Four problems, three hours, the clock starts now.
Programmania, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board’s annual computer programming competition, once again lived up to its name, delivering three intense hours of coding, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Held this year at St. Jean de Brébeuf Catholic Secondary School, the event brought together some of the board’s top student programmers to compete in what is widely regarded as one of the most challenging academic competitions of the year.
Working in teams, students were tasked with solving four increasingly complex programming problems within a three-hour time limit. Each solution required teams to write code capable of reading input files and producing accurate outputs, with scoring based on both correctness and submission time.
The challenge every year involves writing code to solve four problems within a limited timeframe. Each solution is tested against multiple inputs, and teams earn points based on accuracy and how quickly they can submit a correct result.
Strict competition guidelines ensure a level playing field, with teams using school-provided devices and approved programming tools. Students are permitted to use standard libraries and written resources, but the use of AI tools or pre-written code is strictly prohibited.
Despite the pressure, students demonstrated impressive problem-solving skills, perseverance, and teamwork throughout the competition.
Leading the field this year was St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School, capturing first place honours. Finishing in second place was St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, followed by Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School in third.
“Programmania has been such a special event in our board since 1987, and we’ve been fortunate to host it at St. Jean de Brébeuf over the past few years,” said Stefanie Calabrese, Secondary Department Head of Business Computers.
“It’s always amazing to see students take on challenges with persistence, determination, and strong problem-solving skills. These are the kinds of qualities that will shape them into our future innovators, and every participant has something to be proud of.”
More photos on our HWCDSB Facebook page.
Preview
