The Mathematics Department at Rutherford High School provides a strong college preparatory curriculum that readies our graduates for the challenges of the 21st century.
All course curriculum is carefully aligned with both the New Jersey Core Content Standards and the NCTM Standards. Every course contains work specifically designed to prepare our students for standardized testing. Strategies for solving both multiple choice type questions and open-ended mathematics questions are infused into coursework at all levels.
Entering freshmen may be recommended for Honors Geometry, Geometry or Algebra 1, based on their achievement, standardized test results, and the recommendations of their eighth grade teachers. They will continue on to complete four years of mathematics as required by the Board of Education, including Algebra 2, PreCalculus, and College Mathematics.
Honors and Advanced Placement
Students who have demonstrated high matheatics achievement are invited at the end of the junior year to take Advanced Placement Calculus. This course prepares students to take the College Board’s AP Test that can gain them college credit for work done in high school.
Technology
Technology use is integrated into the entire mathematics curriculum. All students should purchase calculators to be used throughout their four years in high school, in math classes, science classes, and in many other disciplines. Recommended calculators are Texas Instruments TI83+ TI84, TI89 or TI30. A classroom set of calculators is available in all mathematics classrooms; however these are to be used during class only.
The importance of proper calculator use is stressed by using problems designed to determine whether mental math, paper and pencil math or the calculator is appropriate. Software packages such as The Geometer’s Sketchpad are used for discovery and exploration of concepts and analysis of data. The Smartboard is used in several mathematics classrooms as well.
Extra Curricular
The Math Department sponsors a team of students who participate in the Bergen County Math League competitions. A group of about fifteen selected students from Honors and AP classes compete with other mathematics students from the county in six meets, where problems are individually solved and scored. Awards are given for top scoring students in the county, in our group, and in each school.
Math Department Supervisor
Mrs. Alison Heinzel is the district Mathematics and Science Supervisor. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics from Susquehanna University and A Master of Arts in Student Personnel Services from Montclair State University. She has worked in Rutherford for twenty years, teaching all levels of Mathematics as well as several Computer Programming courses.
Math Teachers
Mr. Richard Blanchard
Mr. Nicholas DeBari
Mrs. Deborah DeLia
Mr. Steve Dunn
Mr. Edward Guy
Mrs. Alison Heinzel (Supervisor)
Mr. Michael Mayerczak
Mrs. Lynda Meredith
Ms. Danica Miller
Mrs. Margaret Nastasi
Mrs. Karen Travellin
Mr. Joseph Wells
Ms. Stephanie Smallstey
Classes We Offer
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
AP Calculus *
College Mathematics
Geometry
Honors Algebra 2
Honors Calculus
Honors Geometry
Honors PreCalculus
PreCalculus
Probability and Statistics
*In Advanced Placement classes, college credit may be awarded to students.
