On June 9, 2026, I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Leona Kruczkowskiego w Tychach had the honor of hosting, for the third time, the Final Gala of the International Mathematics Competition Mathematics Without Borders. The event brought together the best young mathematicians from across the Silesian Voivodeship—students from primary and secondary schools, their teachers, school principals, as well as numerous guests and competition partners.
The ceremony began with a musical performance by the Kruczek Artistic Group, which welcomed participants with “A Million Dreams,” highlighting the connection between mathematics and the worlds of art, creativity, and imagination.
On behalf of the host school, the principal welcomed all attendees and emphasized the unique character of a competition that has long demonstrated that mathematics can be not only a demanding discipline but also a fascinating intellectual adventure. The event was held under the honorary patronage of Aleksandra Dyla, Silesian Superintendent of Education, and Maciej Gramatyka, President of Tychy.
Among the distinguished guests were Krystyna Szymczyk, Senior Educational Inspector at the Education Office in Katowice; Iwona Dańczura, Director of the Municipal Education Center in Tychy; Marzena Klementa, Chief Specialist at the Municipal Education Center; and Grzegorz Wójcik, Chair of the Parents’ Council of our school.
Special guests also included Barbara Bąkowska, a long-serving mathematics teacher and mentor to generations of students, and Iwona Łapaj, former vice-principal and head of the school’s mathematics department.
Representatives of thirteen award-winning classes from across the Silesian region took part in the gala. Among the laureates were classes from schools including the OMEGA Community Primary School in Katowice, Nicolaus Copernicus Primary School in Siemianowice Ślaskie, Janusz Korczak Primary School in Pawłowice, Primary School No. 42 in Zabrze, Academic Secondary School of the Silesian University of Technology in Rybnik, Edward Dembowski Bilingual Secondary School in Gliwice, and the host institution, Leon Kruczkowski Secondary School in Tychy.
The gala program featured several engaging presentations promoting mathematics. Participants attended a lecture by Grzegorz Bartosz, a mathematics teacher at our school, entitled “The Królewiec Bridges Puzzle,” which introduced one of the most famous problems in mathematical history in an accessible way.
Later, students from Class 3e—Natalia Milińska, Antoni Kaczmarczyk, and Emil Osojca—delivered a fascinating presentation titled “Infinity and Beyond,” demonstrating how mathematics inspires questions about the nature of the universe and the limits of human understanding.
The highlight of the event was the summary of this year’s competition by the provincial coordinator of Mathematics Without Borders, Magdalena Goraus, followed by the awards ceremony for the winners.
A particularly proud moment for our school community was the success of Classes 1d2 and 1e, which secured second place in their category, confirming the high standard of mathematical achievement at Tychy’s “Kruczek.”
The ceremony also included expressions of gratitude to the teachers involved in evaluating competition papers and to everyone who contributed to organizing the event.
The organizers extended special thanks to the sponsors and supporters whose generosity made the gala possible, including representatives of the Katowice Special Economic Zone, Regional Water and Wastewater Management Center S.A., Clyde Bergemann Polska, District Heating Enterprise Sp. z o.o., Hilton Foods Poland, the Municipal Education Center in Tychy, and the Parents’ Council of I LO.
The gala concluded with another performance by the Kruczkowska Artistic Group. The audience enthusiastically received the students’ artistic program, with particular attention given to “We Don’t Talk About Math,” a parody inspired by “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the movie Encanto, prepared under the direction of Anna Mirowska.
This year’s gala once again demonstrated that mathematics truly knows no borders—neither geographical nor generational. It brings people together, nurtures passions, and inspires the exploration of the world around us.
Congratulations to all laureates, and we wish them continued success in the future! 🎉📐🏆
