-one with a tutor or in small groups of two with a tutor. Tutors focus the tutoring sessions on the students area(s) of academic difficulty, assist student(s) with their homework, help student(s) develop their basic learning skills and help students establish goals for their education. Tutoring sessions are held after school at one of eight school sites in the Metro Toronto Area and is in partnership with the TDSB & TCDSB. The /On Your Mark/ Tutoring Program also offers Saturday morning tutoring at a high school in the community of Dufferin & Bloor.

Please feel free to contact Sonia Neves (Portuguese ext.34) sneves@workingwomencc.org <mailto:sneves@workingwomencc.org> or Zuzuky Diaz (Spanish ext.46) zdiaz@workingwomencc.org <mailto:zdiaz@workingwomencc.org> at the Working Women Community Centre (416) 532-2824 if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you kindly, your help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Sonia

Sonia Neves
Project Coordinator
/On Your Mark/ Tutoring Program
Working Women Community Centre
416-532-2824 ext.34
416-532-1065 (fax)
sneves@workingwomencc.org
www.workingwomencc.org

Are you interested in working with the next generation of mathematicians?
Do you have a passion for math and math competitions that you would like to
pass on to the upcoming classes?  Do you want to be involved in a fun
competition as an instructor, invigilator or marker?  If so then we have
just the thing for you!

Math Kangaroo is looking for people to help with this year's competition.
MK is an open competition for students from grades 3 - 12 to come to the
University of Toronto and write the international Math Kangaroo competition.
MK takes place on Sunday, March 27th and offers prep-classes on Saturday's
from 1 - 3 for the month of March leading up to the test.

Currently the following positions are available (multiple people are needed
for each position):
You are more than welcome to be involved in more than one position if you
would like.

Saturday Prep Leaders
* Saturday, March 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th from 1:00pm - 3:00pm
* Accommodations may be available for those unable to commit to all four
sessions but still wishing to assist

Test Invigilators
* Sunday, March 27th from 10:00am - 1:30pm (attendance for the full time is
required)
* This includes set up of the test room, invigilation of the test and
collection of papers afterwards

Test Markers
* Sunday, March 27th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm
* Marking the tests and compiling the grades

Other positions may come available as we get closer to the date.

Pizza and pop and the eternal gratitude of the department (including
certificates) are supplied to all volunteers.  Training will be provided.

If you are interested in being involved or would simply like further
information please contact Pamela Brittain (pamb@math.toronto.edu).

Hi Everyone, 


We have received SOS from several undergraduates in MAT257Y1 and 
MAT157Y1. This can be an unsettling and frightening time for first year 
students and second year students as they try to build a good math 
base on which to grow.


I have a growing list of students who would like to be enrolled in Math 
programs and it is with these students that I would like to establish 
contact with graduate students who are able to provide some guidance 
for them this time of adjustment.


NOTE:  


THERE WILL BE A MAXIMUM OF 3 OFFICIAL MENTORING GROUP 
SESSIONS FOR THE YEAR.  THIS MAY INVOLVE THE REVIEW OF 
PAST PAPERS OR EXAM PREP ACTIVITIES!!


What is in it for you?

*   Participation in these type of activities is a crucial requirement for 
some scholarships


*   Employers regard this type of behaviour favourably when they 
examine applicants to jobs


*   You will be contributing to the renewed focus on improving the 
students' experience in which the Mathematics Department is 
currently engaging


*   Recognition by the Department
                       

Would you consider volunteering as a Math mentor for this year?



                             

Your role:

                                  

*   Provide contact information for student mentee ( An e-mail 
address other than the U of T address is welcomed)


*   Refer student to known resources based on your prior experience 

*   Respond to student's queries or refer student to 
Undergraduate Administrator


*   Provide encouragement to students 


*   Where applicable, encourage student in Math Union Activities


*   Where possible, provide academic assistance Maintain 
relationship in accordance with all Canadian Laws on societal 
behaviour



*   Please reply to this e-mail if you would like to the volunteer with 
title ???GRAD  MENTOR???

Thank you for providing the contact information for the assigned
student.



All the best,

Donna


_________________________________



Donna Birch, Undergraduate Administrator
Dept. of Mathematics, University of Toronto
40 St. George Street, Rm. 6291,
Toronto ON, M5S 2E4
E-mail:  dbirch@math.utoronto.ca
Phone:  416-978-5082           Fax:  416-978-4107

Hi Graduate and Undergraduate Students,


Please read below and respond via email to mu@math.toronto.edu if you are
interested in volunteering this Thursday, October 7 for a 2-hour period
between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.


The Fields Institute and the Department of Mathematics are looking for
volunteers to assist in hosting a group of about 90 enriched mathematics
students from a local high school. We will give them an introduction to
the Fields Institute and student life at the University of Toronto.
Professor Colliander will give a special lecture to the students.


This is a great chance for students, both high school and undergraduate,
to interact and explore both the Fields Institute and the Math Department.
We will have a scavenger hunt in which they will explore the department
and the institute.


This opportunity will contribute to the future of the community both at
the Fields and at our University. Your time will be acknowledged as a
volunteer opportunity which would be useful for either your CV or resume.


Day's Outline

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Students arrive/get organized
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Tour of Fields and lecture
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Scavenger hunt
2:15 p.m. Students regroup/leave


------------------------------------------------------------


Volunteer Opportunities
Morning set (9:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.): Require about five volunteers to
supervise and assist in tours


Afternoon set (12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.): Require about 15 volunteers to
supervise students during the scavenger hunt, to help with questions, and
be responsible if students require assistance.


In your email please indicate:


1. Whether you'd like to volunteer for the morning set, the afternoon set,
or both.


2. Your full name, student number, and year of study.



Hope to hear from you soon!


Undergraduate Opportunities Assistant
Department of Mathematics
40 St. George St.
Toronto, Canada
M5S 2E4

Dear Students,

The Arts and Science Student Union has established a structured opportunity
for students to be involved in the local community. Students across the city
can benefit from your guidance in their studies through this volunteer
opportunity.

Note that they will still be accepting applications after October 1st since
it is not a strict deadline but more so a guideline. If this is of interest
to you, please see and print the file

https://sites.google.com/site/mutoronto/opportunities/ProjectUniversalMinds.doc

and hand it in to the ASSU Office in Sidney Smith, Room 1068 as soon as
possible.

Thank you,

Math Union Co-President