Year 11 student Hayley Barnard has been accepted into the National Mathematics Summer School, her application was supported by her Mathematics Methods teacher Ms Carroll. Hayley is one of only 60 selected from across Australia. NMSS is a two week residential school held each January at the Australian National University for mathematically gifted and talented senior high school students. Hayley’s future plans are to become a mathematics teacher, she will study Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods at Echuca College next year during her Year 12.
The main activity of NMSS is an in-depth study of three or four different areas of mathematics. Each is very challenging and will extend every student. On the other hand, the program is non-competitive and very much hands-on. The emphasis is on doing mathematics, not just on listening to someone else talking about it. Students participate in a series of lecture courses from mathematicians in a number of branches of mathematics at a relatively advanced level. They attend tutorials under the guidance of a range of staff including postgraduate students, mathematics teachers and academic mathematicians.
By the end of the two weeks, most students are amazed at how much they have accomplished and post-school surveys indicate that the NMSS has succeeded in raising their intellectual horizons. Almost everyone returns home with a considerably enhanced view of their own potential.
Hayley has demonstrated her initiative by combining with Kayla Arkinstall, who has been selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum, to run a casual dress day to raise money to support their trips. Hayley has also written to various organisations seeking support and has been successful in obtaining sponsorship from the Mathematics Association of Victoria. Any organisations interested in supporting the girls are asked to contact Echuca College.
