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Never before did Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) freshman LaRhonda Anthony find math exciting, until she participated in mathematical games and activities during the second annual Pi Day Festival on Friday, March 13 at the CHS. 

CHS students enjoyed a day of math in recognition of international Pi Day, which is celebrated on March 14 or 3/14. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant – the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter – that is approximately 3.14159. Pi has been calculated to more than one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, pi will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. 

“Our team worked hard to come up with fun and exciting instructional games and exercises to celebrate Pi Day,” said Liza Cummings, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning and CHS math instructional coordinator. Working with Cummings this year were CHS math instructors Anna Turner and Greg Laktzian. 

“I know many students were extremely excited this year and were ready to show how many of the pi digits they had memorized,” said Cummings. “Many have been working to beat Jalin Bejoile (CHS junior) who recited 121 digits of pi last year.” 

Winning this year’s grand prize for the most memorized pi digits was freshman Charles Shaw with 156. 

The festival consisted of the following 10 tables: π in the skyline, π in a circle, digits in π, π cookies, π measurements, π puzzle, π word challenge, π word search, π trivia and string a π bracelet/keychain. Students had seven minutes to complete each activity and receive a treat. 

“I love math and everything about it,” said Turner, who was operating the pi trivia table. “The day is about students understanding the application of pi within math, but it is also a time for creativity and math adventure!” 

“I thought these math exercises would be too hard for me,” said Anthony. “I found that I could do some of them, and that I liked the activities.” 

Carlos Hopson, who connected more than 100 digits in the pi circle, enjoyed the word search, trivia and pi circle. 

“This is a creative way for students to remember the pi numbers,” said CHS graduate student Saranya Seelam, a computer science major. “The students are having fun, and several have connected more than 90 digits in a circle.” 

“Activities like these make our students excited about math,” said Laktzian. “Next year’s pi festival will be bigger and better.” 

“This Pi Day Festival at the East St. Louis Charter High School showed off the mathematical prowess of some of our students,” said CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD, “and the mathematical curiosity and discipline of others to embrace new and creative ways of learning.” 

The festival closed out with CHS students being served selections of peach, apple, cherry and pecan pie with their lunch. 

 The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century.  

Photos:
SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School math instructor Anna Turner helps CHS junior Zoey Milton with a pi trivia question. Also shown is CHS junior Jairen Robinson. 

CHS freshman LaRhonda Anthony works on making a pi bracelet. 

CHS sophomore Evan Bonner connects digits in a pi circle.