Wandina Primary School maths champs through to the Numero Interschool final in Perth

Four maths wizards from Wandina Primary School are through to the final of the Interschool Numero Challenge after winning their heat in Geraldton last week.

Wandina Primary School students Macy Peacock, Sydnee Chant, Maduricaa Yohanathan and Aiden Jogy will aim for ultimate Numero glory in Perth on November 11. Macy said it was a thrilling and unexpected victory for the young team of maths enthusiasts, who were up against 18 other teams.

“We were surprised we won,” she said.

“We were expecting Dongara to win.”

Year 5 teacher Jonathon McKenzie said he was proud of the way the students handled themselves under immense pressure.

“It was very tense to watch,” he said. “I was biting my nails a lot. It was great to see them get through.”

The students, who said Numero was their favourite part of maths class, will compete for a cash prize of $1000 at the Perth final.

“We’ve got a lot of practice and training to do,” Mr McKenzie said.

Numero was created by West Australian Frank Drysdale in the early 1990s after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and invented a card game to keep himself mentally stimulated.

Royalties from the sale of all Numero products are given to Alzheimer’s WA.

Mr McKenzie said the card game was a great way to teach kids maths. “In a five-minute game of Numero, the kids will do on average 250-500 calculations in their heads,” he said. “That mental maths is what we are trying to foster and grow.”