CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Math competition welcomes 100 elementary, secondary school students to Doon campus

Math enthusiasts of all grades joined the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest, a popular international competition held for the first time at Conestoga.

A hundred students in grades 1 to 12 came to the Kitchener - Doon campus on Sunday, March 23 and, depending on the participants' grade, they were allotted 45 to 75 minutes to take the test and given between 18 and 30 problems to solve.

Ivan and Sonja Luksic waited in the parent lounge while their two children, Matthew and Katarina, completed the test.

"We thought this would be an additional opportunity," Sonja said.

Both children have an aptitude for math and compete in competitions at school, but they also enjoy a range of pastimes including sports, music and chess - and their parents encourage them to have a variety of interests.

"We really want them to have all these avenues open because you want your kids to be well-rounded," Ivan said.

"And try new things," Sonja added.

They told Matthew, Grade 6, and Katarina, Grade 4, to do the best they could on the test, the pair having prepared beforehand with practice questions posted on the Math Kangaroo website.

Math Kangaroo started in France in 1991 and spread throughout Europe and to other countries including Canada, hosted by more than 50 cities annually. Contest content is covered in the provincial math curriculum, but the problems require creativity, logical thinking or a different perspective.

More than six million students compete every year.

Michelle Grimes, executive dean of the School of Business which organized the event, was delighted by the success of the Canadian Math Kangaroo contest at Conestoga.

"It was wonderful to see so many local students take part in this globally recognized competition, challenging themselves and developing their mathematical skills," Grimes said. "Hosting events like this reflects our commitment to providing enriching opportunities for young learners in our community, and we're excited to continue supporting their academic growth."

Fikrija Skarep came with her son Ali, who is in Grade 9. Little encouragement was needed to convince him to join a Sunday math competition. "He likes signing up for everything."

Ali really enjoys math, and his mother saw the value in the opportunity to test his problem-solving skills against peers from around the world.

"I'm glad he's interested. I think it's going to be helpful no matter what he chooses to do in life," Skarep said.

Nervousness didn't seem to be an issue for the students as they headed into classrooms to begin the test. 

"One question I took 20 minutes on," said Grade 2 student Micah Burgess.

His father Evan Burgess said the Math Kangaroo competition is a great opportunity for students to test themselves beyond the classroom.

"It teaches good problem solving," Burgess said.

Conestoga's School of Business provides numerous options, opportunities and pathways for students to complete, specialize or expand their business education, either full-time or part-time. Career-ready graduates have the skills and knowledge to address real-world needs and make a difference in today's rapidly changing business world.