Do you know which states border Lake Michigan or where Mount Kilimanjaro is located? Many of P.J. Gelinas and R.C. Murphy junior high schools’ seventh and eighth grade students demonstrated their knowledge of these and many other topics as social studies teachers administered geography quizzes in their classrooms this January to identify class representatives for the schools’ buildingwide Geography Bees.

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, students showcased their geographic knowledge during building-level Geography Bees, facilitated by Dr. Cone, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Pelosi and Ms. Waite. Congratulations to our P.J. Gelinas Geography Bee champion, seventh grader Isabel Catalina, and our R.C. Murphy Geography Bee champion, eighth grader Lucas Tseng. Additional congratulations to the schools’ second and third place winners:

P.J. Gelinas
Second Place – Nikolas Feller, Eighth Grade
Third Place – Joshua Spata, Eighth Grade

R.C. Murphy
Second Place – Noah Karim, Seventh Grade
Third Place – Simone Chormey, Seventh Grade

Date Added: 1/16/2025

Mr. Rieckhoff’s seventh grade technology class at P.J. Gelinas Junior High School transformed the hallway into a racetrack as students tested their rubber band-powered cars. After weeks of designing and building their vehicles using saws, drills and hand tools, the students were ready to wind them up and watch them race.

Each student brought their creativity to life, designing cars inspired by their favorite TV shows, movies and even candy. They experimented with different combinations of wheels and rubber bands to maximize distance, with several cars traveling an impressive 60 feet. This hands-on project showcased engineering, creativity and a whole lot of fun.

Date Added: 12/10/2024