Health & Fitness
Dedham Middle School "Abuzz" as Brian Foulds Makes State Finals …
“Name the Asian country that includes about 7,100 islands?” “The Sea of Galilee, derives much of it`s inflow of water from…?” “What State Capital City in New England is located in the Green Mountains?”
We`d be willing to bet you, a dime to a dollar, that Dedham Middle School student, Brian Foulds, would be able to answer most of these questions. You see, a couple of weeks ago, Brian had answered many similar questions, and had won his way to become The Geography Champ at the Dedham Middle School.
All 300 plus students at DMS had participated in this, the 26th Annual, National Geographic Society Geography Bee. Founded in 1888, the Geographic Society is one of the world`s largest non-profit educational organizations. The Society reaches over 500 million people world-wide and inspires us to care more about our planet.
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There was a “winner” in each classroom, that was then narrowed down to the top 10 school finalists. Longtime (and he wouldn`t tell us how long – with a smile) Social Studies teacher, Mike Warren, was the Representative for this event, and has handled the school`s Geography Bee for over a decade now.
In an auditorium filled with teachers and students, 7th grade Brian Foulds answered more questions correctly, and rose to the top. The same Geography Bee was being held in hundreds upon hundreds of schools (grades 4-8) across the State. These “school-level” winners, then took a more difficult written test, and the Board of the National Geographic Society narrowed down the field to the top 100 State Finalists.
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Once again, DMS` Foulds had made the cut, and was chosen to participate in the 2014 Mass State Geographic Bee, to be held in Worcester, on Friday April 4, 2014. The State winner will receive $100. And be flown to Washington, DC to represent Massachusetts in the National Tournament this May.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Brian Foulds, and asked him just how he felt and how he remembers all this stuff? Brian thought for a moment, and then said with a grin, “I don`t know, I just always thought it was cool, learning about people, where they live and what they do.” “I`ve been really lucky and have traveled to a lot of places with my Mom (Diane) and my Dad (Eliot).”
Standing nearby, DMS Principal Debra Gately and Vice Principal Margo Fraczek added “just how proud they were of Brian`s accomplishments.” Brian added that his Social Studies teachers at the Middle School (Mike Warren in grade 6 – Kim Randall in grade 7) “kept his interest alive in geography.”
Mr. Warren told us that while “history and geography are the basis of Social Studies in school, the children now learn more about people – both near and far – current events, anthropology, economics, philosophy, religion, and psychology.” “Children find it fascinating to learn about others.”
The winner of this year`s National Geographic Bee will receive a $50,000 college scholarship among other prizes. We certainly wish Brian our best in the State round and hope that he is able to move on to the National level.
Story and Photos by: Joe Kilroy