The Intellectual Development Priority in the District Strategic Plan aims to provide diverse learning opportunities that ensure an entry point for all learners to develop a positive mathematical mindset and conceptual understanding. Participation in the District Grade 7 Gauss Math Contest and Team Challenge provides one such opportunity for enrichment in mathematics for our Grade 7 students. 

The Gauss Math Contest is a national math contest developed by the Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing at the University of Waterloo. The contest aims to provide students with a broader perspective of mathematics in a fun and accessible way that challenges students with intriguing problems. This event provides students with an excellent opportunity to grow their interest in and curiosity about the power of math. 

On May 12, 2026, 77 students from 24 schools in School District No. 73 took part in the Grade 7 Gauss Math Contest and Team Challenge event. This is the largest number of participants to date! 

The top score and 1st place for the contest went to  

Owen Fan from Pacific Way Elementary with an amazing score of 138

After the math contest, student teams from each school participated in a series of numeracy problems at stations run by Grade 11 and 12 students from Westsyde Secondary. There were individual prizes for students and school teams also received a game that promotes number sense to bring back to their classrooms to play with classmates. This game emphasizes flexibility in number operations including integers, which is a key component of Grade 7 mathematics.  

The SD73 District Numeracy team would like to thank all the participants, volunteers, teachers, and parents involved that made this year’s event a success. 

Story provided by Monica Bergeron, District Numeracy Coordinator