In
December,
Pennington
Traditional
School
sent
six
groups
of
middle
school
students
to
compete
in
the
regional
We
the
People
competition
through
Virginia
Civics.
The
competition
was
held
at
Patriot
High
School
and
six
middle
and
high
schools
competed
in
a
faux
congressional
hearing
to
demonstrate
their
knowledge
and
expertise
on
topics
related
to
American
history
and
the
government.
Pennington
Traditional
received
first
place
in
the
middle
school
level
and
will
advance
to
the
state
competition,
which
will
be
held
on
January
25,
at
the
University
of
Virginia.
Additionally,
one
group
made
up
of
sixth-graders
Michael
Crupi
and
Adi
Telugu
Guvvala,
and
seventh-graders
Juris
Field
and
Skye
Green,
won
the
Best
Unit
Award
from
the
six
Pennington
teams.
The simulated congressional hearing not only deepens student knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, it also builds important 21st-century workplace skills and dispositions, such as working cooperatively as a team, public speaking, managing conflict, and reaching consensus.
Update:
Pennington's teams, coached by social studies teachers Erin Merrill and Sam Mancuso, took fourth place overall at the state competition, with three of their six groups claiming first place in their unit. The Best Unit Award went to eighth-graders David Rodriguez-Quiceno and Sienna Sandiford who presented on the theories of classical republicanism, natural rights, and America's connection to Ancient Rome.