BISS Puxi recently hosted the Nord Anglia Regional Mathematics Challenge, a two-day competition involving several of our International and Bilingual schools in China. The event featured a Primary (Years 5 and 6) and Secondary (Years 7 and 8) section, each with a range of problem-solving questions, puzzles and challenges, as well as an individual question paper for students to attempt.
Alongside our two BISS Puxi teams, there were teams in attendance from our sister schools in Shanghai, NACIS and NAS Pudong, as well as students from Beijing Fangshan School, Guangzhou Panyu and Dalian American International School. Over eighty students took part in teams of four working against the clock to solve problems, challenges and puzzles. They had to rely on their intuitive mathematical ability as well as their teamwork skills to correctly answer as many questions as possible. The event featured a special round of questions focused on the mathematical constant π (Pi), to celebrate International Pi Day which is held every year on 14 March.
BISS Puxi was delighted to once again host a Regional Mathematics Challenge and the Mathematics Department very much enjoyed seeing so many students visit the campus. Mr. Ian Robertson, Dr Lily Lin and Mrs. Helisna Fasman of the Mathematics teams in Primary and Secondary coordinated the event, supported by several staff throughout the school.
The competition was launched on the morning of Friday 15 March, with our Regional Managing Director, Dr Terry Creissen, in attendance alongside our Principal, Mr. Andrew Lancaster. Also dropping in on the day’s fun were our Vice Principal and Head of Secondary, Mr. Andrew Joy, and our Head of Primary, Mr. Peter Anderton. Both were delighted to see so many talented young people taking on the difficult challenges and noted the energy in the room, ‘The buzz around the maths challenge and problem solving in the room was palpable. Students adapting their approaches each time new elements were added proved the strength of their application, skills and understanding.’
With trophies and medals to be won for third, second and first place in both the Years 5 and 6, and the Years 7 and 8 categories, the competition to get the correct answers was intense, meaning that it went right down to the fifth and final round to decide the eventual winners! In Years 5 and 6 it was NACIS who emerged victorious, with their teams taking first and second place. Guangzhou Panyu took the third spot to earn their bronze medals. In the senior section, NACIS shone again by claiming the bronze and silver medals - what an impressive group of young mathematicians! However, it was our very own BISS Puxi team who claimed the gold, winning the title by a very narrow margin and keeping the trophy here in Shanghai. Yuhan Shi, Henry Wang, David Song and team captain Angel Hao, all Year 8 students were delighted with their win, and we are very proud of them all. Every student who took part deserves a huge amount of credit, including our Years 5, 6 and 7 students who also competed.
Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Joy were on hand at the closing ceremony to hand out medals and congratulate all of the teams and their teachers for their hard work over the two days. Mr. Joy said, ‘It was a great two days – fantastic work by all the students from the different schools. I was impressed by their engagement and enthusiasm for the event.’ While our Principal, Mr. Lancaster said, ’It was a wonderful opportunity for students from across our Nord Anglia schools in China to come together in this celebration of all things mathematical. My congratulations to all participants and I hope that they will take many good memories from this immersive residential experience.’
Our teachers aim to demonstrate their passion for Mathematics and to inspire that passion in our students. We enjoy challenging our young mathematicians, both in lessons and at events such as this one, to foster their talent and inspire them to ask deeper questions about the world around them. Our network of schools across China helps us to bring a wide and diverse range of students together to celebrate their common interests and solve problems collaboratively.
All subjects at BISS look to celebrate their students’ successes and to let their achievements inspire their peers. In Mathematics, our brilliant young mathematicians who engage with activities such as the Nord Anglia Regional Challenge help to show all of our students just how much fun there is in learning!
