If wishes were horses then beggars would ride - Joyce Baxter’s famous quote.
During his recent sojourn to the island, Robert Kelly, president of the KCOBA New York Chapter, in fulfillment of directive from his Board, finalised plans with the vice principal, guidance counsellor and math teachers at the Melbourne campus to launch a math club during the 2009-10 academic year.
The idea was initiated by young board members of the Chapter who proposed the Club be named in honour of Joyce Baxter, one of KC’s outstanding math teachers who served Kingston College for more than 30 years. The programme is to be provided with a seed funding of US$6,000 by several members of the New York Chapter who Miss Baxter taught between 1986-1990. Their action was prompted from their feeling that she had such an impact that positively affected their attitude to mathematics and life in general.
The Melbourne campus will be used as a pilot project in year one. Three math teachers, together with the vice principal and the guidance counselor, will identify the 36 students from grades 7 -9 who are math enthusiasts but who may not be so proficient or who may not have mastered math skills. The overall objective is to improve their skill levels and foster a positive attitude towards mathematics. The administrators will also guide the programme in its inaugural year. The three teachers, Carmeta Cameron, Joan Malcolm& Katowanshee Thompson, together with sixth formers, will have one hour classes twice per week. Computers and computer games will be provided as part of this novel and innovative approach to teaching mathematics.
It is hoped that following a year-end review, the club will be extended to the North Street Campus.
The project will be monitored on a quarterly basis by the New York Chapter whose members will also mentor the students.
