After studying and preparing for the better part of the school year, the Johnston High School Academic Decathlon team is geared up for this weekend’s statewide competition.
Twenty-two teams from fifteen high schools will compete at this year’s competition to be held at CCRI in Warwick on Sunday, March 12. The public portion of the event will be held in the Hackett Theatre from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“I love the devotion our students have to Decathlon and how excited they are be apart of this competition,” said coach Debra Smyth. “Having a new topic to focus on and find exciting things for our students to do each year is something [coach] Kerry Murphy and I enjoy brain storming about. It’s a great experience all around.”
The Johnston team will take on Bishop Hendricken High School, the reigning state champion, along with teams from Central, Classical, Cranston West, Cumberland, East Greenwich, La Salle Academy, North Kingstown, North Providence, Pilgrim, South Kingstown, Toll Gate, Westerly and the Wheeler School.
Academic Decathlon teams include nine high school students and alternates who have met regularly since September to master a ten-subject curriculum based around the theme of World War II. During team meetings, members studied together, conducted mock interviews, gave speeches, discussed questions and quizzed each other. At the competition, they’ll demonstrate their knowledge by taking examinations in math, science, literature, art, music social science and economics, as well as giving prepared and impromptu speeches and being interviewed by a judging panel. The teams previously finished the essay exam online.
“Learning is fun, but getting together to dissect that learning, to share our own understandings, that is the good stuff of life,” said coach Murphy. “We regularly see team members step up as leaders in the content areas that interest them the most. Their enthusiasm is contagious. Older students become role models for the younger team members.”
There are 221 students from around the state competing for individual medals and team awards. The team that has the highest cumulative score at the Rhode Island championship will advance to the Academic Decathlon national competition in Madison, Wisconsin, in April.
“While the Academic Decathlon celebrates knowledge and persistence, it’s not just for academically elite students” said Mary Johnson, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Academic Decathlon. “Team scores are calculated using the top two scores in each division, Honors (A students), Scholastic (B students) and Varsity (C students). The Decathlon encourages students of all abilities to work together, improving their study skills and developing more confidence in their public speaking and communication abilities.”
In 2013, Johnston’s team took second place, losing to Bishop Hendricken by only 76 points. That year, the team went to the national competition in Minnesota after the Academic Decathlon allowed both first and second place teams to represent a state in the national competition.
This year, Johnston is fielding two teams. The first team, including alternates, is comprised of seniors Jacsmile Cassion, Karla Gonzalez Carson Kenny and Staley Putnam; juniors Abigail Agnew, Miguel Azanon, Taylor Bernier, Benjamin Budway, Philip Jessop, Yuvia Morales, and Leah Spirito; and freshmen Michaela Healy and Alexander Tum.
The second team and its alternates is made up of seniors Tyra Banks, Nina DiBenedetto, and Hillary Rogers; juniors Molida Chan, Destiny Marcano, Madison Mousseau, and Lauren Papa; sophomore Tyler Roche; and freshmen Joel Aubin, Jacob Healy, Allison Kane, and Juliana Manchester.
The “Super Quiz,” a quiz-bowl type showcase competition, and the awards ceremonies will be held in the Hackett Theater beginning at 4 p.m. The Super Quiz and the awards presentations are free and open to the public.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT:
Members of Johnston’s Academic Decathlon team have met regularly after school in preparation for this weekend’s statewide competition to be held at CCRI in Warwick. (Sun Rise photo by Tim Forsberg)
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