Middle School Kids Shine at National History Day Regional Competition

On Sunday March 3^rd, 17 SOMS students, their advisor and families travelled to the College of New Jersey for the regional competition of National History Day (NHD). The students had been preparing their projects for this competition since October in SOMS’s first afterschool NHD club, led by 6^th grade social studies’ teacher Caroline Pew.

In what was a tremendous day, the students displayed their work and were questioned by a team of judges on the topic of their choice and its relation to this year’s NHD theme "Turning Points in History." Our students prepared projects individually or in groups, competing in Exhibit, Performance and Documentary categories. In what Principal Uglialoro called an "incredible accomplishment" in his letter to parents this week, three of the nine entries will be advancing to the state competition in May! Winners from this event will move on to the national finals in June.

One of the highlights of the event was the pure enthusiasm of the students – to learn and participate, to compete and to support one another. It was marvelous fun to watch our middle schoolers rapidly learning their way around campus to race to the different buildings to see each other’s performances, documentaries and exhibits.

As parents, we were all thrilled at how hard the kids worked to be prepared for the competition and how Ms Pew guided and supported them through the process. Her influence and energy were contagious. We all sat together in the opening and closing ceremonies. When our school was announced at role call, the kids cheered and applauded. When they announced the students who were advancing, the group erupted in shouts and cheers. I am not sure who was prouder: the students, the parents or Ms Pew.

The kids and Ms Pew will be celebrating the club’s success in their usual meeting time after school this week. They are all proud of their peers who are preparing for the next round of competition: Caroline Cerny and Piper Eccles (7^th grade) : Documentary about Title IX, Jessica Helfenstein and Zoe Fuhrman (6^th grade) : Performance about Women’s baseball in World War II, and Jake Knoll (6^th grade) : Exhibit about the influence of fast food on American society. And from what we understand, many of the rest of the club (including my son) are already planning next year’s projects!