Peck Students Stretch Their Problem-Solving Muscles in Ongoing Math Olympiad

Each year, Peck’s budding mathematicians dive into the nationwide Math Olympiad—an enriching, months-long challenge designed to push creative thinking, strengthen problem-solving strategies, and bring together students who simply love doing extra math.

Over five competitions held from November through March, students work independently through sets of tricky, open-ended problems—no calculators allowed. Their solutions are submitted as part of Peck’s team score, alongside thousands of teams across the country.

But ask Upper School Math Teacher Amy Papandreou, and she’ll tell you the real magic happens before the competitions even begin.

Each week, students gather before school—fifth and sixth graders on Wednesdays, seventh and eighth graders on Thursdays—for collaborative problem-solving sessions. Papandreou provides several challenging problems from past Olympiads, and students dive in: brainstorming strategies, testing ideas, and then coming together for a lively group discussion.

“That part is even better than the competitions,” Papandreou said. “Students get to see how others approached the same problem—different strategies, different ways of organizing their thinking. It exposes them to creative solutions they might never have considered.”

These sessions are intentionally designed to be welcoming, low-pressure, and focused on growth. There are no tryouts, no cuts, and no scoreboard mentality. 

“I want to create a space for kids who love math to do more math,” she explained. “It’s about building community—finding like-minded peers, discovering new approaches, and pushing yourself a bit outside your comfort zone.”

Seventh and eighth graders may also opt into the AMC 8, a respected national (and technically international) mathematics competition that takes place each January. This 25-question, 40-minute challenge gives students a chance to experience one of the most well-known math contests in the country.

No matter the division or competition, Peck’s approach remains the same: embrace challenge, celebrate curiosity, and help students grow into confident, resilient problem solvers