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1,000 digits of pi at Humboldt High

Retiring math teacher has celebrated special math event for last 16 years of her 36-year career

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Pam Swan, Humboldt High School math teacher, is all smiles in her classroom. After 36 years as a teacher, Swan will retire at the end of the school year.

HUMBOLDT — On March 14 at Humboldt High School, Pam Swan witnessed something she never had in her 36 years as a math teacher.

A sophomore student recited 1,000 digits of pi during the school’s celebration of Pi Day.

“In all my years, no one else had,” Swan said on Friday. “I would like to know even at the state of Iowa what the record is. I have no idea because no one keeps track of that.”

The Messenger is honoring the student’s request that his identity be withheld for the story.

Swan said it took the student less than 20 minutes to share the 1,000 digits.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Pam Swan, Humboldt High School math teacher, writes out a math problem on a dry erase board in her classroom recently. Swan is retiring at the end of the school year.

The same student broke his previous record of 400 from the year before, she said.

When asked how many students took the opportunity to recite pi digits, Swan said, “Not many. Second place was 56 digits of pi. Third place was thirty-some digits.”

Pi Day is an annual celebration of the finite number, 3.14, used to calculate the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

Pi Day has been celebrated at Humboldt for more than 16 years, Swan said.

“In math, this is a way to celebrate,” she said, “make math something fun for a change for some kids.”

Swan said her favorite aspect of teaching is the one-on-one time with students.

“Sitting one-on-one after school with kids and helping them, and seeing the light bulb go on,” she said. “That’s the best part of teaching.”

The recent celebration of Pi Day at the school will be Swan’s last. She is retiring at the end of the school year.

Students and staff helped make the day a special one, she said.

“It was the last and it was the best,” Swan said.

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