It is also the time when HSC results are released, with NSW school leavers set to find out their marks tomorrow.

Four year 9 girls from St Paul’s College in Kempsey have already enjoyed academic success at a state level.

The girls were being listed among the winners of the 2014 NSW and ACT Maths via Digital Media competition which was organised by Wollongong University.

St Paul’s was the only rural regional high school to make the finals.

Rilee O’Loughlin, Tess Harwood, Abigael Baker and Claire Brennan used humour and special graphic techniques to develop a video illustrating the concept of Pythagoras’ theorem.

Under the guidance of teachers John Marks and James Westman, the girls were invited to make digital media video clips to present mathematics or applications of mathematics related to their syllabus.

The competition was in line with the new Australian mathematics curriculum that focuses on “developing increasingly sophisticated and refined mathematical understanding, fluency, logical reason, analytical thought and problem-solving skills”.

St Paul’s principal Kevin Lewis said it was a chance for the girls to reflect on what they had been taught through a digital medium.

“They had the chance to tap into their own unique creativity to a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts by employing several facets of learning,” he said.

“These included research, modelling, animations, drawing, acting, and communication via story-writing and-or narrating.

"An underlying premise is for the students to better understand how they personally connect with, engage with and learn mathematics.’”