By: Claire Li & Alina Wang

Syosset High School offers an additional course in the math pathway for accelerated sophomores and juniors known as Math Theory Honors. Rather than following the usual path with AP Precalculus, Math Theory offers a unique opportunity to explore various topics that may be unfamiliar to many students, bridging concepts from AP Precalculus, AP Calculus, number theory, and broader mathematical theory.

An annual tradition in the course is the Pi versus e debate, held in late March before spring break. Students are divided into two teams, each representing one of the mathematical constants, and are tasked with defending why their constant is superior before a panel of three judges. The debate follows a traditional format in which each side presents arguments followed by cross-examinations and rebuttals. However, students are given full creative control over how they present their arguments, resulting in a wide range of performances and presentations. These can include live derivations, slideshow presentations, raps, songs, skits, and other creative demonstrations. Ms. Victoria Garritan, who teaches the Math Theory course said, “Everybody gets the chance to showcase the skills they have that they couldn’t have otherwise shown. It’s fun to see a different side of people.” This year’s debate was held in the Little Theater on March 27. It drew students, alumni, teachers, and judges for what became a lively and engaging event. Reflecting on the debate, Ms. Garritan said, “I thought it was great. It got heated, but in a very respectful way. Everyone did a nice job.” At the conclusion of the debate, the e team defeated the pi team, making them the “champions” of this year’s event.

During this year’s Pi Day, commonly celebrated on March 14 because of the first digits of pi, 3.1415, Syosset High School continued its annual tradition of pi-related activities across ninth and 10th grade math courses, many of which were organized by current or former Math Theory Honors students. This year’s theme centered around the Olympics in honor of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Activities included the tri-athlon, pi recitation, and discussions about the use of pi and circles in everyday life. These activities helped engage students with real-world applications of math while making learning more interactive and enjoyable. Dr. Meghan Parenteau, the business and math coordinator, described the experience as rewarding. She said, “For me, Pi Day and its experiences were rewarding. I love seeing the creative elements and the activities, seeing students have creative ideas and have fun for the day. It’s fun to see enthusiasm from teachers and leaders themselves.”

One major addition to this year’s celebration was the final activity that wrapped up each class period’s events. The Pi Committee chose an activity called “Pictograms,” in which classes selected groups of students to create visual representations of pi in different forms. Some groups focused on the numerical form of pi, others on the symbol itself, and some incorporated circles into their designs. Classes then competed against one another, with math teachers serving as judges to evaluate the most creative and effective representation of pi. The winning class earned a pizza party.

As a final message, both Dr. Parenteau and Ms. Brittany Palmerini emphasized their appreciation for the student leaders who organized the event. Ms. Palmerini said, “It’s very cool to see the students see themselves as teachers. It’s good for them to have ownership and to lead the class while trying everything out in unique ways. Thank you to the peers for leading the platform for students to be passionate and thrive in a math space. For the students who participated, the event demonstrated how math can become both collaborative and creative while encouraging enthusiasm for Pi Day across the school community.