2006 Newsletter No. 5

What a month it’s been!

The annual conference was held 18-20 August in Bunbury, which is usual, and at Edith Cowan University, which was not usual. Both the Conference and the Primary Convention, held at the end of June, trialled a new approach of using university premises. What did you think? Was this a good change?

The keynote speakers at the Conference were Derek Holton and Nancy Snow. These keynotes were very well received and those of you who didn’t attend the conference might consider what you miss by not coming to our chief event of the year.

August has also seen the Curriculum Council investigate the proposed Mathematics Courses of Study. You may be aware by now that the Curriculum Council has convened a new reference group to examine these. This is in response to the feedback on the formal consultation drafts of the proposed courses of study. A significant portion of the feedback requested the Council to revisit the two courses versus three courses issue.

Since the formal consultation drafts of the courses were written the parameters for the course design have opened up considerably. The writers of the three courses of study had a restrictive framework in which to write and they found that the only way to make it work was to have three courses of study. Since the framework has been relaxed considerably, it is now possible to envision models with two courses which will work. The reference group is looking at possible models to compare with the three course model. I represent MAWA on this reference group.

Please keep yourself informed as to what is happening with this important issue. We will update the website as new information comes to hand.

Cheers

Mathematics Talent Quest 2006

Families, friends and teachers gathered at Edith Cowan University on Friday 11 August to witness students receive their prizes and certificates in the State Mathematics Talent Quest - presented by Ms Donna Miller, Vice President of MAWA.

Beginning with three Year 1/2 students from Thornlie Primary who received, on behalf of their classmates, a plaque and voucher for their project Lunch Box (First Prize in the Whole Class category). And ending with the Years 11/12 1st Prize and Cletus Oakley Medal winner Tristan Richards from Frederick Irwin Anglican School for the project topic Owen Gives Miss Apple the Pip.

The DA Buck Prize for Best Country 2006 Entry was awarded to Richard Haddow from Serpentine Jarradale Grammar for his Year 8 project Factor Fun and presented by Mr DA Buck, a Life Member of MAWA.

Students from each year group were selected to speak about their project. The Year 7 boys from St Paul’s Primary delighted the audience explaining their approach and findings on the topic When Does 34+24=113?

At the end of the evening, the projects selected to go forward for national judging in October in South Australia were announced.

Many thanks to both the Primary (Dr Sarah Hopkins) and Secondary (Mrs Sheila Byfield) Co-ordinators of the Maths Talent Quest for all the time they have dedicated to making this competition a success. Also thanks to the MC and MAWA Student Activities Convenor, Dr Jack Bana, the judges, the teachers who supported and encouraged their students and lastly but not least all the students who participated. For more information about getting your students involved, please contact the MAWA office 9345 0388 or email office@mawainc.org.au

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2006 Newsletter No. 5 (494kb)