MORENO VALLEY>> The National History Day team from Vista Heights Middle School had a remarkable run. Their group performance by students Bella Rodriguez, Jadyn Patos, Mia Hawat, Nicole Romero and Shalie Fratt was named California champion in the Junior Group Presentation Division, and took them all the way to the National History Day finals at the University of Maryland last week where the team finished 8th in the nation out of 93 group performances.
The theme of the 2016-17 National History Day was “Taking a Stand in History.” Titled “Establishing New Labor Laws and Health Regulations,” the Vista Heights team’s performance dealt with the so-called “Radium Girls,” factory workers in the first half of the 20th century who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch and clock dials with a self-luminous, radium-based paint.
“We had high hopes when we started this project last August,” said Vista Heights teacher Autumn Earle-Rodriguez, “but we never could have foreseen how this journey would play out. Of course, the team are disappointed, but they’ve come so far and the competition is phenomenal at nationals. And it's not always about winning; it’s about giving a voice to those who are no longer with us and keeping their stories alive.”
“Our entire school district is proud of this amazing accomplishment,” added Superintendent Dr. Martinrex Kedziora. “These students poured their hearts into their work, and it showed. This is the level of nationally recognized excellence Moreno Valley Unified students and teachers are capable of.”
A video of their outstanding performance at the National History Day Finals can be found on Youtube.