By Mary O’KEEFE

CV Alliance and Rosemont Middle School invite community members to a special evening of math amazement and insight into the pre-teen mind.

That may sound like a large bill to fill, but Dr. Arthur Benjamin and Clay Roberts promise an evening that will be one to remember.

Benjamin is a world famous mathematician who combines his love of math and magic to amaze audiences while racing against calculators – not only in multiplication but in squaring numbers as well.

Rosemont counselor Karen Bomar had been attempting to get Benjamin to her school for quite some time.

“My husband is a member of the Magic Castle,” Bomar said of how they first heard of Benjamin. She admits to loving all things math and wanted a fun way to introduce this subject she enjoys so much to the students.

In addition to being a magician, Benjamin is a professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. He has performed his feats of math and magic on several television shows and national and international stages.

Rosemont has several programs that concentrate on specific subjects, for example Shakespeare in English. Bomar wanted to bring something for math.

“We have booked him all day long at Rosemont. He is presenting six times during the day,” Bomar said.

The students will be separated into six classes and will attend the performances throughout the day. Then at night, the entire community is invited to attend a performance at Crescenta Valley High School MacDonald Auditorium in the 4400 block of Ramsdell Avenue from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults. Funds go to support the school’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) program.

After the performance, all are invited to walk over to the CVHS library to listen to Clay Roberts share insights on the preteen life.

Roberts is an author and national speaker who has spoken at several events at CVHS. Recently he spoke and trained community members in the 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents.

“I have known Clay for at least eight years,” said Linda Evans, former CVHS principal and CV Alliance board member. “I appreciate his … ability to assist people in navigating adolescents.”

This time Roberts will be talking about the preteen, the fourth, fifth and sixth graders who are preparing for middle school.

“The decision to [talk about] the fourth, fifth and sixth graders came after we asked [parents and educators] what we could do as CV Alliance to help support the community,” Evans said.

The results of those questions, especially with middle and high school counselors, was a way to help parents deal with this awkward age of growing up and help kids understand what they are going through.

“They are [growing up] but still need parent support and guidance,” Evans said.

Roberts will cover issues including how to keep the lines of communication open and how parents can approach their children on a variety of issues. There will be a question and answer period as well.

The event is free and is from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. An added incentive is extended to elementary schools from CV Alliance. Those schools that have the highest attendance rate at the event will win a $250 cash price for their school.

Although the focus will be on elementary school age students, all ages are invited.

For more information on Clay Roberts or CV Alliance visit cv-alliance.org. And to get a glimpse of Dr. Arthur Benjamin visit

www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_does_mathemagic.

  Mary Okeefe