We have had another busy and rewarding year so far in the Mathematics and Statistics Faculty. It is great that so many students have developed their mathematical and statistical reasoning in a wide range of contexts.

Numeracy Co-requisite: Both the Numeracy CAA sittings for 2024 went much more smoothly than last year with no NZQA server meltdowns, thank goodness! Cashmere High School had approximately 200 seniors sitting in Term 2 and then 600 Year 10 and senior students sitting in Term 3. To support our ākonga we had a Numeracy focus in some classes, extra Numeracy preparation tutorials timetabled for others, and a faculty wide programme in place for our Year 10s. We are continually looking for ways to improve our students' Numeracy results and have recently received funding for a new Year 12 class to work towards success in their Numeracy Co-requisite. It’s great that so many of our students will have the Numeracy Co-requisite before starting Level 1 next year.

Cantamath: The annual regional Cantamath competition was held in late August. Cashmere High School was very well represented by a group of top mathematicians from Year 9 and 10. All teams performed well, with most finishing inside the top 20 out of around 60 teams in each competition. A special mention to the Year 10 teams, all three managed to score a very respectable 75 points, out of a possible 100. A great effort!

Mathematics Competitions 2024: Well done to all students who have taken part in the various Mathematics competitions this year. The first round of the Otago Junior Mathematics Competition in Term 1 for students in years 9 to 11 was online. Top students  were then invited to sit the written assessment, round 2, in Term 2. In Year 9, Sebastian Lee gained a Distinction certificate, while in Year 10 Finley Macfarlane gained a Top 30 placing, an awesome achievement.

In the Kiwi Mathematics Competition (run by the University of Canterbury), Sebastian Lee from Year 9 gained an Excellence award as did Finley Macfarlane from Year 10.

The Senior Mathematics Competition, run by the New Zealand association of Mathematics’ teachers, can be sat individually or as a team. Rosara Ward, James Cropp and Luca Fear-Ross (all year 13 Calculus students) entered as a team. They correctly answered a significant part of the challenging question paper with creditable results. We look forward to students continuing to take up this opportunity.

The New Zealand Maths Olympiad is another competition available to students. Two of our Year 10’s took part with Arina Zakharchenko making it through to the second stage of the competition.

The AMC (Australian Mathematics Competition) is held in Term 3. Year 9 students, Sebastian Lee and Frida Corin, and Year 10 students, Arina Zakharchenko and Finley Macfarlane, each received Distinction awards.

Also during Term 3 is the ICAS Competition for Mathematics. Results have not yet been released.

Thank you to all those students who participated in these competitions. We look forward to seeing you again next year.

Tutorials: Seniors are reminded about the tutorials that will be available during study leave in preparation for the external examinations. These tutorials will take place in the breakout space at the top of S Block throughout the day. All students are encouraged to take advantage of the weekly lunchtime tutorials in S5.

Important Information for Junior Students: The junior examinations take place in week 5. Both Year 9 and Y10 students will sit an e-asTTle test and a second test. More information will be coming out early in Term 4 from individual class teachers.

Prefects and Ambassadors: A huge thanks to our Mathematics and Statistics prefects and ambassadors for their many contributions, in particular for helping out at weekly tutorials, assisting teachers in junior classes and helping at Open Day. Your commitment and enthusiasm are appreciated by all our students.

We wish all our students the very best for the end-of-year examinations.