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Middle Schoolers Show Their Smarts

McDonogh middle schoolers demonstrated their knowledge of both literature and geography in two much-anticipated competitions held the week of May 2.

Battle of the Books
The middle schoolers know their books and they proved it at the 22nd Annual Battle of the books. After being held virtually for the last two years, students from eight area independent schools demonstrated their familiarity with a selection of books in the competition at Gilman School on Monday, May 2, and Wednesday, May 4.

Students were encouraged to participate in the competition by reading at least three of the 10 books selected by area school librarians for the fifth/sixth and seventh/eighth-grade reading levels. After reading the books, battlers competed in teams to answer questions about the story, characters, and author. Whether students made it to the final competition or not, the Battle of the Books increases motivation to read, boosts comprehension, and broadens their choice of reading material.

McDonogh’s seventh- and eighth-grade teams both finished in first place on Monday. Congratulations to the seventh-grade team of Nengi B., Cline H., Amelie S., and Elianna V. and the eighth-grade team of Hannah B., Aanya K., Vivie L., and Onyeka N. 

Two days later, sixth-graders Chisom A., Lyla K., John P., and Angad S. tied for third-place in their competition and fifth-grade Team #1: Anna Catherine H., Noah K., Rhea S., and Anna T. earned third place while Team #2: Betsy G., Olivia P., Tori S., and Nina V., came in fourth out of seven teams.

Geography Bee
On Friday, May 6, the Middle Schoolers gathered in the Horn Theatre for the in-person Geography Bee. Twenty-eight students qualified for the competition that included questions about U.S., world, and physical geography. Congratulations to sixth-grader Roman K. who earned first place and to eighth-graders Nathan E., Milie S., and Philemon K. who tied for second place.