Campion College and Knox College Advance to Finals of 3rd Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition
Team members from Immaculate Conception High School (left) and Knox College square off in the first of two semi-final matches at the 3rd Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition, hosted by the Faculty of Science and Sport (FOSS) on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, LT50, Shared Facilities Building.
Pensive team members from Campion College (left) and Manchester High School during the second of two semi-final matches at the 3rd Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition, hosted by the Faculty of Science and Sport (FOSS) on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, LT50, Shared Facilities Building.
At the end of the semi-final round of the 3rd Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition, hosted by the Faculty of Science and Sport (FOSS) on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, Campion College and Knox College emerged as finalists. The two schools which also previously vied for the winning trophy in last year’s 2nd staging of the Competition, will meet in the finals scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, November 28 at 11:00 am at Lecture Theatre 50, Shared Facilities Building, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.
The two finalists emerged after a well-played semi-final round of two matches which saw Immaculate Conception High compete against Knox College, ending with scores of 39 and 74 respectively and Campion College playing Manchester High, with Campion scoring 57 and Manchester High ending on 39 points. The semi-final round comprised a written paper and two live matches which consisted of three sections. Each team answered alternate questions over a four-minute period, followed by three alternate one-minute periods in which each team answered as many questions as possible. The round ended with a five-minute buzzer section, open to both schools with 10 seconds to complete their answers. The budding Mathematicians showed their prowess in the subject area, comfortably churning out responses to challenging questions from the CSEC and CAPE Level 1 and 2 Mathematics curricula, in areas such as polynomials, consumer arithmetic, trigonometry, functions, sequencing and series. In an exceptional showing of competence, team members from Knox College correctly answered all eight consecutive questions posed in the first minute of the speed round. To the question, ‘log 1/49 in base 7, evaluate’ they answered correctly ‘-2’; also showing burgeoning mastery with the correct answer of -5/7 to the question, ‘what is the gradient of the line 7y + 5x – 3=0?’
Quiz Master duties were expertly handled by Ms. Vanessa Thomas and Mr. Gutswell Weir, Lecturers, School of Mathematics and Statistics, FOSS, under the watchful eyes of Competition judges, Ms. Tessie Joy and Mr. Dennis Xavier, also lecturers in the School of Mathematics and Statistics (SOMAS) and Chief Competition Organizer, Mrs. Ave- Maria McIntosh, Head, SOMAS.
Time Keeper Ms Tricia Morris, manual score keeper Ms Stacey Peart-Franklin, and Score Board Operator Mr Dujon Dunn, all ensured precision of the well-organized proceedings. Vice-Dean Mr Patrick Williams served as Master of Ceremonies.The Mathematics Quiz Competition which is open to all high schools seeks to increase interest and critical thinking skills in Mathematics and to promote the importance and development of the subject as a tool for problem solving across disciplines. The Competition also seeks to generate a deeper appreciation for Mathematics among students at the secondary level in Jamaica and the wider society. The 2019 Competition is being held under the theme, “Mathematics, the Lifeline to a Bright Future.”
(l-r) Dyssa Bailey, Shyamaleeswari Dyandon and Brianna McKenzie of Immaculate Conception High School and Raheem Wilson, Ruth-Ann Blair and Niguel Walker of Knox College pose for a photo following their semi-final match.
In an interview with the Corporate Communications Unit following the match, Raheem Wilson noted that he was happy to participate in the Competition, asserting that “it really drives us as CSEC students to think beyond what is the norm.” On his team’s impressive performance, he said “It really comes with practice. It also takes into consideration that you should learn the curriculum when it’s being taught at school, because honestly to cover so many topics for the Competition would be hectic for the period of time when we were invited to now. All the coach had to do was build on what we knew before,” he said. Meanwhile, Brianna McKenzie of Immaculate Conception High School praised Knox College for their accuracy and quickness, noting however that her team was happy to have advanced to the semi-finals for this year’s UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition, adding that she enjoyed the experience.
(l-r) Runako Gentles, Darshini Coore and Vivek Attupuram of Campion College and Dwight Simpson, Janalisa Waugh and Kahlil Walker of Manchester High School share a photograph following their semi-final match. Runako Gentles of Campion College said that he was especially pleased with his team advancing to the finals of the Mathematics Quiz Competition.
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Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm