The Excitement of Competition

Congratulations to Hanna Guarnuccio, grade 8, and Kaia Shareef, grade 7, for winning the Columbus Day Essay Contest last month.

Sponsored by UNICO, the Columbus Day Essay Contest winners were announced at the Columbus Day ceremony held in front of the Scotch Plains Columbus Monument, located in the town center.  The contest required students to write a persuasive essay using the following prompt:  The discovery of America was one of the most important events of the previous millennium:  1- do you agree or disagree? 2- how would this discovery be viewed in today’s world? 3- how do you think history would have unfolded if Columbus didn’t “discover” America?  Hannah and Kaia both received a cash award of $75.00. 

Our Seventh and Eighth graders are also participating in two other contests, the Maryknoll Mission Essay and the Patriot’s Pen Essay contests.  The Maryknoll Mission Essay, for our 8th graders, requires the students to reflect on Pope Francis’ call to serve the poor, and describe how they see such service happening in the world today.  The 7th and 8th graders are participating in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars whose theme is “What Patriotism Means to Me.”   These contests enable our students to refine their reading, writing, and persuasive skills while also having some fun.

 Finally, we wish the best of luck to eight of our Seventh and Eighth grade boys who will be representing St. Bartholomew Academy in the 18th Pirate Open Academic Quiz Bowl Tournament.  This tournament will be held at Seton Hall Prep on Saturday, November 23rd.   Four boys from each grade will compete as a team in a quiz bowl style tournament.   The boys have been practicing questions and “buzzing” in at lunch time every day. 

 We hope you will join with us to support our students in these endeavors!