New to Crescent this year, Grade 6 student Terence Chung was quickly recognized by his teacher Mr. Cranston as having a considerable gift for mathematics and an aptitude for problem solving. Wanting to keep Terence challenged, Mr. Cranston helped this young math whiz sharpen his skills in the classroom, but also directed Terence upstairs to the Upper School Math Club. Under the guidance of Upper School faculty member Mr. Pintilie, Terence worked on a number of Grade 9 math questions quickly and accurately. But more importantly, Terence was enthusiastic. It only seemed fitting then that the young student challenge himself further by participating in the University of Waterloo’s math contests that the School participates in annually each February. Suitable for Terence’s participation was the Grade 9 Pascal Math Contest. Terence is Crescent’s first Grade 6 student to enter a Grade 9 contest, and not only did he hold his own, but Terence obtained a certificate of distinction. Now that is a record that will stand for a very long time! In March, Terence competed in the Canadian National Mathematics League Contest for Grade 6 students and placed second in Canada with a score of 34/35.
Upper School faculty member Jeff Lee continues to contribute to the field of astrophysics. He was recently made a member (Adjunct Theoretical Physicist) of the Early Universe Cosmology and Strings Research Group at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and has two speaking engagements coming up. Jeff has been invited to speak at the National Space Society’s 33rd International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles this month, and in Houston at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in August at its Innovation Lecture Series.
On the last weekend of February Crescent hosted FIRST’s Greater Toronto West Regional Robotics Competition in Crescent’s Field House. The competition was unique for two reasons—it was the first time a high school had hosted, and it was the first time a world champion team had hosted. Thirty schools competed over three days in this year’s Aerial Assist challenge. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Crescent School… and our Team 610 didn’t “go home” disappointed. With alliance partners 1310 (Runnymede CI) and 5076 (J Clarke Richardson CI from Ajax), Crescent’s Team 610 won the competition! Our Robotics Engineer Rob Stehlik was awarded the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award for Mentoring (won by Crescent faculty member Don Morrison last year). In addition, Team 610 also won the FIRST Robotics Competition Quality Award.
Past and Present
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Spring 2014
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