By Kennedy Loughridge, junior reporter
During the month of March there are many holidays celebrated and one that can’t be ignored is Pi Day.
Joel Burgeson, math teacher and math club sponsor set out to celebrate the event by making history and breaking the world record for most people gathered to form the Pi shape.
It was a plan six months in the making and it became a reality on March 13, just one short day of the National Day of Pi.
This day has been celebrated on March 14 each year since 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw wanted to have a more fun and celebrated time of mathematics. He chose March 14, because on paper it looks like 03.14. This is the beginning of the very long sequence that Pi is notorious for.
Last year was the first time Goddard High School made a human Pi symbol and it is looking to become an annual event. The Math club and department took over the organizing to show appreciation for the study of math.
The Math club is also a chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the national high school academic honor for mathematics. Mu Alpha tries "to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop scholarship, and promote enjoyment of the subject. It fosters a community for math enthusiasts through competitions, math-related activities, and peer tutoring."
As a way to celebrate the irrational number, last year Joel Burgeson and Heather Aldrich, math club sponsors, gathered students and staff in the foyer to make a human Pi symbol.
This year the club plans to take things up a notch by attempting to break a Guiness World Record. The largest number of people to participate in is 2,036 as of March 8, 2023. This year the Math Club wants to surpass that by prompting Goddard High School to hold that record. There have been numerous flyers, social media posts, and just talk amongst people to get anyone in the Goddard community to participate in this.
The reason for doing this is due to the 200 people who participated last year and the Math Club talking about different ideas and ways to show appreciation on this mathematical day.
“There were some unrealistic ones--don't ask about the moose head and the clowns--but on the whole that's what happened. Everyone that had a good idea was encouraged to take it on, so all the little things that have happened have not been overwhelming,” Burgeson said.
In order for all of this to be known and recorded, the Math Club has brought an auditor from The Guinness World Records, to help solidify this monumental event.
“Talk to many people: administrators, teachers, student groups, media, friends, neighbors, basically anyone that would listen,” Burgeson said.
During the last two school hours of the day on March 13, the whole school and surrounding Goddard District schools gathered to go outside to the football field where the human Pi symbol will be displayed.
Students have also been a big factor in getting word spread about the Pi day fun. Different clubs, like Spirit Club and Goddard Media have been helping promote it. Students in general have also been talking about it the week of, showing their excitement for this irrational number.
“I have helped set up hurdles for the formation of the symbol and the sections for it. I also am helping with the rosters for the sections and counting,” Alizahy Urias, Spirit Club members, says of her involvement in the great record beating symbol.
A drone captured the moment. The picture will be sent to the Guinness World Record organization, who will determine if in fact Goddard High broke the record. Stay tuned for more as this story develops.
Joel Burgeson, GHS Math Teacher and Math Club sponsor coordinated the record breaking effort.
Many logistics workers were required to place students and get an accurate count for the world record breaking effort.
Pi day wouldn't be complete without at least one person getting a pie in the face. Principal Doug Bridwell was the lucky recipient to end the festivities.