A Waipā primary school student was set to represent New Zealand at an international mathematics competition as this week’s edition of Cambridge News went to press.
Last Friday, just hours before flying from New Zealand to Sri Lanka to take on the world, year five student Simrat Kaur had one goal:
“My aim is to be the champion,” she said.
“Last night I actually had a dream about me winning. It felt amazing.”
The nine-year-old practised all through the school holidays and took almost two weeks off school to prepare for the SIP International Prodigy 2023 competition in Colombo, Sri Lanka this week.
SIP (Systematic Intellectual and Progressive) Abacus is a brain development programme offered in 950 centres around the world.
Students initially use an abacus for maths, sliding beads across a frame, but progress to solving problems without the device.
Agreeing to demonstrate her skills for Cambridge News, Simrat was asked to add 72, 11 and 48 in her head.
The human calculator came up with the correct answer in just 1.3 seconds.
Simrat has been attending online SIP Abacus classes for two years and was one of nine students who represented New Zealand at the international competition at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.
Up against about 150 competing at level 2 she was tasked with solving as many maths problems as possible in five minutes.
Tauwhare School principal Chris May said the school was proud of Simrat and her determination and dedication.
“She’s just the model of what our school values – respect, responsibility and resilience – are all about,” he said.
“We recognise we’re a small part in her big journey and we do give credit to her previous teachers and especially the team she has around her – all her teachers and her family, who have been incredibly supportive of her journey.
“She’s such an inspiration – not only to her peers and classmates but to our school.”
The motivated student joined Tauwhare School this June after her family moved to Eureka. She previously attended Puahue School in Te Awamutu.
SIP Abacus New Zealand country head Harpreet Singh described her as “exceptional”.
“She has very strong potential for winning a gold medal in Sri Lanka,” he said.
“My dad said I probably won’t, but no way am I listening to him,” Simrat said. “I’m staying home and practising; he can go exploring as much as he wants. “I just really hope that all my hard work pays off.”
Simrat Kaur photographed at Tauwhare School, shortly before she left for Sri Lanka.
