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1 VULA 2014 1+1>2 THE VULA MATHEMATICS PROJECT 1 + 1 > 2 2013 REPORT CONTENTS PAGE Reporting, etc 2 A summary of our activities 3 Statistics, numbers, and a new group 5 AMESA and the Laptop Project 5 AGF 6 “3 SMSs” 9 VuMA 11 Plans for 2014 13 Money and the balance sheet 14 Appendices 15

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Page 1: THE VULA MATHEMATICS PROJECT 1 + 1 > 2 2013 REPORTmedia.withtank.com/8f037a35dd/vulas_2013_annual_report.pdf · THE VULA MATHEMATICS PROJECT 1 + 1 > 2 ... the Jackson Foundation1

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

THE VULA MATHEMATICS PROJECT

1 + 1 > 2

2013 REPORT

CONTENTS PAGE Reporting, etc 2 A summary of our activities 3 Statistics, numbers, and a new group 5 AMESA and the Laptop Project 5 AGF 6 “3 SMSs” 9 VuMA 11 Plans for 2014 13 Money and the balance sheet 14 Appendices 15  

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

REPORTING ETC In 2006, the Jackson Foundation1 agreed to fund the Vula Mathematics Project for a period of six years beginning in 2007. There were various conditions attached to this funding: • Vula would provide Jackson with an annual report on its activities. • The Mathematics Project money would be kept completely separate from that of

the rest of the Vula Programme’s activities. • Its accounts would be separately audited. • Vula would actively seek and obtain co-funding for the Mathematics Project. • Vula would have to show evidence of the growth of the Mathematics Project. • After each of the three two-year periods within the six years, Vula would

commission and present independent evaluations. These would need to be approved by Jackson.

Vula complied with all of these conditions and, as a result, was able to operate and evolve and expand secure in the knowledge that its activities were sustainable. 2013 was the first year of the next phase of the Mathematics Project. It was mostly funded by The Frank Jackson Foundation but with help from various other funders. For example, Board of Executors2 contributed to the Bergville activities and Rand Merchant Banking contributed to the Pholela activities. In 2013, the Jackson Foundation agreed to continue to fund the Mathematics Project but with a different funding model: Jackson would provide funding to a maximum of R1 000 000 per year. This would begin in 2013. Thereafter their ‘guaranteed funding’ would decrease by 25% per year. Jackson undertook to match any other funding that Vula managed to obtain which was specifically for mathematics – up to a maximum of R1 000 000.3 The reasons for this ‘matching funding model’ were various: • to discourage Vula from becoming dependent on Jackson, • to encourage Vula to seek and secure other funding, • as an incentive for other investors and • to allow the Mathematics Project to plan for expansion. We will continue with the conditions agreed at the beginning of the Mathematics Project: • We will provide Jackson with an annual report on its activities. • We will keep the Mathematics Project money separate from that of the rest of the

Vula Programme’s funding. • The Mathematics Project’s accounts will be separately audited. • We will actively seek and obtain co-funding for the Mathematics Project. • We will continue to seek to expand the Mathematics Project.4

however • However any independent evaluation will need to be commissioned and paid for

by a particular donor.5

                                                                                                                         1  Now called The Frank Jackson Foundation 2 Now called Nedbank Private Wealth Educational Foundation 3 We are pleased to report that we have received enough co-funding from the Grindrod Family Centenary Trust to guarantee our 25% top-up for 2014. 4 2014 will see the beginning of the Vula Mathematics Academy (VuMA). Ms Ann McLoughlin will join the staff of the Mathematics Project. 5  Appendix F is a report on our Pholela activities, commissioned by Rand Merchant Bank  

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

NOTES  FOR  THE  MEETING  WITH    

MS  JENNY  BAIJU  OF  THE  KWAZULU-­‐NATAL  

EDUCATION  DEPARTMENT    WHO  WE  ARE    Hilton   College   is   an  independent   boarding  school   for   boys   situated  seven   kilometres   from   the  Hilton  village.    The   Vula   Programme   is  Hilton   College’s   community  support   initiative.   Its   stated  mission   is   “to   provide  effective   and   relevant  educational   programmes,  chiefly   in   Mathematics   and  Physical   Science,   to   create  maximum   impact   on  teaching   and   learning”.   The  focus   of   our   intervention   is  educators   and   learners   in  the   midlands   of   KZN.   The  Director   of   the   Vula  Programme   is   Mr   Lloyd  Smuts.    The  Mathematics   Project   is  a   major   part   of   the   Vula  Programme.   Its   focus   is   the  support  and  development  of  Mathematics   educators.  2013   is   its   7th   year.   The  Project   is   coordinated   by  Mrs  Sue  Southwood.    WHAT  WE  DO    The   Mathematics   Project  works   primarily   with  educators:  

• Workshops   in   the  Bergville  district     FET   (Mrs  

Mthembu)  • Workshops   in   the  

Pholela  district  

  FET   (Mr  Govender)  

• Workshops   in   the  

Vulindlela/Edendale  

A SUMMARY OF OUR ACTIVITIES6

                                                                                                                         6  This summary was prepared for a meeting with Mrs Jenny Baiju, Director of the Umgungundlovu District. The meeting was part of the consultation process that we undertook when negotiating the establishment of our Vula Mathematics Academy. Mrs Baiju is very powerful, very efficient and an influential member of the teachers’ union.  

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

 

• GET   We   hold   a  three-­‐day   workshop  at   Hilton   College  

every  term.  At  these  workshops   we   set,  

discuss   and  moderate  examination   papers.  

We   also   work  through   particular  topics   suitable   for  

use   by   the   Subject  Advisors   in   their  district   workshops.  

(Mr  Mhlabela)    The   Laptop   Project   has  become  a   significant  part  of  our  activities.   It  has  thirteen  members   all   of   whom   are  talented   and   motivated  educators   and   ‘leaders’   in  their   groups.   Each  has   been  lent   a   laptop   computer   and  a  data  projector  loaded  with  specialized   mathematics  software.   The   equipment   is  solely   for   his   or   her   use   in  the  classroom.  We  meet   for  training   workshops   for   two  days   every   term   at   Hilton  College   during   examination  periods.  Membership   of   the  Project   always   has   the  approval  and  support  of   the  principal   and   management  of  the  particular  school.      Additional  activities:      We   are   able   to   respond   to  special   requests.   For  example  

• Mr  LOV  Buthelezi  of  Umlazi   asked   us   to  work   with   a   group  

of   his   teachers.   We  were   unable   to  accommodate   him  

with   regular  workshops.   Instead  we   run   a   four-­‐day  

workshop   for   the  

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

STATISTICS, NUMBERS and A NEW GROUP We are still in the process of extracting results from the Education Department. We have produced a general overview of the national results – with some statistics on our Pholela schools.7 When more detailed results are available, we will be able to produce analyses of matriculation results and comparisons with those of the last two years. At the moment all we are able to report is that “teachers seem very pleased.” As far as Vula numbers are concerned, the number of teachers, pupils and subject advisors with whom we work remains very much the same as those of 2012. We have started a new group of teachers: GET teachers in the Vulindlela district. We are using our usual model: two day-long workshops per term and invitations to holiday workshops at Hilton College. We meet at the Vulindlela Education Centre.                            AMESA and the LAPTOP PROJECT Four members of the Laptop Project travelled to Capetown to AMESA in July – the annual conference of mathematics educators in South Africa. They ran workshops on the use of technology in mathematics teaching. The picture below shows one of those workshops in progress. The highlight of the week was probably the free day: a trip to Robben Island – and the boat trip over very rough seas.

                                                                                                                         7  This  overview  is  Appendix  A  

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

THE AFRICAN GIFTED FOUNDATION It all began at an alfresco lunch on the banks of the great grey green greasy Tugela river. Tom Sheldon, having met Mr Sicelo Majola and seen him in action at Tshanibeswe High School, and having met more Bergville teachers and seen them in action at a Ukhlahlamba Education Centre workshop, and having begun to understand Vula, said, very casually, “I wonder if Vula wouldn’t be interested in sending some people to my friend Tom Ilube’s AGF academy in Ghana this year.” Six months later, a Bergville teacher and three pupils had been to Ghana and come back.

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

We – Lloyd and Sue – had a long discussion about Tom’s suggestion and decided that, although it wasn’t the sort of ‘thing’ that we usually did, it was worth a try. We didn’t feel that we had the right to deny young people such an amazing opportunity. We went ahead, working on the principle that, “If it is worth doing, then it is worth doing it properly.” STEP 1 The selection process8 The Grade 10 Easter holiday problem-solving camp for Bergville pupls at E’mseni seemed a good place to start: we gave everyone a ‘secret’ problem-solving exercise. We took in the answer papers before we went over the problems. We chose the best scripts, not on the basis of who necessarily did best, but on the basis of who showed the best problem-solving skills. STEP 2 The Hilton College experience9 On the basis of the E’mseni test and recommendations of their teachers – who were party to the secret agenda – we invited twelve pupils to Hilton College – for three days of mathematics. This part of the exercise was great fun. The Bergville pupils arrived in time for chapel on the Sunday might, slept in dormitories, ate in the dining room with all the Hilton College boys, went to a maths lesson and one other with twelve specially chosen Hilton boys – as well as doing lots of unusual maths. One Bergville boy came back from a French lesson and greeted Mrs Southwood with a ‘Bonjour madame.” STEP 3 More selection Our policy is never to judge and never to test, so the next part of the secret selection process was another secret test – this time at the Bergville Olympiad training Saturday. By now we had two candidates – Fezeka Sithole and Thabo Mahlobo. Our final choice was Nkululeko Mdunge, the winner of the Olympiad – and the CASIO graphing calculator.

                                                                                                                         8  Appendix  B  is  the  first  two  pages  of  the  selection  test.  9  Appendix  C  is  a  letter  to  the  principals  of  the  shortlist  of  twelve  

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

STEP 4 Communication10 Mrs Southwood had already asked Mr Pezinarah Amoni if he would be in charge of the group and chaperone them in Accra. She visited the three schools and explained the whole process to the principals. They, in turn, called in the pupils and told them the good news. They also agreed to communicate with the three families. What excitement!! The principals also agreed to collect all necessary documents and to arrange passports and vaccinations. We organised a send-off party at the Okhahlamba Teachers centre for the travellers, their parents, their teachers and the principals. We took up food and drinks and everybody made speeches. Mr Smuts handed over travel bags and team clothing. STEP 5 Travel documents Mr Smuts organised these. To say that the process was an exercise in fortitude and frustration is a euphemism. In this country we, faced with official ineptitude, are inclined to say “This is Africa.” If things are particularly awful we now say “It must be Ghana.” At 6 pm on the night before the party were due to leave, there was still no sign of the Ghanaian visas. Somebody, somewhere, must have intervened, because they arrived via courier at the hotel at 11pm – for the departure at 2pm the next morning. Mr Nkabinde, pictured on the right, emerged as the leader of the Bergville organisers. He couldn’t have been more helpful. STEP 6 The plane trip Although a Zimbabwean. Mr Amoni had never been on an aeroplane. Having been thoroughly coached by Mrs Southwood, the party left Pietermaritzburg airport early on the 23rd of August, changed planes in Johannesburg and arrived in Accra that evening. The rest, as we say, is history – and described in Mr Smuts’s report.11

                                                                                                                         10  Appendix  D  are  the  letters  we  gave  to  the  principals  11  Appendix  E  is  the  report  on  the  Ghana  visit,  prepared  by    Mr  Smuts    

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

“Hi Mrs Southwood my name is Busani Nkosi a learner fm ngcdemhlophe high school Im the one at Langsyde who came with a new method on mathematics when you were teaching us mathematics last year … during that day you gave me your number and you said when the results come out I must send my results to you,not that I forgot I lost my starter pack with your number…so mam my results stands lyk this:I got 3 distinctions in mathematics(85%) physical sciences(83%) and in life sciences(84%)…english((69%),isiZulu(78%),LO(78%)&EGD(525).i

“Hi SUE.i just want to thank you for the vula programme nd I received the certificate today. Though I did not do very well in mathematics bt I passed it, YOUR contribution proved to me that even though we are from a rural school,we re special just like everybody else. You helped us a lot nd im greatful for that. I take you as my teacher since we had no maths educator at school. Thank you so much. Sadly I obtained a bachelor with two distinctions but I won’t be able to further my studies due to finance shortages. Anyway thanks,love u.Lungile Mthembu@siqhoza here”

“3 SMSs” These three SMSs, received after the matriculation marks were released, were received by Mrs Southwood. They convey some of the atmosphere in which we work – and the calibre of people with whom we work. The Langsyde School hall is huge and holds 250 pupils with ease. Mrs Southwood goes over the syllabus – emphasising the skills that the pupils are likely to need. A frighteningly large proportion of the group will not pass – but they still have expectations and pay great attention. She knows that, amongst the horde of pupils, there are some who have the ability to do well so she includes a couple of harder questions. She always introduces them as such. This year, having carefully explained the solution to a very difficult calculus question, she was surprised to see a hand go up. A young man said that he had another method. Somewhat sceptically, but very politely, she asked him to show it to her. Not only was it correct but Busani had instinctively used a sophisticated method which is only introduced at university level. She asked him to explain it to the whole group. He did this with ease and humour and confidence. One wonders how many other Busanis lurk unrecognised in our dysfunctional schooling system. Lungile attended Siqhoza High School in the Pholela district. Siqhoza’s mathematics teacher retired in 2011 and was not replaced. She and her friend were sent to our Pholela Grade 11 and 12 Saturday sessions twice a term for two years. They both received attendance certificates. They both passed the final examination. They are probably still living in the Siqoza district – with no work and no prospects.

Mr Eric Vela Langa came to our very first holiday workshop in April 2007. He was teaching at Dingeka High School. He was unqualified. His mathematics was frighteningly and embarrassingly weak. He has come to almost every workshop that we have had since – in the holidays at Hilton College and at Pholela. He has always been unfailingly courteous and helpful. Recently he was transferred to Mavombini Combined school which is near Illovo and nearer his home. We do not work in that district. He

“We have got 100% . I believe they all passed Maths. Thank u for yo Surport Sue.U made a huge impact in our lives as educators and the children. From Vela Langa”

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

obtained special permission from his principal to continue to come to Vula workshops. In October he asked Mrs Southwood to visit his school and teach his matric class for a day. He met her at the BP garage in Umlaas Road and led her on dirt roads and through cane fields to Mavombini. It is a small school. Its buildings, donated by the local sugar farmer, are well designed, but have fallen into disrepair. The school was highly organised and obviously in a state of refurbishment. Mr Langa’s class had been painstakingly taught and was very keen to learn. The pupils were clearly fond of Mr Langa and he of them. Mrs Southwood regarded the day as an exercise in friendship and marketing, but also in futility. Imagine her delight when she received the SMS above – at 6.00am on the day the results came out. Well done Mr Langa.

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

The Vula Mathematics Academy We have spent the last two years planning, plotting, talking and negotiating with stakeholders – and are now able to report that VuMA is up and ready to roll. We begin on the 15th of January – with fifteen of everything – teachers, computers, desks, files, lockers . . . The following is an excerpt from the hand out at the final planning meeting – in November 2013.

VuMA INFORMATION SHEET

What is Hilton College? Hilton College is an independent boarding school for boys situated seven kilometres from the Hilton village. What is Vula? The Vula Programme is Hilton College’s community support initiative. Its stated mission is “to provide effective and relevant educational programmes, chiefly in Mathematics and Physical Science, to create maximum impact on teaching and learning”. The focus of our intervention is educators and learners in the midlands of KZN. The Director of the Vula Programme is Mr Lloyd Smuts. The Mathematics Project is a major part of the Vula Programme. Its focus is the support and development of Mathematics educators. 2012 is its 6th year.  What is VuMA? VuMA is an acronym for Vula Mathematics Academy. An academy is an educational facility which focuses on one particular discipline – in this case, mathematics. VuMA is a concentrated in-service course for mathematics educators. It is scheduled to start in the first term of 2014. Who is involved? Vula, the KZN DoE and DUT How? Vula will provide the venue and run the course. The DoE will choose and provide the educators. DUT will provide 4th year mathematics education students who will replace the DoE educators in their

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

 

Who chose the schools? Personnel from the Umgungundlovu district and, in particular, the mathematics subject advisors. They used various criteria agreed upon by the DoE and VuMA: the educator • Should be someone who

was competent and ambitious and wwho would respond to new ideas

• could not have other commitments such as UNISA courses

• could not be the only mathematics educator in the school

• needed the full support of his/her principal and management team

• could not be a deputy principal

Why Umgungundlovu? Several reasons: • Hilton College is in this

district • Educators do not need

accommodation at Hilton College

• Much of Vula’s work is with learners and educators in Umgungundlovu

Certificates? On completion of the course, each educator will be given a certificate of attendance with a covering letter describing the course. What about transport? This is the responsibility of the educator. Who will staff VuMA? • Mr Lloyd Smuts who has

been the director of the Vula Programme for ten years. He is a former principal and originally taught English and Geography. He is responsible for fund-raising and reporting.

• Mrs Sue Southwood who has been the coordinator of the Vula Mathematics Project for the last seven years. She was head of the

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

PLANS FOR 2014 In January

• School visits • VuMA Group 1 – every day from January 15

In February and March

• Fortnightly workshops – new Vulindlela group added • Classroom visits • A two-day Laptop Project workshop • Two Grade 12 Saturday workshops at Pholela • VuMA Group 1 – every day at Hilton College

In the April holiday

• A four-day holiday workshop for all educators In April and May and the beginning of June

• Fortnightly workshops • A two-day Laptop Project workshop at Hilton College • Two Grade 12 Saturday workshops at Pholela • Two Olympiad Saturdays at Bergville • VuMA Group 2 – every day at Hilton College

In the July holiday

• A four-day holiday workshop for teachers at Hilton College

In the second part of July, in August and in September • A three-day workshop for GET12 subject Advisors • The fortnightly workshops • A two-day Laptop Project workshop at Hilton College • Two Grade 12 Saturday workshops at Pholela • VuMA – regular school visits

In the September holiday

• A four-day workshop for Bergville Grade 10s at E’mseni In the fourth term

• Three three-day revision sessions for Grade 12s – at each of Langsyde, Georgetown and Vulindlela

• Fortnightly workshops • The final two-day Laptop Project workshop at Hilton College • Two Grade 12 Saturday workshops at Pholela • A four-day workshop for Umlazi teachers at Hilton College • A three-day workshop for GET subject Advisors • A three-day workshop for FET13 Subject Advisors • VuMA – regular school visits

New in 2014 • The Vula Mathematics Academy

                                                                                                                         12  GET    General Education and Training i.e. years 7, 8 and 9  13  FET Further Education and Training i.e. years 10, 11 and 12  

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

• MONEY AND THE BALANCE SHEET Notes on Vula Mathematics Project 2013 Resource Statement / Financial Accounts Project income for the year was R 1 428 719.00, made up of R 1 359 539.00 from donors (Frank Jackson Fdn R 1 085 539.00 – received on 4/10/2012 for 2013 – Rand Merchant Bank Fund of the FirstRand Fdn R 150 000.00, Nedbank Private Wealth Foundation R 124 000.00) as well as interest of R 69 180.00 Project expenditure was R 1 341 561.00, including an amount of approximately R 100 000.00 on twenty laptop computers and office equipment in anticipation of the opening of the Vula Mathematics Academy (VuMA) in January 2014. The project continues to be very cost-effective because of the low operating costs and the provision by The Hiltonian Society NPC of offices, cleaning services, building maintenance, electricity and water, internet connectivity, insurance, etc, all at no cost to the project. The value of The Hiltonian Society’s contribution in 2013 is estimated to be in the region of R 400 000.00. Project income for 2014: Frank Jackson Foundation – R 750 000.00 confirmed amount Frank Jackson Foundation – additional R 250 000 if a similar amount is raised from other donors Grindrod Family Centenary Trust – R 350 000.00 – received 29 January 2014 Rand Merchant Bank Fund (FirstRand Foundation) – R 150 000.00 – confirmed, yet to be received Nedbank Private Wealth Educational Foundation – R 128 600.00 – applied for, no answer as yet The amount from the Grindrod Trust is a contribution towards the cost of employing an additional staff member for the project. The Grindrod Trust has undertaken to provide this funding for a period of three years (2014 – 2016).

L Smuts SM Southwood Director Coordinator Vula Programme Vula Mathematics Project

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

• APPENDICES A Overview and analysis of 2013 Grade 12 results obtained by Vula Schools B The first two pages of the problem-solving test used to select the AGF group C An example of the letter of invitation to the twelve learners who attended the two days of Mathematics at Hilton College – including the arrangements that we organised D An example of the letter to a principal informing him that his pupil had been selected to go to Ghana E The report on the AGF Academy visit to Ghana F A copy of The evaluation of the Vula Mathematics Project activities in Pholela – commissioned by RMB G A general report of the 2013 activities of the Vula Programme

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

 A PROBLEM-SOLVING TEST 1. Add up the first ten natural numbers

WORKING ANSWER

2. The first six numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8. What is the tenth number?

WORKING ANSWER

3. A palindrome is a number that reads the same backwards as it does forwards. For example, 1991 is a palindrome. What is the next palindromic year after 2014?

WORKING ANSWER

4. Expand and simplify the expression (x – 1) – (1 – x) + (x – 1)

WORKING ANSWER

5. Find the value of when x = 4

WORKING ANSWER

APPENDIX B

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

6. Both of the dotted lines on this hexagon pass through its centre point. What fraction of the hexagon is shaded?

WORKING ANSWER

7. An equilateral triangle has lengths as shown. Find the value of y.

WORKING ANSWER

8. In a magic square, the sum of the numbers in each of the rows, columns and diagonals is the same. In this magic square, what number would be in the square with a cross in it?

WORKING ANSWER

9. What is the smallest number you would have to multiply 180 by in order to turn it into a square number?

WORKING ANSWER

10. Find the value of

WORKING ANSWER

8

5 9

x 4

2x − 3 5y

x + 6

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

VULA PROGRAMME at HILTON COLLEGE CENTRE FOR INNOVATION

Hilton College Private Bag 6001 Hilton 3245 KwaZulu-Natal

Telephone (033) 383 0100 Fax (033) 383 0163

18 April 2013 The Principal Meadowsweet High School Near Bergville Dear Mr Masikane Re: Mathematics workshop for gifted learners We will be holding a two-day ‘Mathematics extension’ workshop for learners here at Hilton College on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 April 2013. Your learner Siphelele Hlombe has been identified as having a particular talent for the subject. Would he like to attend the workshop? The details of the workshop and transport arrangements for it are on the following page. Should Siphelele attend the workshop, he will need to complete and bring the enclosed indemnity form. Please reply to this invitation by telephone and by Wednesday of next week – the 24th of April. We will give you more details of the workshop and also the reason for the lateness of this invitation. Yours faithfully Mrs SM Southwood Mr Lloyd Smuts Coordinator Director Vula Mathematics Project Vula Programme Cell: 082 8612 789 Cell: 072 435 2451 [email protected] [email protected]

APPENDIX C

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

NOTES • Transport

o All transport will be in the Hilton College mini-bus o Mr K Mthembu of Hilton College will travel in the bus o Each learner will be given R100 as a contribution to his/her transport

• Supervision o Mr Mthembu will be in charge of the learners at all times. o Mrs DB Disimino of Thokosa High School will be in charge of the girls.

• Accommodation o Boys will sleep in the school’s Visitors Dormitory. o Mrs B and the girls will sleep in the Headmaster’s Guest Wing. o All meals will be in the school dining room.

• Mathematics o Mrs Southwood will supervise all mathematics activities

• Free time o Mr Mthembu will supervise free time

Sunday 28 April 10h00 Learners to gather at CMC in Bergville for transport to Hilton College 13h00 Lunch at Hilton College 14h00 Free 18h00 Supper 19h00 Chapel Monday 29 April 07h00 Breakfast 08h00 Mathematics 10h00 Tea 10h30 Mathematics 12h55 Lunch 13h30 Mathematics 17h00 Free 18h00 Supper 18h30 Computer Project Tuesday 30 April The same as Monday except for the middle of the day. Each learner will be collected by a Hilton College boy at the Vula Mathematics Room. He/she will accompany the HC boy to period 5, to lunch and then to period 6 which is a Mathematics lesson. Wednesday 1 May 07h00 Breakfast 08h00 Bus departs for Bergville 10h00 Bus arrives at CMC

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VULA  2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1  +  1  >  2  

 

VULA PROGRAMME at HILTON COLLEGE CENTRE FOR INNOVATION

Hilton  College      Private  Bag  6001      Hilton      3245      KwaZulu-­‐Natal  

Telephone  (033)  383  0100          Fax  (033)  383  0163    

    8 May 2013

The Principal Amaphisi High School Bergville District Dear Mr Nkabinde

Re: Invitation to a week in Accra with the AGF

The African Gifted Foundation (AGF) is based in the United Kingdom and is led by African and UK executives and educational experts determined to provide an opportunity for Africa’s gifted children to develop to their full potential. One of its initiatives is an annual gathering of gifted students in an African country. This year the gathering, called the Academy, is in Accra in Ghana from the 21st to the 27th of August.

The Mathematics component of the Vula Programme is largely funded by the Jackson Foundation – also based in the United Kingdom. The Jackson Foundation has, very generously, offered to sponsor three ‘Vula’ learners and an educator to the Academy. We at Vula have been asked to find the learners and the educator. During our activities this year, and in consultation with their educators, we have identified three talented learners who would enjoy and benefit from the week in Accra. Your Fezeka Sithole is one of those learners. Would Fezeka like to go to the Academy week in Accra with the AGF? If her answer is ‘yes’ then we will proceed with the organisation of the expedition in consultation with you and her family. Your part in this process will be very important. Some explanatory documents are attached to this letter. The AGF’s website is www.africangifted.org Yours sincerely Mrs SM Southwood Coordinator, Vula Mathematics Project Hilton College Cell: 0828612789 email [email protected]

APPENDIX D