The number Pi was the star of the week at New Hall School, culminating in International Pi Day on Friday 14 March (3.14). The School’s first Pi Week featured educational talks, creative workshops and even a ‘Pi from the Sky’ display, all celebrating the fascinating world of Pi—its marvellous properties, practical applications, and intriguing history. While most often used with the decimal 3.14, Pi is an irrational number, and the current record for its calculated digits is over 202 trillion.

At New Hall School, the week extended well beyond mathematics. As students from Years 4 upwards got involved in ‘Pi-ku’ haiku poetry competitions, others challenged themselves in a Pi reciting competition, with a Year 10 student setting the high score of 130 digits. A treasure hunt sent students searching for interesting Pi facts around New Hall’s 70-acre School site, while those with an artistic touch created Pi-inspired bracelets in a crafts workshop. For keen bookworms, the School Library displayed books on Mathematics, including a signed copy of ‘The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets’ by Mathematician Dr Simon Singh. The week had a ‘sweet’ charitable touch to it as well – students baked and decorated Pi-themed cakes for a charity bake sale, raising funds for Cancer Research UK.

The excitement built up to the main event on Friday’s Pi Day. Mathematicians orchestrated a spectacular ‘Pi from the Sky’ display in front of the School’s historic Tudor building, as Senior Divisions students and staff lined up to form a colour-coded representation of 825 digits of Pi.

“Student experience is so important in encouraging a love of learning, and, as teachers, we lead young people in the discovery of our subjects. The idea was to immerse students into a world of mathematics, making it accessible for all and inspiring a love of STEM through engaging and educational activities. It was uplifting to see students and staff embrace wholeheartedly Pi Week activities, and to connect with fellow mathematicians in the process,” commented Mrs Rachel Hill, Teacher of Mathematics and lead organiser of Pi Week.

The School received well-wishes from prominent Mathematicians, making the celebration all the more special.