1. THIS Annual Pi Day Events
Tsinghua International School (THIS) celebrated the annual Pi (π) Day with a thematic Math and Science Week (March 9-13, 2026), a meaningful echo of the global academic community's shared reverence for the mathematical constant π.
Across the campus, a quiet dialogue unfolded—one between reason and romance—as students and teachers alike explored the mysteries of π, an infinite, non-repeating number that never quite resolves.
Pi Day is traditionally observed March 14 because "3.14" are the first three significant figures of π.
THIS Mathematics and Science departments arranged a variety of activities throughout the week, creating opportunities for cross-grade collaborations and engaging competitions that brought the entire school community together. The main highlight being then Pi Day Mathematics Competition held on Wednesday afternoon, March 11.
One popular activity Big Hands Taking Small Hands invited upperclassmen to visit lower-grade math classes and explain mathematical problems from a "big buddy" perspective.
In Finding your Birthday in Pi, students across grades explored the endless string of random digits in Pi, searching for the sequence that matched their birthdate.
The Pi Day Mathematics Competition consisted of two parts: an individual round and a team competition. In the individual round, students completed a timed written test designed to challenge their mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills. The team competition included two sections: a hands-on project and a lightning round!
During the hands-on team challenge, students were asked to design and build the most effective load-bearing boat using only aluminium foil and straws. This activity put students mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills to a real-world test.
Some boats sank immediately once weights were added, while many successfully held between 300 and 600 grams. Impressively, three boats were able to support 1 kilo without sinking!
The Science Quiz Bowl and Pi Day Math Competition Team Lightning Round were fast-paced team competitions in which students answered questions within a strict time limit, aiming to earn as many points as possible.
Math and Science week transformed classrooms at THIS into places of celebration and curiosity about π. Some students challenged themselves to memorize as many digits of π as possible, while others enjoyed solving puzzles, tackling individual challenges, and participating in math games or competitions. Many students concluded the Pi Day Math Competition by enjoying a slice of pizza "pi(e)" , a delicious way to remember π.
2. Students' Enjoyment
Students who participated in the Math and Science Week activities expressed their excitement and satisfaction.
Ayanvitta Kalsi (G8): "From my point of view, Pi Day is a reminder that math exists everywhere around us – in circles, wheels, architecture, and even in space science. It shows us that mathematics is not just about numbers in a textbook; it is a language that helps us understand the world. Our teachers make our math activities throughout the year, and especially on Pi Day, very memorable, enjoyable, and little magical. Thank you to my awesome teachers."
Winston Dai (G8): "Pi day is once again really interesting this year. I stopped heavily disliking math after I started getting better test scores once. I really liked the Pi Day this year because I was able to get extra credits from math teacher Mr. Choe and the Quiz Bowl was something that I enjoyed being a part of even though I didn’t go up on stage to answer the questions. Overall, what I will say is that Pi Day has become something that I hear a lot more about now, and it’s starting to get much more interesting. Anyways, this year Pi Day was a blast and I hope next time is just as good."
Freya Chen (G10): "I felt that this year's Pi Day was just as interesting as those in previous years. The most impressive part for me was the boatbuilding team challenge. We used common materials found in daily life, like tinfoil and straws. I never imagined those materials could hold so much weight! I had a lot of fun today and learned a lot. It truly made me realize that ordinary materials, when combined with clever ideas and teamwork, can create unexpected strength."
Vicky Wang (G10): Compared to previous years, I felt that this year's Pi Day events were especially immersive. This year's team challenge was also a lot of fun — it shifted from building towering structures to making sturdy boats, which were tested by floating on water. As for the difficulty of the math problems... I’m really not in a position to judge, since math isn’t exactly my strong suit—many of the questions left me totally confused. That said, I also got to see many talented classmates writing furiously on their test papers. Whether through the problems or the team challenge, I truly experienced the fun and wonder of mathematics. Pi Day was really an amazing experience!
3. Evolution of Pi Day at THIS
Pi Day at THIS started in 2011, when the group of teachers of the Mathematics and Science departments decided to join in the international Pi Day celebration.
Xu Xiaobin, commonly known as Mr. X, and now head of Science Department, is among the founders of Pi Day of the school. Reliving the moment, he shared that in one spring afternoon some 15 years ago, some math and science teachers decided to observe the Pi Day because it might be "fun to do something" on that date.
"THIS was a fairly small school back then. Both departments had around five teachers in total. We were looking for the special dates on the calendar to see what we could do on those dates," said Mr. X, "Some would love to eat pizza on Pi Day as pizza is called Pi(e) in New York."
For the Pi Day itself, it began as a rudimentary, small event called Math Night that was held on the Friday night closest to March 14 of the given year. Then, Pi Day event shifted to Wednesdays due to the shorter afternoon schedule.
According to the recollections of the mathematics faculty, in the early years, the school would dedicate an entire day to "Math Day"—a format somewhat similar to China Day—where students rotated through different classrooms to participate in various math lectures and activities.
Later, this arrangement was adjusted to take place only during a student assembly and on Wednesday afternoons. Moreover, much of the engaging content originally designed for Pi Day has gradually been integrated into regular classroom instruction, and occasionally, in collaboration with the science department, continues to be featured during "Math and Science Week."
Math teachers have consistently integrated Pi Day into their daily teaching across various subjects. As a result, today's Pi Day not only features more diverse and engaging competition formats but also better aligns with students' learning realities and developmental needs.
Overall, the main changes have made the competition formats more diverse and enjoyable, while the event has become more efficient in its use of time, striving to take up less of other classes.
4. Teachers' Pi Day Reflections
Pi is infinite and non-repeating—much like the unique ways mathematics inspires each of us. Between the activities, some faculty members shared their thoughts on this celebration of math.
Scott Paré, Academic Principal: Math and Science are part of everything we do and who we are. It is always exciting to see students show their passion and their talent in these areas. I really love seeing students compete and show their knowledge in our annual quiz on these topics. It is especially fun to hear their classmates cheer on and yell out the answers. The passion in these subjects really shows well at our annual Pi Day celebration.
I am thankful for our outstanding math and science departments that put a lot of effort into stirring student's thirst for knowledge and their ability to showcase this knowledge.
Jeanne Croker, Dean of Faculty, and Math Teacher: Pi Day has been a fun tradition carried out by the Math Department with the help of the Science Department over the years. During the week, math teachers do some interesting activities outside their curriculum. From my 10 years at THIS, I have seen the competition double in size to this year’s over 150 students. It’s really nice to see students working together, encouraging each other, struggling, persevering, laughing, solving problems and enjoying math outside the classroom.
Qin Jing, Head of Math Dept: I am deeply gratified and delighted that the number of participants this year was higher than ever before. In daily math classes, during every Math Club activity and competition, through calculations on whiteboards and posters displayed on hallway bulletin boards, exciting mathematical moments are happening all the time. The student speeches on Pi Day are a showcase of this creativity.
Su Han, Math Teacher: The Pi Day activities make mathematics both fun and engaging, giving students the chance to experience the beauty of math through hands-on learning. It was wonderful to see their curiosity and enthusiasm as they thought critically, took risks during the Quiz Bowl, and explored creative activities. At the same time, the event highlights that both teamwork and individual challenges are important. In the team and individual rounds, students encouraged and learned from each other, pushing themselves to explore new ideas—this spirit of active participation and self-challenge captures the essence of learning mathematics.
Andy Werner, Math Teacher: Pi Day at THIS always brings the Math Department together to inspire fascination and fun with mathematics. We enjoy seeing all the students come together to solve problems, complete building challenges, and eat pizza pies. Learning mathematics is a social experience best done through collaboration with others.
Raysa Rodriguez, Math Teacher: I am glad that we carry on the long-standing tradition of the Pi Day Math Competition, where students can shine individually or as part of a team. Whether in the classroom, the hallways, or in friendly competition, we hope all students enjoyed this year’s Math Week. It’s wonderful to have a week where students can connect with one another and have fun exploring the special number π. During this time, math becomes more playful and engaging, helping students see how it connects to many aspects of their everyday lives.
An Nguyen, Math Teacher: Pi Day Math Competition is a great opportunity for students to expose math topics that are not traditionally taught in school. It is also great chance for students to work together as a team to solve challenging problems using what they’ve learned. We hope students walk away with a bigger picture of mathematics and ignite their interest in math.
Long Yuqing, Math Teacher and AI Affairs Coordinator: In the age of AI, calculating more digits of Pi is perhaps more symbolic than practical. Yet the fundamental drive—to find clear order in a world of chaos—has not changed. Our message to the innovators of tomorrow is this: No matter how technology evolves, mathematics will always be your key to understanding how AI works, and your most powerful tool in the search for truth through logic and probability.
Jean Choe Jr, Math Teacher: What a creative idea it is to have the number pi displayed across the hallway and involving students to find their birthdays! Lucky that my birthday appears right by my classroom.
One of my favorite parts of Math Week is seeing upperclassmen sharing their math knowledge with the underclassmen.
5. Why It Mattered
For many students, Pi is likely first irrational number they ever learn about—a number with infinite, non-repeating digits. Our quest to understand it spans millennia: from our ancestors' simple observation that it was about "3," to the more precise calculations of 3.14 and the ratio 355/113 in ancient civilizations, and finally to the quadrillions of digits we know today.
It is a beautiful, enduring human endeavor: using our finite minds to grasp the infinite unknown. THIS chooses to call this celebration "Pi Day," not "Math Day," because Pi is more than just a mathematical idea; it’s a gift from the universe, found in the equations that describe nature and hidden within the most fundamental laws of probability.
This week was about more than just math and science—it was about community, collaboration, and innovation – core vallues that THIS always encourages.
Upper-grade students gained meaningful teaching experience, while their younger counterparts learned in a relaxed and engaging peer environment.
All participants departed with new skills, new connections, and a deeper appreciation for the marvels of mathematics in their continuous growth at THIS.
