At John McGlashan this year, we have eleven staff teaching in the Mathematics Department.  A diverse and talented range of people, we are all passionate about mathematics.  Our goal is to install into the boys some enthusiasm and an enjoyment towards their mathematical studies.

 

JUNIOR SCHOOL

All courses follow the NZ curriculum, which has 5 strands:

• Number
• Algebra
• Measurement
• Statistics
• Geometry

 

Years 7 and 8

Students at the Year 7 and 8 level experience mathematics in homeroom environments and Numeracy classes.  To ensure the needs of all students are addressed, students are streamed into smaller numeracy classes for two periods a week, aside from homeroom mathematics.  In these classes they investigate number knowledge, strategies and exploration through hands on learning, and practice activities, with the benefit of low teacher to student ratios.  Students participate in mathletics, ICAS and the Problem Challenge, with the opportunity to compete in the Australian Mathematics Competition and for those very gifted boys the National Bank Mathematics Competition.

 

Years 9 and 10

In both of these years we expand on the skills taught in Years 7 and 8, and prepare the boys for NCEA.  In Year 9 the boys are taught in their form class, but in Year 10 we have an extension class and then three parallel classes.  The extension class has the opportunity to sit NCEA mathematics at the end of the year.  And the other three classes sit two internal achievement standards (Geometry and Measurement) and this has the advantage of making the Year 11 mathematics course more manageable and can concentrate on improving other valuable skills.

 

Year 11 and 12

Two courses are offered at each level.  The NCEA classes sit a combination of external and internal achievement standards.  The alternative mathematics class is a more practical course that concentrates on everyday skills.

 

Year 13

Two courses are offered. 

Statistics

This course provides a good general purpose mathematics course.  It is for students continuing in biological and social sciences, medicine, commerce, etc.

Calculus

This course provides a good basis for future study of science, engineering, surveying or economics at tertiary level.

 

IB

The IB course content has a combination of year 12 and 13 mathematics, and a few topics that are in first year university papers.  Unlike NCEA where very few formulas are to be tested and proved, a bit of all our topics have a nice proof component.

 

The New Zealand International Mathematical Olympiad

Training Selection Camp Feedback

Twenty four secondary school students throughout the country were selected to participate in the New Zealand International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) Training Camp in Christchurch during January.

 

Eric Kim and I fought onerously at the week long competition, from which the squad to represent New Zealand in the IMO was to be finalised.

 

Albeit.  John McGlashan performed with eager persistence; the ones selected also demonstrated excellent intellect with past experience.

 

I would personally acknowledge the Mathematics Department and the school for their contribution and support towards this prestigious event, and may the school continue to further enhance Mathematics intuition in the ensuing days to come.

 

By Cheng-Yueh Liu

NZIMO Residential Camp Participant

 

Important Dates

National Bank Competition                                             9^th April

 

Eton Senior Mathematics Competition                        22^nd May

Australian Mathematics Competition

Mathletics                                                                           4^th August

 

EXAMINATION DATES

NCEA Level 1                         Monday 24^th November - AM

NCEA Level 2                         Monday 24^th November - PM

NCEA Calculus                       Tuesday 18^th November - AM

NCEA Statistics                      Monday 24^th November - AM