Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Dear Students and Parents,

This year the 8th and 11th grades will be participating in CCS's 7th History Day Fair. This event is part of a broader program known as National History Day. Each year over 500,000 participate.

I am fully aware of the time and sacrifice this project requires of students, parents and teachers. I am fully convinced however, that it promotes life skills, analytical skills, comparative perspectives and models of critical judgment, essential for work in any field. It allows students to choose a topic of interest to them, discover its historical context and then develop an imaginative exhibit, or historical performance, or research paper, or documentary or web-site.

During the last six years CCS students have participated with great success. Many have qualified to participate in district competition at Case Western Reserve; thirty-nine have been recognized for outstanding achievement advancing to state competition at Ohio State. Twelve of those students have earned honorable mention recognition on the state level. And finally in 2010 for the first time three students were recognized as alternate national finalists and five students won national finalist earning the right to represent CCS in the National Contest!

Students will pick a topic that fits this year’s theme "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” An essay describing this year’s theme, suggested topics and a news release highlighting the findings of an independent study on NHD’s impact on student performance are located on pages 6-9.
This year I am using this STEPS TO COMPLETING AN NHD PROJECT. It provides worksheets and research tips that will help guide your son or daughter through the entire project. Please read through it and use it as you monitor their progress. You can access the booklet in my dropbox folder NHD 2011-12. On the back you can review the contents of the booklet.

A great resource for History Day projects is the National History Day in Ohio website at www.NHD.org; There are areas of the website designed to help students and to provide helpful information for parents. Students should be sure to consult the Contest Rule Book online. Students participating in History Day are encouraged to research their topics in their local public libraries, local historical organizations, and universities. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 330-689-6267or e-mail demchakmj@aol.com if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mike Demchak