History Day Marks Another Successful Year

History Department Chair Kelly Garlinski brought History Day to the Middle School in the 2014-2015 school year. The event has grown to be a muchanticipated staple for our sixth- and seventh-graders each year.

The day ties into National History Day (NHD), a nonprofit education organization aimed at improving the teaching and learning of history. At its core is a competition for students in grades 6-12 to dive into the past through a research project on a topic of their choice. They present their findings through papers, performances, exhibits, or websites.

This year’s theme, chosen by NHD, was “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas”. A wide variety of topics were presented by the SSM Middle Schoolers, with the following students advancing to the regional and state levels:

Ruby Garlinski ’28: Website - Dian Fossey: Woman in the Mountains

Ian Schleif ’23: Documentary - The Invention of the Polio Vaccine

Elizabeth Matsuura ’28: Essay - Elizabeth Blackwell: Pioneering an Uncharted Frontier for Women in Medicine

“Participation in National History Day is not just a chance for students to learn about the past, but to become active historians through the process of choosing a topic that aligns with the theme, researching, analyzing, and presenting to judges,” stated Kelly. “They have not only expanded their knowledge of history, but also developed critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills that will serve them well in their future endeavors. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments.”

In the 2022-2023 school year, Shattuck-St. Mary’s embarked on a multi-faceted journey to develop its three-year strategic plan. Below, Head of School Matt Cavellier shares more about the plan, how it was developed, and how it will help shape the future of SSM.