WOODBURY — Nonnewaug High on May 16 hosted Math Day, a day for schools in the surrounding area to unite and have some fun competition focused on math-based games. There were various schools in the Nonnewaug auditorium having fun chatting and playing math Kahoots — and celebrating Kahoot wins.

The first World Math Day was held March 13, 2007. National Math Day is on Dec. 22, which marks the date that legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan was born. Contrary to popular belief, Nonnewaug’s Math Day was not inspired by the global or national math day. Math Day was an idea inspired by an event that Nonnewaug participated in.

“Math Day was inspired by a similar event held at Western Connecticut State University called “Who Wants to be a Mathematician,” says NHS Math Department chairman Ray Robillard. “It had similar activities including a competition put on by the American Mathematical Society.  We attended that event twice in previous years before hosting an event here at NHS.”

Nine schools participated in Math Day: Newtown, Thomaston, Bethel, Naugatuck, Gilbert, Explorations Charter School, Shepaug, New Fairfield, and Oxford.

“Math Day was created to give students who love math an opportunity to share that experience with other students from local schools,” says Robillard. “There are so many opportunities for students who are passionate about something to have their moment in the sun — art shows, concerts, sporting events, recitals, etc. — but there hasn’t been a similar experience for students who get excited about math prior to this.”

All the students who came to Math Day had a great time competing with their friends in a packed auditorium. Robillard anticipates Nonnewaug will hold this event again.

The winner of Math Day was Newtown, with Bethel in second and Nonnewaug in third.