Thinking Spring...and Summer

It is hard to believe it is time to wish students, parents, and faculty a wonderful Spring Break. I can feel the anticipation in the halls and hear it echoing from classrooms as teachers wrap up their lessons before our two-week break. Whether you will be enjoying the time off locally or traveling, I hope everyone has a fun, safe, and relaxing break. I look forward to all the exciting activities that will take place from when we return in April until early June. 

As it is never too early to start thinking about summer, I would like to draw your attention to our always-amazing Summer I.D.E.A.S. program that will begin its 23rd season this June. Open to the greater community, Summer I.D.E.A.S. offers so many ways for children ages three through grade 12 to spend the summer learning, having fun, and making friends. New this year, we are offering high-school courses for possible credit. I encourage everyone to explore all the options for their children at www.usmk12.org/IDEAS.

Eighth-Graders Rule National History Day!

Once again, our exceptional eighth-graders excelled at the Southeastern Regional National History Day competition this past Saturday!

Out of over 500 students and more than 190 projects submitted, our young historians showcased their excellence in research, presenting, and analysis as they claimed 13 of the 27 possible slots at the state competition in Madison.

Please join me in congratulating all of our NHD scholars for their hard work and dedication. A special thanks goes to eighth-grade history teacher Chuck Taft for his help and guidance on NHD projects, and to the many faculty members and parents who assisted our students along the way.

These projects are the culmination of countless hours of research and preparation, and I couldn’t be more pleased with their performance.

Below is a listing of students who advanced to the state competition.

Group Documentary:

DJ Bobbs and Maya Karri, A Fairy Tale to Remember

Amer Mohiuddin and Nyle Numaan, Radium Dial Painters

Individual Documentary:

Megan Dogra, Birth of a Dream

Emma Smith, Rockefeller’s Hookworm Commission

Group Performance:

Will Koch, Cole Stephany, Alex Ventress, and Jaciana Witte-Rivera, Shout!

Individual Performance:

Lizzie Keuler, General Billy Mitchell

Group Website:

Michael Balistreri, Logan Lee, and Nate Sampson, The Texas Western Basketball Team

Individual Website:

Liz Ostermeyer, Never the Same-The Media After Watergate

Kai Veitinger, Gatorade

Individual Exhibit:

Ellie Barney, Gold Fever

Genevieve Fellenz, Youthquake Obsession

Individual Paper:

Anshul Bhatnagar, We Took the Highways…

Katie Feuerstein, An Empire Executed

Best of luck at state in May!