Maths News
Students across the College have had a busy and engaging start to their Mathematics studies in 2026.
In Year 7, students have been exploring Number Properties and Patterns and will conclude the term by focusing on Fractions. A key literacy focus has been identifying the nouns commonly used in mathematics. Year 7 students are also currently completing their NAPLAN assessments, and we wish them every success as they demonstrate their numeracy skills.
In Year 8, students have been revising Algebra, including expanding, simplifying and factorising expressions. This work aligns with their literacy focus of recognising and understanding the role of parentheses in mathematical expressions.
In Stage 5, Year 9 students recently completed their study of Trigonometry and have now moved on to Financial Mathematics. They are currently exploring calculations involving wages, tax and simple interest—topics that provide great opportunities for discussion at home. Year 9 students are also completing their NAPLAN assessments during this time.
Year 10 students have been developing their understanding of more complex Algebra and will finish the term focusing on Measurement.
In Stage 6, Year 11 students are completing their first assessment task of the year, while Year 12 students continue to work hard as they prepare for the HSC later this year.
It has been a strong start to the year across all year levels, and we look forward to seeing students continue to develop their mathematical skills and confidence throughout the term.
Tomorrow, March 14th, is the day where Pi Day is celebrated across the world! This date, written as 3/14 (or 3.14), represents the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi (𝝅). The mathematics department will be celebrating Pi day this year on Friday 13th March.
Pi is an irrational number, meaning it cannot be expressed as the ratio of two whole numbers, and its digits never repeat. While pi’s true value is infinite, approximations like 3.14 or 22/7 are commonly used in everyday calculations, especially when working with circles. To 39 decimal places, pi is 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197.
As part of the celebration, a competition is being held where students are tasked with estimating the circumference of a circle drawn in the quad and submitting their answers via a Google Form. Winners will be announced next week!
A special thank you to our dedicated Mathematics teachers – Mr. Morris, Mrs. Panebianco, Mr. Seers, Mrs. Star, Mr. Kulkarni, Mrs Blanco, Mrs Dumbleton, Mr. Phillip, Mrs. Morrison, Mr. Symmes, and Mr. Forrest – for their continued support and hard work in guiding our students through their mathematical studies. Please do not hesitate to contact your classroom teacher if you have any concerns or questions regarding their mathematical studies!
Wendy Brooker and Belinda Aventi
Leaders of Learning for Mathematics