And They’re Off!  KES Mathletes Write the First Round of Year-Long Contests

On Wednesday, November 15, 40 students from Grades 9 to 12 challenged themselves with the first of many math contests administered by the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC). You could hear a pin drop in the Stanfield Dining Hall as the mathematical minds went to work. The Canadian Intermediate Math Contest was written by students in Grades 9 and 10, while the Canadian Senior Math Contest was written by students in Grades 11 and 12. It's worth noting that these contests extend far beyond local borders, attracting participants from around the globe. Everyone who participates in these contests benefits from the problem-solving enrichment opportunity. Students are marked not just on their correct answer, but also on their ability to craft a clear and logical solution. 

In preparation for this thrilling competition, we had a delightful "Pizza and Problems" afternoon in my classroom last Friday, specially designed to prime the Grade 9 students for the upcoming contest. Another avenue for sharpening skills ahead of these competitions is to enroll in the University of Waterloo's Problem of the Week. There are questions at four different difficulty levels, and printed copies of these problems are available outside Mr. Kershaw’s and Mrs. Dufour’s classrooms.

We look forward to hearing the results of these contests from the University of Waterloo early in the new year. Until then, we will continue to enjoy many mathematical challenges in the classroom and beyond.