Patterson students celebrate district’s centennial on National History Day
Patterson Joint Unified School District is honoring its own history this school year – its centennial – and National History Day will be a part of it. Teacher training workshops are Monday, with student help sessions Dec. 2 and 4.
With the theme “Leadership & Legacy,” it seems a good fit, said Superintendent Phil Alfano at the History Day kickoff. The project piloted last year will run districtwide this year, with any student in Stanislaus County also able to enter individually by Jan. 16, 2015. Projects need to be in Feb. 27.
“It’s amazing. Kids learn so much. I wanted to bring this big deal here,” said organizer Samia Merza-Fillpot, who remembers participating in National History Day growing up in Chicago. Merza-Fillpot brought the national program to Patterson as its secondary curriculum coordinator.
The event can tie in the history of local community groups, she said. “We have a lot out here on the West Side to brag about.”
Students pick a topic and do the research, citing sources from libraries, archives, museums and interviews with people who lived it. Then they present their work as a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary or website.
Besides showcasing local accomplishments, National History Day provides a wealth of academic possibilities. “You want expository writing? Here it is. You want them to learn about primary sources? Here it is,” Merza-Fillpot said.
National History Day teacher training workshops are 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Patterson Professional Development Center, 530 Keystone Blvd., Patterson. Student workshops will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 2 for grades four and five; 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2 for grades six through eight; and 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4 for high schoolers, all at the Professional Development Center. For more information or to participate in National History Day, contact Merza-Fillpot at smerzafillpot@patterson.k12.ca.us.
Bee education reporter Nan Austin can be reached at naustin@modbee.com or (209) 578-2339. Follow her on Twitter @NanAustin.
This story was originally published November 23, 2014 at 9:27 AM with the headline "Patterson students celebrate district’s centennial on National History Day."