Mathematics In Maths we have tried to encourage students to enjoy and become actively involved with their studies. There have been a number of opportunities for students to engage further in their interest and development in this subject. Early in the year, the PAC was converted into a small ‘World of Maths’. When the Year 7 students stepped inside, they were amazed by the variety of activities and games available to them. The boys enjoyed the stimulation of thinking laterally to solve problems, with many of the activities being very “hands on”. The Westpac Maths Competition was held on the 4th of August and the results were excellent. In Year 7, there were 66 Credits, 11 Distinctions and 1 High Distinction; in Year 8 there were 45 Credits, 10 Distinctions and 1 High Distinction; and in Year 9 there were 51 Credits and 11 Distinctions. Top scores in the school were achieved by Eugene Twomey, Lachlan Cook, Cailin Wrigley, Matthew Herbstreit, Ryan Gallagher, Vincent Ho, Jack Murray, Justin Calache, Matthew Warr, and Xavier Pattison. An outstanding effort! Two teams, coached by Mrs Manuel, went to Penleigh Essendon Grammar to compete against many other schools in a day of problem solving. The boys – Anthony Bogbadi, Vincent Ho, James Chaplin, George KK, Adrian Pappamiltides, Joel Boardman, Jack Gialamatzis and Alex Kydd– enjoyed the day immensely and returned to school with some new problem solving strategies to try in class. During Maths week the quiz questions in the daily bulletin had many students puzzling over possible solutions and vying for prizes. Lachlan Pezet, Sam Heatley
and Michael Draga were successful. Well done – a terrific effort. Also during Maths week, Ms Graham and I ran the De La Maths Challenge. It was an afternoon of mind teasing, brain-stretching activities. Eight teams, each consisting of 2 Year 7s, 2 Year 8s and 2 Year 9s from each homeroom competed against each other. The winning team was from Jerome, with the Hegarty boys being very close behind with a difference of only half a point. The Jerome team consisted of Darcy O’Brien, Nick Husek, Anthony Boghadi, Tom Donaghey and Chris Dunne. Congratulations! All boys who participated deserve to be commended on their enthusiastic and eager approach to the challenge offered to them. It was tremendous to see the boys working cooperatively; sharing their ideas and encouraging and supporting each other in order to come to a solution as a team together. Year 7 students were involved in a poster competition. Many students designed and produced colourful and creative posters with some interesting information about maths in the everyday world. Fantastic work from these boys, especially David De Fazio, Ari Kanoupis, Lachlan Cook, Luke Henrique Gomes, Tim Howard, Craig Sutton, Lee White and Alessandro Formica. Ms Dianne Byers Maths Coordinator
Angus McInnes — Our Mathemagician! The product of a ‘natural ability to explore numerical ideas’ has helped Angus, a current Year 10 student, to achieve an Academic Award in Year 12 Mathematical Methods this year. The sum of his work in Mathematics this year adds to his earlier prize and ‘High Distinction’ in the Australian Westpac Mathematics Competition and his ‘Credit’ in the Australian Mathematical Olympiad. During the Term 1 break, Angus was also invited to attend the Australian Infomatics Team Selection Trials in Canberra. The sum of all this work equates to an enriching experience as Angus competes mathematically against others in both Australian and South East Asia. We congratulate Angus on all his achievements and wish him continued success with his studies. Mr Frank Goricanec Mathematics Coordinator (Kinnoull Campus)
