The Mathematics and Statistics Faculty have enjoyed another year in our newly built S-Block, which allows for flexibility in the teaching and learning of our subject, with comfortable breakout spaces ideal for individual study, or small group extension work. The staff have strived to provide a rich teaching and learning environment, in which the progress of each student is our focus. Open Day provided us with the opportunity to showcase our learning space and engage with new students in fun mathematical and statistical contexts.

A Peer Tutoring programme was organized by Ms Abigail Whitewood-Nikau, in which Year 12 students volunteered to help a group of Year 9 students in areas they found challenging. These Year 9’s have benefitted greatly from this initiative. Weekly lunchtime tutorials have also been instrumental to provide extra support for students in all year levels. We welcomed Mrs Amanda Davis to the faculty in Term 2, and we congratulate Mrs Amy Hooper on the birth of her daughter.

Students have the opportunity to take part in four different Mathematics competitions throughout the year. For each one a small and enthusiastic group of students from Years 9 to 11 entered. First up was the Junior Otago Mathematics Competition. This is for students in Years 9 to 11. Students sit an online part in Term 1, and results from that determine who is invited to sit a paper assessment early in Term 2. In year 9, Fergus Macdonald, Finley Macfarlane, Elliott O’Brien and Mingyan Yang all gained a Distinction certificate. In Year 10, Zhimo Wang and Maggie Yang both gained a Distinction certificate. Next was the Kiwi Maths Competition (run by the University of Canterbury). Finley Macfarlane and Elliott O’Brien from Year 9 each were awarded Excellence certificates. Grace Billings from Year 10 also gained an Excellence certificate. The Australian Mathematics Competition was held in Term 3. Year 9 students Fergus Macdonald and Elliott O’Brien received Distinction awards. Year 10 students Zhimo Wang and Maggie Yang both gained Distinction awards. Towards the end of Term 3 was the ICAS competition for Mathematics. Results have not yet been released.

The annual regional Cantamath competition was held in August. Cashmere High School was superbly represented again by a group of top mathematicians from Year 9 and 10. All teams performed well, finishing inside the top 20 out of around 60 teams in each competition. A special mention to the Year 10 team of Zhimo Wang, Maggie Yang, Hayato Arnold and Isaac Jackson who managed to score 95 points, out of a possible 100, and finish in 3rd place. An outstanding effort!

As we transition to the new changes in NCEA in 2024, we have continued to participate in the new Numeracy common assessment activity digital examination. Last year 83% of Year 10 students passed the assessment and therefore began Level 1 with their NCEA Numeracy requirements completed. This year the Mathematics and Statistics department have worked hard to best prepare our current Year 10 students for the digital examination early in Term 4. There will also be some Year 11 students who will re-sit the assessment who have been having ongoing support via weekly Numeracy classes with Mrs Tucker.

Throughout 2023, Cashmere has been involved in piloting the new Level 1 Mathematics and Statistics achievement standards. Although the content is much the same as what has been taught at this level in the past, the new structure has allowed for much more cross-strand work within our teaching and learning programmes. Problem solving that requires skills from multiple areas within the Mathematics and Statistics curriculum leads to more authentic and interesting applications. Although we will continue to develop our programmes to best suit the ākonga of Cashmere High School, being part of the pilot has certainly given us a head start with the implementation of these new standards and allowed use to share our knowledge with other schools as they look forward to 2024.

We are grateful to the Mathematics and Statistics prefects for their commitment and dedication to assist at tutorials regularly each week, as well as being involved in Open Day, and other areas within the faculty.

We wish all our students the very best as they prepare for the NCEA external examinations.