We would like to congratulation Jamie for coming 3rd in Queensland at the University of Queensland Maths Competition in 2024, which then allowed him to be accepted in the National Maths Summer School (NMSS). It is our understanding that Jamie is probably the first, in some 67 years of operation that have represented Centenary Heights State High School at the NMSS. Well done and thank you Jamie for sharing this incredible experience with the school community!
Question – When did this take place?
Jamie - From the 5th - 18th January 2025 at the National University Campus in Canberra.
Question - How many attended?
Jamie – 75 students. 5 from W.A., 1 from N.T., 4 from S.A, 10 from Qld, 5 from Tas, 2 from A.C.T., 20 from Vic and 28 from N.S.W. approximately. 12 from this group were experienced students (EG. They attended last years.)
Question – What was a typical day like?
Jamie – Wake up and have breakfast at 7am, chill out and be in the lecture hall by 9am, an hour lecture, a two hour tutorial, lunch at 12. An hour lecture started at 1.30pm followed by an hour long tutorial, free time until 5.30pm, dinner until 7pm, study for 1 and half hours, free time until announcement at 9pm with free time before curfew at 11pm.
Question – What did you study?
Jamie – Number theory, algorithms, and flying beyond the plane.
Question – What was the food and accommodation like?
Jamie - Food was 90 percent spicy so not for me. A room to myself and shared bathrooms. The room was good.
Question – How did you find your lecturers?
Jamie – A very funny lot. Easy to understand and I learnt heaps from them.
Question – What did you like the best?
Jamie – The final concert that everybody is encouraged to partake in. I was in the Shaun the Sheep Choir and my friend group performed the song “See You Again."
Question – What did you like the least?
Jamie – The food.
Question – What did you do on the weekend that you had off?
Jamie – Saturday they took us all to Questacon and the Sunday small groups could suggest their own activity. The EG's ran the day. My friend group choose walking up Black Mountain to the Telstra Tower in the morning and into the Civic shopping centre for karaoke in the afternoon.
Question – What have you learnt and what would you say to future students?
Jamie – I learnt a lot of Math and learnt to enjoy the productive struggle of thinking about Math. For future students I would highly recommend that they apply if they enjoy Math.
Question - If asked would you like to return next year as an EG?
Jamie – Absolutely yes.
Question – Is there anything you would like to add?
Jamie – I would like to thank Mr Bowden (Head of Mathematics for 2024) for bringing the competition to my attention and to Miss Dau (my teacher for Year 11) for the wonderful reference and helping with the application process.