MATHEMATICS
Mathematics Department Staff 2011
Top Row L-R: Simon Holderness, Harold Hobson, Thomas Hagspihl, Simon Kroon, Anne Allan, Andrew Maffessanti;
Bottom Row L-R: Gerry Posthumus, Wendy Boynton, Anna Jacobs, Judy Hoefnagels, Sandy Schultz, Xolani Jonono
Anne Allan
After graduating with a BSC (Hons) in Chemistry from University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Anne worked as a Process Chemist at a pigment factory in KwaZulu-Natal for 4 years. Many years and moves later, when her youngest of two daughters started school she decided to study towards a Post Graduate Certificate of Education. The completion of this coincided with a move to Grahamstown. Anne taught Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy at Victoria Girls' High School for 2 years before joining the staff of DSG in January 2008 teaching the same subjects.
Gerhard Posthumus
Thomas studied a Bsc at Wits University and has taught in various schools all over the country. Problem solving is his passion and he is involved with the South African Mathematics Olympiad. He cycles, is a keen birder and enjoys photography. 
Gerry studied at the University of Cape Town where he completed a BCom degree in Information Systems. After that he completed his PGCE and then started his teaching career at Wynberg Boys' High School in Cape Town where he taught for 8 years. He took up a post in the Mathematics Department at St Andrew's College at the beginning of 2011. Outside the classroom Gerry has a keen interest in travel and has successfully taken a number of cultural tours through Europe during his December holidays. He is also a very keen rugby coach, and in 2009 he attended the famous Murray Mexted International Rugby Academy in New Zealand in order to improve his skills as a rugby coach.
Simon Kroon
Simon was born and schooled in Grahamstown. He then studied actuarial science at the University of Cape Town and after graduating with a BSc (Hons) in 1989 he joined Old Mutual in Cape Town. In 1995 Simon qualified as an actuary through the Institute of Actuaries (London) and progressed to the position of Finance Actuary before answering what he believed was a call on his life to enter the teaching profession. He moved back to Grahamstown with his wife and four sons in 2009 and spent the year at Rhodes doing his PGCE. Simon joined the St Andrew's Mathematics Department at the beginning of 2010.
Harold Hobson
Harold is an Old Andrean (matriculated in 1978). He studied at the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg) and completed a BSc in Economics and Agricultural Economics. While at UNP, he also earned Springbok colours for rowing. He worked in Agriculture and farmed for 12 years before entering the IT Industry in Port Elizabeth. Harold joined St Andrew's College in 2007 as a rowing master and completed a PGCE (Rhodes University) in 2009. He is currently teaching in both the Mathematics and Accounting/Business Studies Departments. He enjoys rowing, squash, cycling and (occasionally) running.
Wendy Boynton
Wendy completed her studies through the University of Durban in 2001, majoring in Physics. She then taught at Hillcrest High school in Durban for two and a half years before spreading her wings and heading to London where she taught and travelled. At first she did Supply teaching and then settled in a government school in Ealing, West London where she stayed for 7 years. Wendy loved the challenged and worked her way up the ladder to Head of year, in which you are responsible for the emotional and educational needs of each child in her grade. On returning to South Africa she taught at Hillcrest High School again and was Head of Physics then. In May 2007 Wendy took up a post at Diocesans School for Girls as a Mathematics teacher. She has one son who is at St Andrew's Prep.
Sandra Schultz
Sandy holds a BSc degree from UCT, majoring in Mathematics. She also has a BEd degree from the same institution. Cape Town was her first city of choice to live and work in (she taught at SACS for 5 years) until she moved to Grahamstown. She was married for 24 years while living in Durban and the KZN South Coast, and taught at Westville Girls' High, Durban Girls' College and then Port Shepstone High School, before moving to DSG and SAC. Her two daughters (aged 24 and 22) are her pride and joy. Grahamstown has allowed her to pursue her passions of reading and creative writing, is a safe environment to go for walks, and is in reach of the sea.
Xolani Jonono
Xolani holds a BSc degree from Rhodes University, with majors in Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. He also has an HDE (PG)(SEC) from the same institution. He joined the Mathematics Department of Stirling High School in 1996. In 2002 he went to Natal University as a Mathematics junior lecturer and tutor. In 2004 he taught Mathematics and Physical Science at Selborne College before teaching Mathematics at St Andrew's College from 2006. Xolani has a passion for chess, classical music, Maths olympiads and the Sudoku.
Simon Holderness
Simon studied a BCom degree at Rhodes University from 1996 to 1998. Once he had completed his degree he travelled the UK and Europe during 1999 and then moved back to Johannesburg where he completed a PDM at the Wits Business School during 2000. In 2001 I joined the business world where he worked at IQ business group and it was here that he decided that teaching was the profession that he should follow, and in 2002 he completed his HDE at Wits University. Once he had successfully completed his course he joined St David's Marist Inanda in 2003 and then moved down to Grahamstown at the beginning of 2009 to take up a position in the Mathematicss department at St Andrew's College.
Andrew Maffessanti
Andrew graduated from Wits University (1987) with BSc degree in Actuarial Science and Statistics. He learned through the life insurance industry as a part-qualified Actuary until 2005. He then studied with the Faculty of Actuaries and obtained Diploma in Actuarial Techniques through the Insurance Institute of South Africa. Andrew then passed the PGCE, with distinction from Rhodes University in 2006. He joined the Mathematics Department of St Andrew's College from October 2006. His hobbies include cycling, cooking, wine club, bridge, golf, Maths puzzles and playing the clarinet.
Judy Hoefnagels
Judy studied at the University of Port Elizabeth (now NMMU) and qualified with a BA degree in Human Movement Studies. She started her teaching career at Victoria Park High in Port Elizabeth where she taught for three years, and then went on to teach Mathematics at Westerford High in Cape Town for ten years. She joined Abbotts College in Cape Town and spent three years teaching Mathematics there before joining Allcopy Publishers and spending four years working with schools in Cape Town. Judy took up a teaching position in the Mathematics Department of St Andrew's College in June 2008.
Anna Jacobs
Mevrou studied a BCom degree at Stellenbosch University, with majors in Mathematics, Accounting and Computer Science. She also studied an HDE at the same institution. She taught Mathematics at PJ Olivier and PW Botha Technical College for boys before joining the St Andrew's Mathematics Department in 1982. This is where she has been involved in boys' boarding for 19 years. Her passions involve Mathematics for the beauty that embedded therein. Mevrou is a family person who loves her children and has one grandson, Connor. She also enjoys chess, reading, travelling, "shopping" (without any money),a beautiful home, travelling, rugby and athletics. She is a perfectionist with a positively competitive spirit who believes in working hard for good results
Mathematical Literacy
Mathematical Literacy is a new subject being offered in the FET Band i.e. for Grades 10, 11 and 12. It will be phased in using a staggered approach beginning with Grade 10 in 2006. The National Curriculum Statement for Mathematical Literacy states that the purpose of the subject is to provide learners with an awareness and understanding of the role that mathematics has in the modern world.
What is the difference between Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy?
One of the major differences between Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy is that Mathematics focuses on formal, more abstract mathematical concepts, whereas Mathematical Literacy focuses on the areas in real life where mathematics is needed i.e. on problems and situations related to daily life contexts in which mathematics is imbedded. As such, Mathematical Literacy is in no way equivalent to the old SG Mathematics but rather a completely different subject with its own distinctive curriculum and purpose.
Why is Mathematical Literacy offered as a Matric subject?
The inclusion of Mathematical Literacy as a fundamental subject in the FET band is in order to ensure that South Africa’s citizens of the future are competent, numerate consumers of mathematics. It is hoped that the study of Mathematical Literacy will ensure a broadening of the education of the learner, who can then take his/her place with confidence in modern society in South Africa.
The study of Mathematical Literacy will help the learner become:
1. A self-managing person: A mathematically literate person should be able to cope with financial issues (hire purchase, mortgage bonds, investments etc.), be able to read maps, follow timetables, estimate and calculate areas and volumes, and understand house plans and sewing patterns.
2. A contributing worker: A mathematically literate person should be able to deal with work-related formulae, read statistical charts, deal with schedules and understand instructions involving numbers.
A participating citizen: A mathematically literate person should be aware of how the power of numbers and mathematical ways of thinking can be used to shape policy and can often be used to support opposing arguments.
Who should take Mathematical Literacy?
The Learning Outcomes of Mathematical Literacy are designed to enable learners to handle, with confidence, the mathematics that affects their lives. However, Mathematical Literacy should not be taken those learners who intend studying disciplines at a tertiary level that are mathematically based, such as the natural sciences or engineering.
Mathematical Literacy is suitable for:
Learners who wish to proceed to disciplines within the social and life sciences sector, as Mathematical Literacy will enable them to deal effectively with mathematically related requirements in these areas.
Equipping mathematically less able learners with the skills and knowledge needed to be able to interact confidently with the mathematics encountered in everyday situations.
Maths Literacy Information for Parents
Using Mathematics Literacy for admission into University:
Students and parents are often ask about what Mathematical Literacy will or won’t allow them to access in relation to further studies. The information below is from the Mathematical Literacy community group ‘blog’ (June 2009)where it is useful to note that several universities allow students to access B Com and some B Sc degrees (as long as a high level is achieved) with Mathematical Literacy.Of course its important to note that entrance requirements are not fixed for the years to come and will be reviewed depending on the experiences of success or failure in relation to the developing admissions ‘rules’.
Rhodes:
https://www.ru.ac.za/documents/Applying/Admission%20requirements%202009.pdf
http://scifac.ru.ac.za/scientry.htm
It seems that ML is acceptable for admission into the science faculty if achieved at a level 6 or above!! Wow and here I thought all along that sciences are excluded. Very few degrees that does not accept ML as an entance requirement at a certain level
Monash
Acceptable for most degrees, including BCom and some of the BSc degrees
http://www.monash.ac.za/prospective/admissions/south-africa-nsc.html
University of the Western Cape
ML is acceptable for all the BCom degrees and even some of the BSc degrees at given levels
http://www.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=cms&action=showfulltext&id=gen11Srv7Nme54_6282_1210068524§ionid=gen11Srv7Nme54_4449_1210050592
NMMU
http://www.nmmu.ac.za/default.asp?id=3644&bhcp=1
Allowed into some of the BCom full time degrees,health sciences degrees, engineering diplomas, Law, not into BCom information science, BSc or engineering. or pharmacology.
KZN
http://mmlc.ukzn.ac.za/Uploads/4e36489d-a83b-43ad-b796-dbb1f4c83809/New%20Entrance%20Requirements%202.doc
No for Engineering,FACULTY OF SCIENCE & AGRICULTURE, medicine, management studies: Bcom,
Yes for some of the health faculty offerings like Dip in Oral Health, B Dental Therapy, B Sport Sciences. Education: BEd and Law.
UP
http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/file/33/StudyProgramme2010AllInclusiveApl7(1).pdf
ML is not accepted for: BCom, Engineering and information technology, health sciences, BSc
ML is accepted for Law (LLB), BA
UJ
http://www.uj.ac.za/Default.aspx?alias=www.uj.ac.za/study
ML is not accepted for: BCom, Engineering,most of the offerings in health sciences, Bcom law,BSc
ML is accepted for financial acounting diplomas and an extended Bcom degree, some of the health sciences diplomas, Law (LLB), BAIt seems that ML is acceptable for admission into the science faculty if achieved at a level 6 or above!! Wow and here I thought all along that sciences are excluded. Very few degrees that does not accept ML as an entance requirement at a certain level.
Kelly Long to represent South Africa 25th January 2012
Kelly Long will represent South Africa at the 5th International Sustainable World Project Olympiad in the USA
