BEST OF THE WEEK
FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 3, 2017

Every Friday this school year, " Best of the  Week" will recognize 
St. Edward High School's commitment to authentic instruction by 
highlighting the people and programs that define the St. Ed's experience.


LESSON OF THE WEEK
CASE'S BALSA WOOD BRIDGE COMPETITION
Last Friday, St. Edward Engineering students participated in the Case Western Reserve University Department of Civil Engineering's Balsa Wood Bridge Competition. The students were lead and mentored by engineering teacher, Mrs. Erin Schilf. 

St. Edward senior Peter Wilson, with help from senior Bobby Greller, won 1st place overall in the competition. 122 bridges were entered in the competition and were judged in three categories. For the overall competition judges assessed bridges through a combined rubric looking at aesthetics (in which the St. Edward team took 1st place) and strength-to-weight ratio (in which the St. Edward team, took 2nd place). Congratulations to all who participated and represented the St. Edward Pre-Engineering Program so well!

During their visit, students learned about all of the engineering programming available at Case and received a tour of the lab facilities from two graduate students who specialize in geotechnical engineering. Students learned the types of research projects and equipment used to study soil mechanics and also got to take a drive in the virtual transportation simulation lab. Additionally, St. Edward alumnus, Justin Thomas, a freshman in Case's Civil Engineering Program, gave students a tour of ThinkBox: the University's innovation lab and maker's space. 


PEOPLE OF THE WEEK
THE MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION
On Friday afternoon, the newly formed Muslim Student Association held its first meeting, attracting a standing room-only crowd of fellow Edsmen, faculty and staff who joined the meeting in order to learn more about the Islamic faith from the students who formed the MSA.

The MSA is a club for everyone, welcoming people of all backgrounds and religions to come together as a community. The vision of MSA is to have a place where students can learn and ask questions about the Islamic faith while devoting time to service together.

The meeting was led by Omar Fattah, Rami Moussa, Jad Kabarra, Mo Hamed and Deeb Alawan, who helped enlighten students about Islam by answering their questions and sharing their personal experiences.  The support the students received from their classmates was the embodiment of this year's theme "Together, We Are St. Ed's" and a powerful display of community.

For having the courage to share their perspectives, the leaders of the Muslim Student Association are the People of the Week.

THE WOW FACTOR!
ST. EDWARD SHINES AT STATE LATIN CONVENTION
What a weekend it was for St. Edward Knights of the Tiber! 

At the state Latin convention in Columbus, St. Edward High School Latin die-hards soared to four state titles & ten second place finishes, with no fewer than 55 separate third through tenth place wins in categories ranging from graphic arts & oratory to Latin vocabulary & reading comprehension.

State champions included John Brady '18 (mythology), Andy Hoffman '20 (Latin I grammar), Charlie Neate '17 (ceramic pottery), and Finn Norman '19 (Latin II grammar).  State runners-up included Richard Perrins '20 (Latin I grammar), David Pratt '18 (graphic arts, small model) and Brendan Simpson '18 (Roman history) as well as the Latin I academic buzzer team of Liam Brian, Andy Hoffman, Chase Justice, Jack Stalla, Nathan Stuart and Joey Zacharyasz. Students placing third through fifth in various events included John Brady '18, Dean Cashmere '20, Chase Justice '20, Andy Hoffman '20, Owen Kranz '18, Finn Norman '19, Sean Patterson '19, Richard Perrins '20, Bobby Pierce '20, Kyle Sminchak '19, Jack Stalla '20, Ryan Ward '20, and Joey Zacharyasz '20. 

Ten days prior to the event, Mr. Cavoli appealed to all Latin I students going to states, informing them that no first-year students had tried out for the academic buzzer team, known in Latin circles as Certamen, thus for the first time ever St. Edward would go to Columbus without a Latin I Certamen team. Freshmen Liam Brian, Andy Hoffman, Chase Justice, Jack Stalla, Nathan Stuart and Joey Zacharyasz stepped up to the plate within minutes and now they are state runners-up!  They held their own against long-time state Certamen powerhouses like Summit Country Day, Seven Hills, & Shaker Heights. These risk-taking young men sailed through the semifinals and in the state tournament, went into the last question tied 80-80 with the returning state champion team from Summit. 

Congratulations to all of our Latin scholars!