Jessica Quinn, Math Department

I love Welcome Day. While the beginning of the year is always exciting, there is also a lot of work to do to get back into the mindset of being at school after having the summer off. I love that IH prioritizes welcoming new members of the community amid the hectic beginning of a new school year. It is amazing that all this energy goes into working together within classes to make sure that the new students and staff feel welcomed into the community. It’s a great start to the year.

 

I want my students to know that they have the ability and skills to change the world. When they are presented with a challenging problem in the classroom, my students don’t just sit back and wait for someone else to suggest a solution or give them the answer. In my classroom, everyone is encouraged to take risks and try new things. Sometimes we might make mistakes, but this is how we grow and learn, and it is the only way to effect change in our world. IH gives students a safe space to practice taking risks, and they leave here ready to be leaders in the world outside of school.

 

I love all of the creative and artistic projects we assign in our Geometry classes. By showing students how Geometry connects to art, architecture and graphic design, students who might not have seen themselves as mathematicians before often become convinced that math isn’t just about numbers. Math can also be about beauty, nature and making the world a more beautiful place. These types of projects in Geometry can sometimes be the “hook” that helps a student realize the value of mathematics in their lives.