THE MATHS CIRCLE
New to Clubs and Societies this year is the Maths Circle, a mathematics club run by Mr. Fernandes. The Maths Circle was launched with sessions on codebreaking. Boys were encouraged to enter themselves for the third University of Southampton National Cipher Challenge, a cipher cracking competition which consisted of a sequence of 8 enciphered messages that were published simultaneously on the university website and at www.EducationGuardian.co.uk between September 30th and December 17th 2004. Andrew Lawson (4A) placed 63rd nationally, out of 734 entrants. Anthony Huynh (4A) and Elliott Golend (J6) were also in the ‘Hall of Fame’.
During the year, activities in the Maths Circle have included the ‘Towers of Hanoi problem’, flexagons, help for the various Maths Challenge papers that all boys sit, Su Doku and dissection puzzles. The regular Maths Circle ‘Men’ this year were William Prince (2E), Arthur-Samuel Weber (2B), Emmanuel Mair (3S) and Jamie Patel (2R). These four boys were also chosen to represent CLS in this year’s Team Maths Challenge after rounds of selection involving more than a dozen boys during Tuesday lunchtime Maths Circle sessions. Around 1000 schools enter the TMC, run by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust, each year. William, Arthur, Emmanuel and Jamie went on to win a London regional final held at King’s College, London, which included schools such as the City of London School for Girls! CLS were amongst 59 other schools that made it through from the regional finals to the national final held at the City of London Guildhall in June, an outstanding performance for our Maths Circle Men!
The year ended with a small lunchtime party held for the Circle Men. All boys are always welcome to get involved with any of the activities run by the Maths Circle. This year, two Junior Sixth formers assisted Mr. Fernandes with training our boys for the TMC. The Maths Circle is the perfect arena for any boy with an interest for mathematics. Mr. Fernandes hopes that it will become a staple for all budding CLS mathematicians.