Monsignor Haddad Middle School Success at History Competition

Monsignor Haddad Middle School (MHMS), located in Needham, MA, is pleased to announce that for the seventh year in a row they are sending students to the national contest this June 10 – 14, 2018 for the National History Day Competition. National History Day (NHD) is a project that teaches students critical thinking and historical research skills centered around an annual theme, although specific topics are individually chosen. Over half a million middle and high school students and 30,000 teachers participate annually. The contest begins at the classroom level, then continues on to the district and state levels before finally reaching nationals.

At the state competition at Winchester High School on Saturday, April 7, seventh graders Maggie Lagan of Natick and Kirsten Meyers of Needham became the latest MHMS students to earn a trip to the national contest in Washington, DC. Besides continuing the school’s seven year streak this marks the first time the school has earned this distinction in the website category and the first time two students will be going in the same year.

“We are proud of the effort and success our students have made this year and in the past. To have two students nominated for a national competition is a great honor for our school,” said MHMS principal, Jay MacDonald.

This year’s contest theme was Conflict and Compromise. Students were allowed to choose their individual subject and present it as a research paper, website, exhibit, documentary, or dramatic performance. Lagan competed in the junior individual website category with her project “The Northern Ireland Hunger Strikes: Feeding the Flames of Independence” and won second place. Meyers’ first place junior individual exhibit project was titled “Triangle Shirtwaist Fire: Igniting Labor Reforms”.

Five MHMS students advanced to the state competition from districts earlier this year. In addition to Lagan’s and Meyers’ awards, Anna Hvidsten of Needham earned an honorable mention in junior individual website for her entry,” Not So Little Rock Nine” and Erin Kaye won honorable mention in junior individual documentary “Guilty Until Proven Innocent:Villifying Women During the Conflict in Salem”. Kaye also was honored with a special award from the House of Seven Gables in Salem, MA for her project.

This year, not only did the students receive accolades, but their teacher, Ms. Emily Spence, was recognized as the Bryan McSheffrey History Day Teacher of the Year for the junior division.

“The combination of the dedication and talent of the students together with the direction and leadership of their teacher, Ms. Emily Spence, is a winning combination,” commented MacDonald. “ We want to congratulate Ms. Spence on her award for being recognized as the National History Day Teacher of the Year!”

Monsignor Haddad Middle School is the only separately incorporated, stand-alone co-educational Catholic middle school in the Archdiocese of Boston. With less than 200 students in the entire school and only the seventh graders entering the NHD competition it is remarkable that for seven years in a row MHMS has sent a student to the national contest. The school’s successful track record in the competition is due not only the students’ hard work, but also the interdisciplinary approach for the project across the school’s curriculum

According to a 2016 press release, “Less than 1% of all entries make it to the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest,” said National History Day® Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “The level of research and presentation of the students at this level is astounding. They truly represent the best and brightest minds of the next generation.” For Monsignor Haddad Middle School, having had eight in the past seven year of these “best and brightest minds” is a spectacular achievement.