NEWSLETTER 12 FEBRUARY 2017

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1 NEWSLETTER 12 FEBRUARY 2017 Mathematics Strategy: 2017 & Beyond Teaching and Learning Events and Functions Farewell Welcome Issue 11 (December 2015), included information on the redesign of the Hilton College Mathematics Syllabus and Learning & Teaching methodology. A year down the line this has further evolved into the strategy depicted below.

2 We have designed the Grade 8 and Grade 9 learning programmes in a modular format which allows for greater indepth study and more opportunity to master the skills specific to each of the modules. The end result would be the integration of these skills through flexible knowledge of the content. Teaching and Learning will also take the form of Whole-Group Sessions, Collaborative Learning and Individual Learning. This will vary with smaller-group and class-group activities. All concepts will be consolidated and assessed in classes. The subject Mathematics will be used as the platform that will facilitate 21st Century SkillsDevelopment. We will pay particular attention to developing the following skills: Collaboration, Teamwork, Creativity, Imagination, Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving. Our aim is to develop our boys into Leaders, Problem-Solvers, Inventors and Innovators. The focus at Grade 10 Level would be Thinking Mathematics. The contexts and underlying skills taught would include that of Problem Solving and Critical Thinking. The focus at this level would be to consolidate and prepare our boys for the Grade 12 National Examination. The intention here would be to offer them the best possible training and hence the opportunity to study their preferred course at Tertiary Level.

3 The drive to emphasise Thinking Mathematics was also the underlying theme that the Hilton Mathematics Teachers encouraged, through the presentations offered at the IEB National Conference. Dali Ndebele opened the proceedings with Mathemagix. He had the 500 delegates kept busy with lateral thinking activities and demonstrated the power of the mind in terms of mental mathematics. Paul de Wet offered the Key Note talk and addressed delegates on a variety of topics, all of which aiming to enhance teaching and learning of Mathematics. Charmaine Padayachee offered some insights and methodology to teaching Probability. Lionel Julius offered some alternate approaches to teaching and learning through activities and collaborative work. Tim Mills maintained the delegates interest through offering a new method in teaching Integration in Advanced Programme Mathematics. I concluded the IEB National Conference with the Grade 12 Examiners report. My advice to the IEB Schools was that they needed to teach for understanding with problem-solving and thinking being driven through the Mathematics Curriculum. I also unveiled the 3D shape, created especially for the 2016 Final Examination. I have named this shape the CUSPHERE.

4 The Support and Enrichment offering has once again been re-strategised. We are now offering evening lessons weekly. They take place as follows: Grade 8 on Tuesdays, Grade 9 on Wednesdays and Grade 10 on Thursdays from 18:30 to 19:30. The Grade 11s and Grade 12s will be assisted by the class teacher in Term 1 and 4. Special sessions will be offered in Term 2 and Term 3. CAMI Mathematics (our electronic tutor system) will continue to be offered to our boys for Enrichment and Support outside of the time mentioned above. This course is running for the second year and has proven to be an educationally sound option that replaces Mathematics in Grade 10. This course of offered to pupils who have had a history of poor results in Mathematics. It involves the strengthening of basic numerical and spatial skills required to function effectively in society. The National Benchmark Tests administered by Tertiary institutions assessing Mathematics and English skills. It is a multiple choice test which covers the Grade 12 syllabus. We will offer a Training Session once again this year for the Grade 12s. Mr Tim Mills has created a bank of Video Lessons covering Grade 10, 11 and 12 Mathematics Topics. These are especially useful for pupils who have missed school but have proven to be an excellent revision tool. We have named this Mills Academy and is available on the Hilton College Moodle site. We built in lessons specifically dealing with Studying and Thinking Techniques. Mr Ndebele who is a presenter for Thinking Schools SA designed the content which intentionally makes thinking explicit. This enables us to probe and effectively understand pupils thinking process. They were also given strategies to retain concepts and study effectively. This will be incorporated in the 2017 and Beyond Mathematics Strategy. Dali Ndebele and Prof. Jansen at a Thinking Schools SA Presentation in Cape Town

5 The Annual Mathematic Experience Event took place at the Theatre on the 21st July This event has been hosted by Hilton College for over 20 years where KZN Schools are invited to a lecture and presentations. Approximately 480 guests from 15 schools attended. The Guest Speaker was Mr Thomas Hagspihl. He was a Mathematics teacher at Hilton College, Director of Mathematics at St Stithians College, Headmaster at Elkanah House, Director of Mathematics at St Andrew s College and more recently, Headmaster of Durban Girls College. His talk was entitled: Mathematics - Beauty and Elegance. Over Southern African high school pupils participated in the Maths Olympiad and we were proud to announce that 80 of our Junior Boys (Grade 8 and 9) and 113 of our Senior Boys (Grade 10, 11 and 12) were awarded a qualification into the second Round of the Olympiad. In Round 1, Our Top achiever in the Senior Category was Mitchell Green who obtained 95%. In the Junior Category Thomas de Beer obtained 95% in the Grade 9 Paper and Avumile Mcunu obtained 90% in the Grade 8 Paper. They were commended on this outstanding achievement. In Round 2, Only 100 candidates are accepted into Round 3 of the Olympiad from all Southern African Schools and we were very proud to announce that Shingai Mashonga and Thomas Little were selected into that Top 100. The outreach initiatives included workshops with the Vulu - Vuma Teachers offered by Tim Mills, Dali Ndebele, Paul de Wet and Prav Iyer. Lessons were also offered to Grade 12 pupils at Fundokuhle Secondary in Imbali.

6 Paul de Wet presented at the Proudly Primary Conference held at Cowan House in August He addressed the delegates on the skills needed by a Grade 7 leaver to make a success of high school maths. The tour party included 63 boys and 6 staff. We visited Italy, Switzerland and France. Some of the highlights included visits to the Italian New Technologies and Energy Institute, Guided tour of Ostia Antica focusing on science and mathematics of the Roman Empire, Museo Galileo in Florence, Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory in Florence, Ferrari museum in Maranello, National museum of science and technology in Milan, ICT discovery centre in Geneva, CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Musée Ampere - Museum of Electricity in Lyon, Garden of Sciences and Jardin Botanique in Dijon, Louvre museum in Paris. Mathematics and Science At Hilton, Silva formed the first football club in 1997 and this has grown over the years. He was Master-in-Charge from 1997 until He coached first team football for 13 years, cricket for 19 years and was Master-in-Charge of Cross Country from 1997 until Silva has a son who matriculated from Hilton College in 1998 and now specialises in IT and a daughter who practices Law. We wish Silva all the best in his retirement. Silva Pillay joined the Mathematics Department at Hilton College in Prior to this, he taught Mathematics at Woodlands Secondary from 1977 until He then took up a post as Head of Mathematics at Heather Secondary where he worked until his appointment at Hilton College. Silva has been a passionate Mathematics Teacher with a teaching strategy that has always been successful. His experience included being one of the Mathematics Paper 2 National Examiners for the Department of Education from 1994 to He was also a Senior Sub-Examiner for the IEB for the last 10 years of his career.

7 Mathematics Fun Day with the Grade 9s (Friday, 12 August) To instil a passion for the subject, the Mathematics Department ran a fun day with the Grade 9s. The boys competed as House teams. The day's events included Toothpick Puzzles, Cracking the Code, Scavenger Hunt, Tessellating Patterns and ended with a Mocktail Ratio Challenge. The winning House was Falcon and the winner of the Spirit Award was Lucas. The Hilton College Mathematics Department will host a National Conference on 2nd June. The theme of the Conference will be: 21st Century Skills The conference will deal with teaching and learning philosophy and methodology. Practical implementation and resources will be shared. Mr James Bullough has joined the Mathematics Department. We also welcomed two new Mathematics Interns, Ninga Mohlabe and Simanga Mbelu. P. Iyer HOD: MATHEMATICS