Mathematics

RHYS KEMP

Head of Mathematics

Pure mathematics is the world’s best game. It is more absorbing than chess, more of a gamble than poker, and lasts longer than Monopoly. It’s free. It can be played anywhere – Archimedes did it in a bathtub.

– Richard J. Trudeau

Over the course of 2015 the boys at TSS have ‘played’ mathematics in a variety of forms and environments. All Year 8 maths classes attended an overnight stay at the outdoor education centre, Dux, at South Stradbroke Island. They had the opportunity to put their classroom knowledge into practice by completing a range of real-life immersive activities such as navigation, estimation, trigonometric calculations and spatial problem-solving.

Mathematical tasks in other year levels have included the investigation of average rainfall, water usage and consequent suitability of rainwater tanks (Year 9); Exchange rates and stock market investment (Year 10A); Using dominance matrices to predict outcomes of upcoming games in the NRL (Year 11C); What will result in the hottest cup of tea – Add milk and wait five minutes or wait five minutes and then add milk? Newton’s Law of Cooling (Year 12B); and designing the most economical bridge through a matrix manipulation of resolved vector linear equations (Year 12 Math C).

We continue to cater for boys with a variety of abilities. Maths Help sessions run on Thursday lunchtimes have provided individualised help on any topic a student is having difficulty with. The Upskills Program gave boys in Years 8 and 9 the chance to develop the fundamentals in organised, targeted afternoon sessions, and the after-school “Study Gym” sessions run in the Library were well attended. Our Naplan numeracy outcomes were again excellent. As a result of being identified as a school that considerably value adds, we recently had a researcher conduct interviews and observations as part of a national study on the teaching and learning of mathematics. TSS was runner-up at the Queensland Association of Math Teachers mathematical challenge Gold Coast division. Team A, comprising of Foster Lane (captain), Taisei Fujii and Vishaak Gangasandra, advanced through to the State Finals. Our second team – Alex Mills, Aidan Kitchin and Shaun Ledingham – also achieved very well on the night. Special thanks must go to Ms Robyn Gibson for facilitating the boys’ involvement in the annual event.

Boys are also entered into the Australian Maths Competition and our combined year-level results were well above the National average in each division. Over 40 countries enter the competition and it gives our boys a chance to demonstrate their ability on a global scale. Of the students who sat the test the following students were awarded High Distinctions for achieving in the top percentiles of the country: Year 7: Matthew Buckley, Zach Cirocco; Year 9: Judd Pilkington; Year 11: Jordan Chen, Liam Upfield, William Schwarer; Year 12: Zac Morrison, Ramil Nair. Prizes were awarded for placing in the top 0.3% of the country. This year we have three students who have received recognition for this remarkable achievement: Taisei Fujii, Foster Lane (Year 8) and Yinuo Han (Year 12). I offer my congratulations to these students.

The TSS Accelerated Mathematics Program caters for boys wishing to do their five years of secondary mathematics in four years, and we presently have one class in each year level being accelerated. Some of the Year 12 students have elected to use the extra time created to successfully complete two accredited first-year University mathematics subjects at Griffith University. Well done to these gentlemen on their diligence and dedication to their advanced studies.

In 2015 we welcomed Mr Adam Hellier into TSS and the Mathematics Department. Adam has brought a youthful exuberance to many aspects of TSS and has been instrumental in furthering the success of the department.

Finally, I thank everyone at TSS and particularly those in the Maths Department for their support and devotion to demonstrating the benefit and applications of mathematics and ultimately making 2015 a memorable and successful year.