School in Action Night at SOMS

Last night was School in Action Night at South Orange Middle School.  At 6:30 pm, incoming students and their parents were invited for an orientation of the school.  Cecelia Cancellaro, Public Relations Chair of the SOMS Home School Association called the evening a “wonderful way for current 5th graders to get a glimpse into middle school life.”  At 7:00 pm, the doors were opened for all.  There was art abound, in all forms, showcasing the talents of both student and teacher. 

On the ground floor, there was a “Living Wax Museum,” where students dressed as a specific historical figure (or group) and came to life to inform the visitors of their history, after a donation was dropped into a bucket they were holding.  All donations collected at the Living Wax Museum will go toward the cost of having an assembly on the last day of school with an appearance by Flocabulary, a hip-hop music troupe who rap and sing about U.S. history.

Caroline Pew, the 6th grade Social Studies teacher who brought the wax museum to life says she is proud of the students who took part in the evening’s educational festivities. 

“The Living Wax Museum was a huge success completely because of the efforts brought forth by students and their parents.  Their costumes were brilliant and knowledge of their historical figures was great,” said Pew.

In Mrs. Dennard’s 6th grade Social Studies classroom, the tables were covered with dioramas and other fabrications of significant historical movements and events.  Dennard gave her students free range in their historical creativity, and told them to choose a medium and a topic they had discussed in class.

“This is my museum of magnificent achievers,” said Dennard, referring to her students. 

Downstairs in the cafeteria, the science fair was taking place.  From the effect of talking on a cell phone while driving to the speed of light in gelatin, there was a wide range of exploration and experimentation.  

Diane Grant, the director of the SOMS Science Fair said that "the level of quality and content of the projects were extraordinary, I was extremely proud of all the participating young scientists' hard work.”