News release: On April 12, Widdifield’s Grade 12 students wrote the University of Waterloo Euclid Mathematics contest and placed first in Zone 63 for the third year in a row.
Mackenzie Willis earned the highest mark, Pranav Ratra was fourth and Ally Fraser was fifth. Widdifield has placed first in Zone 63 four out of the last five years. Zone 63 includes all of the local high schools from just north of Huntsville all the way past Cochrane.
On May 6, Widdifield grade 11 and 12 students won the Nipissing University Senior Mathematics competition for the ninth year in a row. The team consisted of Luke Cooper, Marcus Hlady, Pranav Ratra, Ally Fraser, Sumaya Mehareen, Alyssa Randall, Mackenzie Willis, Mike Bowes, Jordan Carlson, Ryan Zamperoni, Talia Preston, Paige Moir, Emily Redhead, Isaac Robinson, Dominique Daniels, Raza Ahmed, and Sarah Irwin.
Six local high schools sent teams; Widdifield won the competition by 26 points. The Nipissing University Senior Mathematics competition is a team event that emphasizes working together to solve complex problems which are not included in the day-to-day teaching of mathematics. This year’s event was organized by Mr. Burns, a Widdifield teacher.
Mrs. Irini Clelland, a mathematics teacher at Widdifield, believes that math is an international language that opens many doors. “It has been well documented, for a few years, now, that Ontario will be short of workers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).”
With the right support, attitude and hard work, math can be a fun subject that can be understood by even those without natural mathematical talents. As shown by the most recent contest results, teachers at Widdifield really believe this to be true.
