Kennedy School students and teachers have much to celebrate after the great showing made at the Massachusetts National History Day competition. – Photo by Ellen Conte

On Saturday, April 6, twelve students from the Kennedy School took part in the Massachusetts National History Day competition, with over 300 students competing from 51 schools.

The Kennedy School had a successful day. Of the six projects that competed, four won awards. Three of the projects will be heading to the Nationals in June at University of Maryland.

This will be the Kennedy’s twenty-first year competing at National’s, making it the most successful middle school in Massachusetts. History Day has been proven successful at the Kennedy year after year. It is an important part of the Social Studies curriculum and it allows all students to be successful. The success of all the students at the Kennedy would not have been possible without the hard work of Jennifer Sears and Christine Colangelo.

Students began their research in September, reading and analyzing both primary and secondary sources. Students interviewed experts and visited museums and libraries to conduct research. The students created a project around the theme “Turning Points in History.” After much work students competed in a school contest. A first or second place win at the state contest allows them to compete in the National Contest in June. The National Contest encompass all fifty states, as well America Samoa, Guam, and Department of Defense Schools, totaling over 3500 students competing at nationals.

(L to R) Marissa Toner, Kaleigh Conte, Emily O’Regan, Kevin Long and Anmol Maini.

The students who will be going on to Nationals are Kaleigh Conte and Emily O’Regan with their Group Performance entitled “The Truth Prevails: How Two Women Took Back America from A.I.D.S.,” Marissa Toner with an individual performance entitled “Masquerade of One American Solider, Anmol Maini,” and Kevin Long with a website entitled “Next Stop: History.”

Receiving an Honorable Mention and the National Archive Award were Kiely Johnson, Gwen Law, Haley McGovern, and Taylor McGovern with a group performance entitled  “They Can Do It, They Can Do Anything: The Power Of Sisterhood.” Also participating, Camille Chan with a historical paper called “Ashes of Realization: The Great Fire of London, 1666 and its Aftermath,” and Peter Clark and Anoush Khan with a documentary entitled “To Infinity and Beyond: The Story of the Space Program.”

If you would like to support the students going to Nationals, donations can be sent to John F. Kennedy School, Attn. Jennifer Sears, 5 Cherry Street, Somerville, MA 02144.