In a significant move to foster enthusiasm for mathematics, the Junior School celebrated its first participation in the Känguru der Mathematik (Kangaroo of Mathematics) global competition this March. This international event, which took place on March 19, 2026, involved over 40 Grade 3 and 4 students who volunteered to challenge their logical and analytical skills.
The Kangaroo competition is a massive international undertaking, drawing approximately 6 million participants from over 100 countries. In Germany alone, where the competition was held for the 32nd time in 2026, participation has grown from just 184 students in 1995 to over 880,000 in 2025. This year, the scale was even larger, with more than 920,000 students from over 13,000 German schools participating.
Participation in the competition was entirely voluntary and based on student motivation. Preparation for the team began well before the February break, with students attending weekly orientation sessions held during Wednesday lunch recesses. These sessions helped students adapt to the unique format of the competition; as several students noted, the test features fewer standard "number problems" and focuses more on conceptual, analytic, and logic questions.
On the day of the event, participants met at 9:15 AM and were walked to the Nexus to tackle the challenge. The competition consists of a 75-minute paper-based test where students in grades 3 and 4 solved 24 multiple-choice tasks.
Following the competition, a special recognition ceremony was held on the floor of the PAC auditorium. Organizers Armin Martin (Maker Space Lead Educator,PYP Coordinator) and Vicki Shaver (Junior School Learning Centre Teacher) praised the participants for their dedication. Every student who participated received a certificate for their Toddle Portfolio and a "prize for all"—a small knobelspiel (puzzle game) designed to encourage continued joy in mathematics.
Special honors were awarded to the following top achievers (Grade level in parentheses):
With nearly 50 students showing interest by the competition date, the Junior School is already looking forward to next year's participation.