The real math of the night began before the event even started.
How many pizzas would it take to feed 600 people?
For the organizers of the Math Pi Night at Bayside High School, the answer was 130.
It was the second year for the event, which brings together students and families from Bayside High School, Bayside Middle School and Bayside 6th Grade Campus all in one place to learn more about math.
At last year’s event, approximately 500 people showed up, which only led to the excitement for this year. This year, 100 more people joined the math fun for the event.
Families check in together and enjoy a pizza dinner as a family. Then, it was off to school, where 28 stations were set up throughout the building’s hallways.
Each station is manned by a group of students who lead fellow students and their family members through math exercises and activities. These lessons ranged from the mathematics in architecture and AP calculus exercises to simple multiplication problems and creating tessellations (or a repeating pattern shape).
For parents like Shahar Ashe-Green, who have children at both Bayside 6 and Bayside High, this event helped bridge the two worlds for her kids.
“I just think it was a good idea and all the schools are doing it together,” she said. Ashe-Green added that she especially liked the opportunity for her younger son to have the opportunity to tour the high school and see where he will be in a just a couple of years.
“I think it was very good to have – with them combining together.”
If students took the time to work at a station, they would get a sticker for a special passport. Attendees could turn in their completed passports for a chance to win a raffle drawing for prizes – like tickets to Tides games, Admirals games or the Funny Bone.
Yet, the real prize for the student leaders was the chance to share their love of math. Bayside High School students Adia Lawrence and Hailey Calufetti were hosting the probability table. Lawrence, in particular, wanted students to walk away with a greater understanding of how math can help you.
“(I want them) to know that there are so many possibilities that math can show you, lead you and teach you,” she said.
Representing Bayside Middle, Taron Cohen was working a table with his classmate that showed the game Kahoot. The online game, Cohen pointed out, is competitive and fun, plus you’re learning while you’re playing.
“I want other people to know how to do this,” he said.
Thankfully, others will have the chance to learn these kinds of skills as well. Event organizers from each of the three campuses said this will continue to be an annual event for students and parents.