Summer Math Circle Camp July 8-12 in Watsonville in partnership with PVUSD Expanded Learning was a blast!

Eighteen students in grades 5 - 9 enjoyed a full week of challenging and fascinating mathematical theory and problem-solving July 8 - 12 at Sequoia High School.

With funding from PVUSD Expanded Learning and support from the Santa Cruz COE, the X Academy organized its first-ever Summer Math Circle Camp. Designed by Zandra Vinegar, of Brilliant.org, in collaboration with Joshua Zucker, co-founder of Julia Robinson Math Festival (JRMF) and support from Kelley Barnes, of Morgan Hill Math Circle, we created a joyful and challenging week for students rom PVUSD schools - Alianza, WCSA, Valencia, Ann Soldo, Aptos Jr. High, as well as Linscott, Ceiba, Westlake and Nature Academy.

A key goal is building a math community where we are all learning together. The focus is not about finding the ‘right’ answer, but rather asking the question that has yet to be explored. Zandra and Josh mentored two academic coordinators, Dallas Guerrero, a Pacific Elementary teacher and Jasmine Todd, who just received her Masters degree from UCSC and is on her way to City University of New York to pursue a PhD in Mathematics. Rounding out the team were recent high school graduates, Timothy Scott (Aptos High) and Kai Herbst (Kirby), and rising junior Veronica Gonzalez (Oasis High).