Have you ever estimated the mass of a small pineapple? Or calculated the probability of randomly opening a prime-numbered page in a 25-page book? What about solving the puzzle of zero to the power of zero? These are just a few of the many trials faced by students at the QAMT Regional Finals.
On Tuesday, two talented teams from Glasshouse Christian College competed in the Regional Finals of the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers (QAMT) Maths Competition, hosted by Maroochydore State High School. The event saw 16 teams of students from Years 7 and 8, representing schools across the Sunshine Coast, gather for a day of mathematical challenges.
Our teams earned their places in the regional competition after winning the school round, where their quick thinking and mathematical skills set them apart. Despite limited training, they confidently stepped into the second round of the competition, eager to test their skills against the region’s best.
The competition featured five rounds, testing participants in areas such as estimation, speed, problem solving and mathematical general knowledge. The rounds were designed to push students to think critically, work collaboratively and perform under pressure.
After dominating the competition for the majority of the day, one of our teams achieved a remarkable second place in a nail-biting finish, falling short of victory by a mere half a point! Sean Barrett, Cooper Beaven and Micah Matthews-Frederick formed this talented trio. We are currently awaiting news on whether they will receive an invitation to the State Finals, which hinges on the scores from other schools currently competing across Queensland.
Our second team, comprising Phoebe Brighouse-Johnson, Allegra Cheal and Nina Imhof, also performed admirably, securing 7th place overall among the 16 competing teams. Impressively, they ranked within the top three across four of the competition’s rounds, demonstrating their strong mathematical abilities. Though the “speed round” proved challenging, the team remained unwavering in their focus and displayed outstanding sportsmanship and positivity throughout the day.
Both teams’ efforts culminated in a performance that showcased not only their individual strengths but also the strong sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship that defines Glasshouse Christian College. We congratulate both teams on their remarkable achievements and commend their mathematical prowess, perseverance and teamwork.
Lisa Allum, High Potential Development Coordinator
