campus notes MATH TEAM WINS STATE NH-SMASH COMPETITION squarely in the middle of the pack, but an absolutely amazing essay round put us back on the map.” Ultimately, Derryfield ended the competition ahead of the rest, with 212 points to second place’s 175 and third place’s 155. Mr. Chang adds “Amery Jiang scored 32 points on her own (perfect score is 36) and tied with four others across the divisions for a first place individual award. Zach Levell, Shuting Zhang, and Kate Jiang were part of a large group of 26 students who received second place awards.”
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he Derryfield School Math Team emerged victorious at the State NH-SMASH (New Hampshire Southern Mathematics Association of Senior Highs) competition on March 15 at Plymouth State University. Coach Harley Chang proudly shared, “It was a glorious day for the Derryfield Math Team as we edged out nine other schools to become the Small Division (Division IV) State Champions!"
Having placed second at the regional NH-SMASH competition on March 2, the team went into competition with high energy and confidence. The NH-SMASH league consists of five meets. The Derryfield math team consistently performed well at these competitions of thinking and computing math aficionados. The contest is attended by 21 schools split into three divisions of seven schools each.
He continued, "It seemed unlikely after the team round, which came first and put us
Each competitor chooses three of five topics and high total points win, so having a full
team is to one's advantage. Led by captains and seniors Amery Jiang, Margaret and Zach Levell, and Shuting Zhang, other members of the team that competed for the second place NH-SMASH win included: Angela Xu, Crystal Xie, Kate Jiang, Selina Zhu, and Colin Lawless. Those competing in the State meet were: Amery Jiang, Margaret and Zach Levell, Angela Xu, Shuting Zhang, Jack Miron, Kate Jiang, Selina Zhu, and Colin Lawless. More great news! Five of the Derryfield team members received a perfect score on a single subject—more than any other school in the division: Zhiqiao Jiang, Wanchen Jiang, Zachary Levell, and Peiluo Xu in Algebra 2; and Shuting Zhang in Geometry. The team looks forward to building on their successes under the direction of Coach Chris Induni. Juniors Kate Jiang and Selina Zhu will serve as captains for the 2016-2017 academic year.
THE LASTING IMPACT OF TRAVEL
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any Derryfield alumni recall participating in an international trip during their time here, but Derryfield’s formal global program is only seven years old. The program was created with the following objectives: increase global learning through the curriculum; enhance student diversity through enrolling a small group of international students; provide opportunities to learn about the world; increase world language proficiency; and provide volunteer opportunities through trips and exchanges. Currently, 30% of the student population participates in a global program each year, with half of last year’s graduating class having experienced one or more trips. The 2015-2016 trips included: Washington, D.C. Politics & Culture (middle school), Habitat for Humanity, North Carolina (upper school),
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Spain Language Immersion & Culture (upper school), Island School Research & Sustainability (upper school), and South Africa Cape Town & Durban Exchange (upper school). Of course we want students to have fun while participating in these programs. We also want them to have experiences that deepen their understanding of the people, culture, and language, and/or make a contribution through service work. In a small city in Romania, our students had an unplanned meeting with a Holocaust survivor, who shared her story of surviving two concentration camps, losing friends and family, and life in Romania after World War II. These and other encounters give our student travelers a perspective they would never have as a regular tourist. Sometimes the experiences our students have while traveling are a planned part of
the itinerary, and sometimes they are the result of taking advantage of a moment or an opportunity. For example, our Nepal trekking and service trip always includes physicians who set up clinics in two remote villages. On one Nepal trip, a student assisted with a procedure to clean and suture a deep cut on a toddler. The physician had the supplies to perform the procedure, but no anesthetic was available. This (and other experiences on the trip) led the student toward an international career path, and a lasting connection with the country. Another student’s experience assisting with amphibian research in the Amazon led her to study zoology in college; and another student's Semester at Sea adventure inspired her to pursue the Peace Corps.