The News From MGWS

Excitement was in the air and nervous contestants and their families filled the gym as the second annual community Geo Quiz got underway last night. Twelve teams composed of two students and two adults fielded questions about U.S. and World geography. The teams and their generous sponsors raised over $3000, and more was raised from the sale of food and a raffle organized by MGWS parent Maura Constantine. (Thanks, Maura!) Proceeds from the evening went to the Ebenezer School in Milot, Haiti (see previous post for more information on this school).

Teams and sponsors were:

~Save the Penguins sponsored by York Chiropractic- Sarah Roberge, Jaci Simms, Catie Moloney, Randi Sansoucie

~The Geo Wiz Quartet sponsored by P. Gagnon – Libby Clark, Sarah Walker, Annie Moloney, Lane Klossner

~Geometry Campers sponsored by Birch Hill Overnight Summer Camp - Jerry Burnell, Carleton Spring, Nik Adair, Noah Handfelder

~Geography Wizards sponsored by Town of South Berwick - Lori Girouard, Barry O’Brien, Peter O’Brien, Ben Gildersleeve

~Spring Hill Team sponsored by Spring Hill - Karyn Scharf, Gary Phillips, Nina Ross, Cassandra Gagnon

~Team Flamingo Goes Global sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Henderson, Jr. – Karla Kyle, Karen Lawrence, Renee Clavette, Sacha Kiesman

~Salmon Falls Nursery Team sponsored by Salmon Falls Nursery - Brian Beeler, Amelia Small, Nate Adair, Cameron Scharff

~The Cinnamon Twists sponsored by Civil Consultants - Greg Tuano, Chris Blunt, Colleen Tuano, Andy Blunt

~In A Fogg sponsored by William Fogg Library – Susan Sinott, John Waters, Samantha Silver, Kathryn Fagan

~Bondgarden Farm sponsored by Bondgarden Farm – Alec Rooney, Boris Varshavsky, Jack Constantine, Cody Furbish

~The Squids sponsored by The Little Hat Company – Amy Miller, Ann Milne, Lydia Carlson, Sophie Towle

~The Geo Unit sponsored by Lassel Architects - John Klossner, Jerry Gullie, Chase Barlow, Zach Mitchell

Team Flamingo, Spring Hill, The Squids, and In A Fogg all qualified for the final round and in the end…

Team Spring Hill was awarded the championship and given plaques which were handmade by Oscar Stone.

All in all it was a terrific night! Thanks to the Moloneys for organizing this wonderful event and to all who came out to support the Milot School!

Mr. Pollock has had students out on the field and in the woods with their snowshoes this week. Feedback from students has been mostly positive, although we also heard, “Snowshoeing is really exhausting!”

Late this morning, students and staff gathered in the gym to watch the inauguration of our new president.  It was an historic event that was not to be missed!

Which state does NOT border Tennessee — Maryland, Arkansas, or Georgia?

The Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea are part of which continent?

To explore the birthplace of Revolutionary figure Simon Bolivar in Caracas, you would travel to which South American country?

(answers at the bottom of this post)

These were the types of questions faced by this year’s participants in the local competition of the National Geography Bee held here at MGWS on Thursday, January 8th. This school-level bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 21st annual National Geography Bee, which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

Fifth grader Hayden Fitt was the winner of this year’s bee and fourth grader Cameron Morin was a close second. Ten other MGWS students participated in this year’s Bee. The bee was run by our own Grace Jacobs, who was assisted by teachers Lori Girouard and Elizabeth Morrison.

Hayden will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in the Maine State Bee on April 3rd. The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the National Geographic Bee national championship on May 19 and 20, which will be moderated by Alex Trebek.

Congratulations to all of this year’s participants who were particularly successful in fielding U.S. Geography questions. We’ll be rooting for you, Hayden!!

Answers to the questions above: Maryland, North America, Venezuela