Students from throughout the Merced City School District shined in the countywide spelling bee organized by the Merced County Office of Education. In fact, our students swept the top three spots in the middle school competition, and six of the top 10 finishers in the elementary school contest were MCSD students -- including the 1st place winner!
The excitement started on Tuesday with 96 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students tackling challenging words such as ubiquitous, gibbous, and condign at the Atwater Community Center. Students from Givens, Sheehy, Reyes, Peterson, and Stowell all made it to the top ten. The moderator even moved on to the junior high word list because of how well the young scholars were performing. After more than two hours of intense competition, Sheehy fifth grader Nikhil Parikh emerged victorious and took home the trophy for first place. Afterward, he said “I’m just speechless. I never thought I’d win it. I studied all over summer. I studied all through Thanksgiving break, and I studied on weekdays. On weekends, I studied, so I studied practically the whole time. I’m just very happy and excited that I got first. I was also very nervous!”
There were more nerves on Wednesday as 35 seventh and eighth grade students put their spelling skills to the test at the MCOE Clark and Newbold rooms. The final word was kleptomania, and our MCSD students “stole” the show. Cruickshank seventh grader Daniel Chen finished in first place for the second year in a row. Rivera 7th grader Jani Vue took home the second place trophy, while Cruickshank eighth grader Arielle Talania earned third place.
Congratulations to all of the students who represented our district, as well as the parents, teachers, and administrators who supported them along the way.
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Students at Sheehy Elementary put on a delightful performance of "Aesop's Fables" on Friday after studying the ancient Greek storyteller's works and rehearsing over the past three weeks.
The students from Mr. Medefind's class showcased their talent and creativity while bringing to life fables such as "The Tortoise and the Hare," "The Frog and the Ox" and "The Dog and His Reflection."
This performance is a tradition that students and staff look forward to each year before the Thanksgiving break. It is also one great example of arts education in our schools and how it can support other subjects, such as history and reading.
Sheehy Elementary recently hosted "Family Literacy Night," which was organized by teacher librarian Olivia Macchia.
More than 30 families came to the campus to enjoy stories in English and Spanish read by members of the Merced Police Department and Sheehy's English Learner Advisory Committee/School Site Council Vice President.
The evening also included pastries and milk, face painting, and a book giveaway.
This fun-filled event supports the district's goal to have all students reading proficiently by the end of third grade.
Students at Ada Givens Elementary are making an impact in the lives of other children by participating in Operation Stars & Stripes.
From October 16 through November 8, they collected stuffed animals for children who have endured a crisis, such a house fire. The Associated Student Body led the effort with support from teacher Kim Shively and Learning Director Angelic Natividad.
The school coordinated with Veterans Post 83, which will deliver the stuffed animals to local first responders so they can help comfort children during difficult times.
Principal Dalinda Saich says the drive is also in the spirit of citizenship, which is the character trait students are focusing on during the month of November.
The Merced City School District is proud of our Ada Givens Mustangs for their kindness, generosity, and dedication to a great cause.
Eighth grade students in the Merced City School District are learning an important history lesson this week, while also honoring our veterans, active duty servicemembers, and first responders.
Each of our middle schools has the opportunity to take eighth grade classes to the 4th annual Field of Honor at Merced College. The poignant display of approximately 1,000 flags is a joint effort between the college and Merced Sunrise Rotary. This year, MCSD students are able to visit the field thanks to a transportation grant provided by the Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union.
Students take a tour through the rows of flags with their teachers and docents from Merced Sunrise Rotary to learn about the significance of each section. There is one area dedicated to local fallen heroes, one featuring flags for each branch of the military, another with flags representing first responders, and another area that pays tribute to the lives lost on 9/11.
Students are also guided through a series of American flags that show how Old Glory has evolved from the original design featuring 13 stars in a circle to the one we fly today. On Monday, Hoover Middle School students were the first to visit the field and observed the flag that flew during President Herbert Hoover’s time in office. Students from Cruickshank, Rivera, and Tenaya middle schools were making the same trip throughout the week.
Field of Honor Co-Chairperson Nancy Edmiston says, “To have the students out here to be able to see this and to gain an appreciation for the people who are represented here is very special to us. If you read some of the stories on some of the tags, it’s amazing, absolutely amazing, and just knowing that these people served our country, that they did it by choice, and in some cases lost their lives in that process is a very special thing.”
The Field of Honor began with an opening ceremony on Sunday, during which the Honor Choir from Fremont Elementary School performed. On Friday, residents who purchased flags to honor their loved ones will be able to carry their flags in the Veterans Day Parade on Main Street. The Field of Honor will remain open until Saturday, November 12th at 4 p.m.
