World Champions Rise to the Occasion
For the World Affairs team, Saturday, March 15 wasn't just any old day. It was a day when they would have to prove that their knowledge of geography, politics, and global health was one of the best. It was a day when they would have to work together, and strive to bring home the gold.
This year, once again, it all paid off as team members came home top-scoring champions.
But getting there didn't just happen. It took an entire year of studying with Ms. Gruszynski. The contest wasn't just some event in which all you need is luck- it was more like the Olympics, the climax of these dedicated students' middle school experience.
World Affairs is a club in which students educate themselves in events happening worldwide, including geography and politics, and enter contests to evaluate their knowledge. It takes dedication to be part of World Affairs.
World Affairs is a club in which students educate themselves in events happening worldwide, including geography and politics, and enter contests to evaluate their knowledge. It takes dedication to be part of World Affairs.
Over the course of her duties as club leader, Ms. Gruszynski said she has realized one thing, "World Affairs is something adults enjoy more than middle school students. Not everyone is interested, but there's always a core group of people who want to be aware of what's happening in the world."
Ms. Gruszynski got involved with World Affairs when the instructor of a class she was attending announced that the program was starting to be introduced into San Francisco. Ms. Gruszynski took interest in the club right away. She went around MVMS whispering to students about the new club. Pretty soon, she had acquired enough kids to make a team
Every Monday and Friday at 7:45 am, students meet in Ms. Gruszynski's room, take out their notebooks and maps of the world, and together discuss the key events worldwide.
At the start of the year, they broke into groups and came up with a topic relating to world health they would present at the contest. Students strive to become experts in their topic. Students need to get up early, research events in the New York Times and BBC Online, and take quizzes. But the fun students have in the club pays off.
"We try get people who want to be here," Ms. Gruszynski said. "I want these students to get out of this program a knowledge of the political world outside of the USA, planning, and producing a script for a 15-minute presentation."
"We try get people who want to be here," Ms. Gruszynski said. "I want these students to get out of this program a knowledge of the political world outside of the USA, planning, and producing a script for a 15-minute presentation."
On the day of the World Affairs competition this year, team members have felt a little bit nervous. Reciting a speech in front of a panel of judges and competing against 500 other kids takes nerve.
Sometimes, students pretend to be a person the issue is affecting. By seeing how devastating something is towards a person, it affects people's feelings about the issue. In the past, Ms. Gruszynski has seen students pretend to cry and do a mock trial. Some even go as far as smothering black charcoal on their face or dressing in a certain way.
MVMS was quite successful this year, earning top scores on a 50 question test, effectively collaborating with other students to arrive at solutions for a global issue, making informative presentations, and outstanding posters. The team truly became "world" champions.
MVMS was quite successful this year, earning top scores on a 50 question test, effectively collaborating with other students to arrive at solutions for a global issue, making informative presentations, and outstanding posters. The team truly became "world" champions.
by Lauren
STAFF WRITER*April Issue
WORLD AFFAIRS QUIZ - Test your knowledge with these challenging questions:
1. According to the Global Burden of Disease, a report by the World Health Organization, the number one killer worldwide is:
a. Lung Cancer b. Heart Disease
c. Traffic Accidents d. HIV/AIDS
2. According to the World Bank over 1.1 billion people live in extreme poverty and survive on _______ per day.
a. Less than one dollar b. Five dollars
c. Ten dollars d. Twenty five dollars
3. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, what is the world's approximate population?
a. 400 million b. 1.5 billion
c. 1 trillion d. 6.5 billion
4. The toy firm Mattel recalled over 55,000 toys made in this country due to fear of lead contamination.
a. Untied States b. Japan
c. China d. South Africa
Answers (top to bottom):badc
