Mathematics and Statistics

It has been yet another dynamic year for our Mathematics and Statistics learning area. We started the year with an Ako Mātātupu-Teach First NZ candidate, Whaea Katrina Miller, who was with us for terms 1 and 2. In Term 3, Mr Saieeswaran Vijayakumar moved to the United Kingdom, Ms Nicky Flewellen transitioned into Tāhuhu and Mrs Natasha Powell moved into the Health, Physical and Outdoor Education Learning Area. This gave us an opportunity to employ three amazing new staff: Mr Christiaan Liebenberg, Ms Sandie Kent and Ms Lee Chapman. The rest of our team consists of Ms Francine Nijdam (HoLA), Mr Garth Lewis (Assistant HoLA), Mr Paul Hoffman, Miss Olivia Silvester and Mr Paul Osborne.

The final and most important highlights to mention relate to our ākonga. This year, in our commitment to providing opportunities to excel, we funded a group of Year 9 and 10 ākonga to enter the ICAS assessments and the CMA Cantamath competition. We are extremely proud of how well our ākonga represented our kura. We are also impressed with how well all of our Year 10 ākonga participated in the numeracy pilot co-requisite testing in terms 2 and 4.

“This year I have had the pleasure of teaching, L1MAS1, L2MATH and L3CALC. I have really enjoyed starting each lesson with whakawhanaungatanga, where we have shared what’s on top for us. A highlight with L1MAS1 was seeing their self-efficacy towards problem-solving increase as we got to know each other. Congratulations to those ākonga who have made it through L2MATH and L3CALC, which are highly academic courses. Wishing you all the best for 2024 and beyond!” 

Ms Nijdam

L1ALN/Year 9 - LCHA

“I have enjoyed starting at Te Aratai College term 4 and getting to know my classes that I have taken over from Ms Flewellen.  It was a pleasure to work with the L1ALN for a short time and to see students enjoy success in a statistics achievement standard. Getting to know ākonga in 9FOS, 9FEE, 9FPE and 9KEN has been rewarding. My highlight is seeing ākonga being willing to ask for and receive support and seeing them build up their confidence. I look forward to seeing these ākonga progress throughout school and achieve in many different areas.

E kore te tangata e pakari, i runga i te wai marino

A person will never grow strong, if they stay in the calm waters“ 

Ms Chapman

L1MASE - LEW and OBN

“It is always a breath of fresh air teaching ākonga that have a greater degree of agency and our L1MASE classes were that. We both enjoyed great moments of learning and interaction.” 

Mr Lewis and Mr Osborne

Juniors-LEW

“Teaching both 9EPO and 10SAL has made me realise how important foundational knowledge is, and even more so, creating an academic learning culture. This year has created great opportunities to help develop this culture, the challenge has been quite colourful. Great times, team.” 

Mr Lewis

HOF

“L3 STATS x 2: These academic classes were quick to learn that there needs to be more than just showing up to class and going through the motions. For some the depth of understanding was not quite there but to all that gave it their best shot, well done! The classes were always ready for a bit of banter and fun but to their credit they could get on with the work required. Hopefully the external exams went well and I wish each and every one of you the very best in your future, whether that is in tertiary study or out in the workforce.” 

“10CZE and 10GCO: It has been a pleasure to teach the students of both classes this year. There were a number of very able mathematicians within both classes who participated in various Maths competitions such as ICAS and Cantamaths. Well done to them and to everyone who gave it their best throughout the year. Some insightful mathematics was always looming when Zack was present. His reciting of the number Pi past 100 digits is amazing. Good luck to all of you as you move into the senior school.”

“L1MAS: Although many of the students were reluctant to show it, deep down they know they love mathematics. The students who put in the work and attended regularly gained a worthy number of credits and hopefully their learning will help as they move further into the senior school. It has been a pleasure to work with these students and seeing their confidence and skills develop. Good luck to all.” 

Mr Hoffman

L1ALN-PWL

“It was an absolute pleasure working with the rangatahi in my class this year to gain their numeracy credits. A massive thank you to Will Powell for his unwavering support as a learning assistant throughout the year to ensure the completion of numeracy, measurement and statistics standards. Well done and a big congratulations to the entire class for gaining Level 1 numeracy.” 

Mrs Powell

10NPE/10RYD/9CAM/L1ALN - CLBN

“Joining the MAS department in the midst of term 3 was a thrilling journey. The learners’ enthusiasm and their engagement in class made every challenge rewarding. Getting to know each of the students is a fascinating and rewarding experience and learning about your interests, goals, and perspectives was the highlight of my day. 

The students in 10RYD and 10NPE were amazing and everyone should be proud of what they achieved this year. L1MAS will be more challenging, but I am 100% sure that each and everyone of you will be up for the challenge. The students in 9CAM were always challenging themselves and were always aiming to meet the high expectations they set for themselves. You have all improved your math skills and I am sure you will excel in mathematics in 2024. L1ALN students work diligently throughout the year to complete all their work and even though the final bivariate assessment was challenging, you were able to complete it and you produced amazing work.

I am grateful to have been a part of every student’s academic adventure in 2023 and I am wishing you continued success in 2024.” 

Mr Liebenberg

9SNG/10KBO/10NEAS/L1MAS/L2STAT - SKE

“I moved to Te Aratai College late in term 3. I am thankful that the rangatahi in my classes were all welcoming and enthusiastic to get to know me. They tested my boundaries and I tested their academic boundaries! We have come a long way in the several weeks I have been at Te Aratai, and together we are forming positive relationships and a productive classroom environment.  Mathematics is an area requiring focussed and sustained practice and it is fabulous to see the number of ākonga in my classes, extending themselves and maintaining their engagement in their learning. 

9SNG have consistently applied themselves and have shown good improvement throughout the year, many of whom have achieved excellent results.

10KBO have recently been able to focus on attaining 10 NCEA numeracy credits and are currently motivated by and applying themselves well to this objective. We are all working very hard to get there.

10NEAS is a class of particularly keen learners. They have strived to be the best they can be at every step. Many of these rangatahi will go on to L1MASE and I wish them continued success along their learning journey.

With my starting at Te Aratai late in term 3, L1MAS and L2STAT were only with me for a few weeks as we worked on their final internal and external examination material.  The students intending to sit these exams were a joy to be with, were keen to learn and we shared many great learning conversations.  I am thankful to them for accepting me as their new teacher so late in the year and their eagerness for us to get on together.  I wish them all the best for their next steps.” 

Ms Kent

“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” — Albert Einstein

Cantamath

In August, our department entered a Year 9 and Year 10 team into this year's Cantamaths competition. Pitting themselves against the elite mathematical minds in Ōtautahi, our two teams did our kura proud!