MathXTC News...

28th July 2008

School Record Smashed in Pi Competition..

Nisarg from year 8 stunned us all today at the secondary assembly where he recited Pi from memory to 1245 decimal places. The previous record was 400 digits held by Panashi Devchand in 2004. Nisarg Thakrar received a $50 gift voucher and his name entered into the record books. Congratulations to Nathan Main who managed an impressive 351 digits and second place.

Math XTC badges - Round 2 !!

The following students are to be congratulated on their outstanding results and commitment towards their mathematics education at St Stephen’s.

Year 8 (Red MathXTC Badge)

Jessica B, Shaun H, Will A, Aaron E, Ashling M, Emily P and Tessa N.

Year 9 (Purple MathXTC Badge)

Hannah B, Timothy B, Meagan W, Rachel B, Jenny O, Jasmin B and Callum I.

Year 10 (Green MathXTC Badge)

Samantha C, Jasraj S, Danvir C, Ella M, Josh B, Daniel F and Jeremy N.

Year 11 (Blue MathXTC Badge)

Shanae B, Lauren M, Poppy C, Sascha L, Alex H, Connaire D, Stephanie W, Petra C, Nathan M and Jacob A.

Year 12 (Black MathXTC Badge)

Brendan T, Sarah N, Lucy C, Elena S, Adam S, Brandyn F, Thomas C and Keith O.

MathXTC Extreme Badge (Limited Edition Metallic Blue and Gold Badge)

John D.


16th June 2008

Memorising Pi Competition

First Prize is a $50 shopping voucher for Whitfords City Shopping Centre.

Competition is open to all secondary students at SSS Carramar.

Final will take place at the Secondary Assembly beginning of Term 3.

19th May 2008

Math XTC badges - Round 1 !!

The following students are to be congratulated on their outstanding results and commitment towards their mathematics education at St Stephen’s.  The next round of Mathematics XTC badges will be awarded at the beginning of term 3.

Year 8 (Red MathXTC Badge)

Carina R, Minnette D, Kooper D, Nisarg T, Lachlan M, Simrat S and Dylan P.

Year 9 (Purple MathXTC Badge)

Joseph B, Liam D, Jason B, Ryan M, Alyse B, Bradley W, Jack E and Nathan H.

Year 10 (Green MathXTC Badge)

Emily T, Rachel L, Sina S, Alex S, Jason N, Victoria B, Louis B and Kate M.

Year 11 (Blue MathXTC Badge)

Adam T, Stephanie M, Emily G, Bhavisha D, Andrew B, Nathan M, Sam W, Lincoln E, Justin H and Kurt C.

Year 12 (Black MathXTC Badge)

Luke N, Nicole L, Ashleigh J, Jarryd B, Matthew R, Amanda O and Callum B.

MathXTC Extreme Badge (Limited Edition Metallic Blue and Gold Badge) - 4th MathXTC Badge.

Samantha B.

MathXTC Extreme Badge (Squared) (Limited Edition Metallic Red and Gold Badge) - 5th MathXTC Badge.

Sam D.

8th April 2008

Have Sum Fun 2008 Lower Secondary Results

Our lower secondary teams improved on last year’s results.  Team 1 came 21st out of 42 teams and Team 2 came 32nd.  We are all very proud of them. They achieved a pleasing result in a very challenging competition.  Well done Nisarg T, Lachlan M, Jessica B, Carina R, Ashley R, Liam D, Megan W, Lauren J, Alexandra T, Isaac M,  Larissa H and Kate M.

29th March 2008

Have Sum Fun 2008 Upper Secondary Results

A big congratulations to Tom C, Sam D, Nicolette D, Samantha B, Sascha L and Kurt C. The SSS Carramar team scored the 6th highest score along with St Hilda's ASFG. A total of 34 teams entered. The results can be seen below. Last night SSS Carramar scored an impressive 22 points. We really did have a lot of fun and continued our proud tradition of high achievement in this prestigious competition.

15th March 2008

Have Sum Fun 2008

The Have Sum Fun Competition 2008 is just around the corner.  The competition uses a “quiz night” format where teams of six students have to solve four rounds of eight problems within a time limit against other secondary schools from all over Perth. 

The enthusiasm from students wishing to enter this year’s competition has been over whelming.  I want to thank all those students who tried out for a spot on a team.  For the second time this year we will be entering two teams in the Lower Secondary Competition.

The Lower Secondary Teams for 2008 will come from:

Year 8:  Nisarg T, Lachlan M, Jessica B, Carina R and Ashley R.
Year 9:  Liam D , Megan W and Lauren J.
Year 10:  Alexandra T, Isaac M,  Larissa H and Kate M.

Competition Date:  Fri March 28th, 7.30 - 10 pm at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.

The Upper Secondary Team for 2008 will be:

Year 11:  Samantha B, Sascha L and Kurt C.
Year 12:  Thomas C, Samuel D and Nicolette D.

Competition date:  Fri April 4th , 7.30 - 10 pm at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.

May the force be with them !!

27th February 2008

Why is Easter so early this year?

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 23). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above information, Easter can be as early as March 22.  This is very rare.

Here's the interesting information.  This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see for the rest of our lives! Only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above). None of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here are the amazing facts:

• The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're
  95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for it).
  
  
• The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.
  So, no one alive today has or will ever see Easter any earlier than this year!

7th February 2008

The wait is over....Maths Club will recommence in Makaria on Wednesday Feb 20th, 3.30 to 4.30 pm.... Everyone is welcome to come along and get some help with their mathematics or just share in an afternoon of Mathematical XTC.....For more info visit our F.A.Q. Section.

11th December 2007

ClassPad 330 is coming to St Stephen's

On the 5th December 2007 the Curriculum Council of WA approved the next generation of graphic calculators for students to use in their year 12 mathematics examinations for 2010.

Consequently I have placed the Casio ClassPad 330 on the year 10 booklist for all year 10 students studying Mathematical Development or Mathematical Foundations in 2008. The aim is for students to use the ClassPad 330 over the next three years.

The ClassPad 330 is an advanced graphic calculator with CAS (Computer Algebra System) and a 160 x 240-dot LCD touch screen. It represents a major step up in calculator functionality from existing graphic calculators used this year in Western Australian Schools. For more information visit http://www.mathxtc.com/graphic.htm

10th December 2007

Mathematics Subject Award Winners 2007

Year 8
Mathematics Development: Blake D.
Mathematics Foundations: Rachel B.
Practical Mathematics: Matthew J.

Year 9
Mathematics Development: Kate M.
Mathematics Foundations: Niall O.
Practical Mathematics: Jeremy D.

Year 10
Mathematics Development: Samantha B.
Mathematics Foundations: Stephanie W.
Vocational Mathematics: Briony W.

Year 11
Geometry and Trigonometry: Callum B.
Introductory Calculus: Samuel D.
Foundations of Mathematics: Christopher D.
Mathematics in Practice: Diogo C.

Year 12
Applicable Mathematics: Callum S.
Calculus: Callum S.
Discrete Mathematics: Lauren N.
Modelling with Mathematics: Amy C.

30th October 2007

Well done Girls!!!

Samantha B, Sacha L and Kate M represented St Stephen's School Carramar in the Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad Competition held in August 2007.

The Mathematics Olympiad is organised by the Australian Mathematical Trust with only 931 entries across Australia.  Students who enter this competition need to be exceptional young mathematicians.  

Samantha achieved a Distinction and Sacha received a credit.  Outstanding!  Sascha and Samantha have consequently been invited to attend a Mathematics Extension program at UWA.  They attend this on Wednesday evenings with with Dr Greg Gamble.

20th September 2007

Samantha - Our Maths Super Hero!!

Samantha B scored the highest score in WA for the year 10 paper of the University of New South Wales International Competition and Assessment for Schools.  She scored 39 out of 40. An exceptional result for an international mathematics competition. She didn't just score the highest score in the school but topped the whole of WA for her age group. Sam (photographed below with our principal Dr Parkin) was presented with a medallion from the University of New South Wales, a framed certificate and a personal letter from Dr Parkin. Congratulations, Sam!

26th July 2007

Math XTC badges - Round 2 !!

The following students are to be congratulated on their outstanding results and commitment towards their mathematics education at St Stephen’s.  The next round of Mathematics XTC badges will be awarded at the beginning of term 2 next year.

Year 8 (Red MathXTC Badge)

Timothy B, Melissa M, Nathan H, Justin W, Adrienne L, Liam D and Codie S.

Year 9 (Purple MathXTC Badge)

Naomi G, Isaac M, Jessica R, Henry N, Cameron H, Mitchell P and Daniel W.

Year 10 (Green MathXTC Badge)

Samantha E, John D, Kaila H, Stephanie W, Aleisha B, Phillip A and Natasha K.

Year 11 (Blue MathXTC Badge)

Brandon D, Alison C, Keith O, Chloe R, Elena S, Amanda O, Nicole R and Callum B.

Year 12 (Black MathXTC Badge)

Madeline M, Laura M, Samuel W, Bianca N, Niamh M and Bayan H.

MathXTC Extreme Badge (Limited Edition Blue and Gold Badge)

Nigel G.

The University of NSW International Mathematics Competition 2007

Some of our students from years 8 to 10 achieved outstanding results when they participated in the University of New South Wales International Competition and Assessment for Schools.  This annual competition receives approximately 1.5 million entries across Australia and 12 other countries.  Our students received 56 Credits, 17 Distinctions and 1 High Distinction.

The following students achieved exceptional results:

Year 8 Distinctions
Hannah B and Joseph B.  
 
Year 9 Distinctions
Ben D, Alexandra T, Rachel L, Reece L, Jasraj S and Kate M.

Year 10 Distinctions
Sascha L, Savdeep K, Andrew B, Samuel B, Jacob A, Jake K, Lachlin B, Geoffrey G and Bhavisha D.   

Year 10 High Distinction
Samantha B.

11th May 2007

Today students were presented with their MathXTC badges and Have Sum Fun Certificates during our House assemblies. Congratulations to all. A special mention for Sam D, Callum S and Daniel C who are the first students to receive the MathXTC extreme badge. This is awarded to students who are due to receive their fourth MathXTC badge.

Have Sum Fun Certificates

Lower Secondary Team

Blake D, Hannah B, Liam D, Nikhil D, Alexandra T, Isaac M, Parveen B, John D, Kurt C, Lachlin B, Samantha B and Ryan G.

Upper Secondary Team

Nicolette D, Sam D, Tom C, Callum S, Nigel G and Spencer L.

MathXTC Badges - Round 1

Year 8

Shane P, Miloslav R, Hannah B, Jennifer S, Caroline H, Ben C and Darcy L.

Year 9

Niall O, Ben M, Alexandra F, Jenalee A, Rachael L, Sophie A and Kate M.

Year 10

Sam J, Tyler S, Rebecca B, Nicole K, Samantha B, Briony W, Sascha L and Sarah B.

Year 11

Leah M, Elly W, Nicolette D, Thomas C, Samuel D, Corrie B, Jayde F, Dylan L and Chris D.

Year 12

Michelle B, Rachael L, Tegan L, Lauren N, Josh S, Daniel C and Callum S.

24th March 2007

Have Sum Fun 2007 Upper Secondary Results

A big congratulations to Tom C, Sam D, Nicolette D, Callum S, Nigel G and Spencer L. The SSS Carramar team scored the 4th highest score out of 36 teams entered. Congratulations to Scotch College you came first with a score of 30 out of a possible 32, followed by Christ Church Grammer and Chisholm Catholic College with 25 points. SSS Carramar scored an impressive 23 points. We really did have a lot of fun and thanks to the year 12s for managing to keep going until 10 pm. They had just returned from their 3 day retreat in New Norcia so they were very tired. Way to go !!

15th March 2007

Have Sum Fun 2007

The Have Sum Fun Competition 2007 is just around the corner.  The competition uses a “quiz night” format where teams of six students have to solve four rounds of eight problems within a time limit against other secondary schools from all over Perth. 

The enthusiasm from students wishing to enter this year’s competition has been over whelming.  I want to thank all those students who tried out for a spot on a team.  For the first time this year we will be entering two teams in the Lower Secondary Competition.

The Lower Secondary Teams for 2007 will come from:

Year 8:
Hannah B, Nikhil D, Liam D and Blake D.

Year 9:
Alexandra T, Isaac M, Jasraj S and Parveen B.

Year 10:
Kurt C, Samantha B, John D and Lachlin B.

Competition Date:  Fri March 30th, 7.30 - 10 pm at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.

The Upper Secondary Team for 2007 will be:

Year 11:  Tom C, Sam D and Nicolette D.
Year 12:  Callum S, Nigel G and Spencer L.

Competition date:  Fri March 23rd, 7.30 - 10 pm at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.

May the force be with them !!

5th February 2007

Maths Club

Maths Club normally runs on a Wednesday Afternoon from 3.30 pm until 4.30 pm in the Makaria Building.

All students from years 8 to 12 are welcome to attend.

A number of maths teachers will attend to assist students with mathematical questions. We usually need two classrooms to cater for the number of students who wish to experience more MathXTC.

When Mathematics teachers have other commitments on a Wednesday afternoon like CAS Sport or Parent Teacher Evenings, Maths Club will not be on.

Maths Club will run on the following Wednesday's unless advised differently.

Term 1:
February 21 and 28
March 7, 14 and 21

Term 2:
April 25
May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
June 13, 20 and 27

Term 3:
Aug 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
Sep 5, 12, 19 and 26

Term 4:
October 24 and 31
November 14

20th January 2007

St Stephens School has recently purchased a 3 year school licence that enables our primary and secondary students to access www.mathletics.com.au. Mathletics was successfully trialled in our school last year.

Mathletics is an online mathematics learning community that is helping our students sharpen their mental arithmetic skills by enabling them to compete against other students around Australia in a fun and exciting way. This part of the web site is called Mathletics Live.

Mathletics also provides assistance with enhancing student understandings of the fundamentals taught in our mathematics classrooms. Excellent Interactive tutorials, quick tests, statisitical analysis, competitions, teacher and parent monitoring of student progress and homework etc.

Our school licence entitles students to access Mathletics 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Student access requires a username and password that students can obtain from their mathematics teacher.

10th December 2006

Mathematics Subject Award Winners 2006

Year 8
K Mallis

Year 9
Mathematics Development: S Barron
Mathematics Foundations: C Diggins
Practical Mathematics: J Cound

Year 10
Mathematics Development: N De Beer
Mathematics Foundations: Z Spire
Vocational Mathematics: C Reed

Year 11
Geometry and Trigonometry: C Shakespeare
Introductory Calculus: C Shakespeare
Foundations of Mathematics: K Blackmore
Vocational Mathematics: T Lamb

Year 12
Applicable Mathematics: Panashi D
Calculus: Panashi D
Discrete Mathematics: Alyce H
Modelling with Mathematics: Suzanne B

Congratulations !!!

18th November 2006

Way to Go, Melissa...

Melissa in year 10 has received an invitation to attend the 2006 Engineering Camp at the University of Western Australia. Melissa was selected from a large number of applications, all of a very high standard. We are very proud of her and wish her optimum mathematical XTC while she attends the camp during mid December.

28th October 2006

Congratulations to the following year 12 students who achieved subject awards in Mathematics.

Panashi D - Applicable Mathematics and Calculus
Alyce H - Discrete Mathematics
Suzanne B - Modelling with Mathematics

25th October 2006

Congratulations Nigel !

Nigel from year 11 has received an invitation from the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers to attend the thirty ninth National Mathematics Summer School at the Australian National University for two weeks in January 2007.

The NMSS is the oldest and most prestigious Summer School of its type in Australia. Nigel has been selected from amongst a particularly strong field of candidates. Nigel will be given the opportunity to study three or four areas of challenging mathematics within a "hands-on" context. The emphasis will be on mathematics extension and "doing" mathematics.

We wish him an enjoyable time in Canberra enriched with mathematical Ecstasy.

11th October 2006

The Baby Name Wizard

How does your name rate? Click here to find out. Lots of fun.

2nd October 2006

Recent Updates

The Neurological Nasties have been updated to include 5 more problem solving sheets. Other minor improvments have been made. Check them out here.

The infamous Crayfishing Game has been added. This is a simulation I have been using for 20 years in the classroom and my father, who is also a mathematics teacher, used something similar for 40 years. To begin cray fishing visit here.