THE 13TH ANNUAL
2023-24 AFRICAN AMERICAN & LATINO/A
TENACITY CHALLENGE
HIGH SCHOOL
COUNTDOWN
APRIL 27th, 2024
Middle School Competition
MS REGISTRATION LINK
About the Middle School Tenacity Challenge:
The LA2 Tenacity Challenge is an annual academic competition for teams of 7th and 8th grade Latino(a) and African-American students from urban and suburban middle schools across Massachusetts. During the extended period of preparation, students build academic capacity, strengthen intellectual risk-taking, hone leadership skills through an action project, and develop enduring peer and faculty relationships.
The Middle School Tenacity Challenge competition will consist of four (4) events centered around the theme of leadership, empowerment and tenacity. The competition will take place on March 23rd, 2024. Each team (6-8 members) will determine its own division of labor in order to prepare for the four events:
- Leadership Action Project
- Global Voices Literary Analysis
- Math Quiz Bowl Challenge
- STEM Challenge
MIDDLE SCHOOL
COUNTDOWN
March 23rd, 2024
LEADERSHIP ACTION PROJECT
2024 Prompt
Prompt:
The 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868, had significant effects on civil rights in the United States. The amendment addressed issues of citizenship and equal protection under the law, stating that all persons born or naturalized in the United States were citizens and entitled to the same protections and privileges of citizenship. This provision granted citizenship to African Americans who had been previously denied it and was a significant step in the fight for racial equality. The 14th Amendment has been used to support many landmark court cases, including Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade. Additionally, the amendment has been used to strike down discriminatory state laws and policies, such as Jim Crow laws and anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. However, despite its transformative impact on civil rights, the 14th Amendment has faced challenges and criticisms over the years, particularly in regard to its application and enforcement. Nonetheless, the 14th Amendment remains a crucial component of civil rights law and continues to be invoked in ongoing struggles for social justice and equality.
Research:
How has the 14th Amendment impacted civil rights in the United States, and what legal and social changes have resulted from its adoption?
What impact has it had on marginalized communities and their fight for civil rights?
MATH QUIZ BOWL
Math quiz bowl teams will consist of three (3) members. The team determines the division of responsibilities.
All teams will compete at the same time and will have an equal opportunity to answer all questions. The moderator will provide each group with 5 questions to answer in 5 minutes. Groups will submit their solutions at the end of the given time frame. There will be a total of 30 questions covering topics in the areas of Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry. Answers will be either correct or incorrect. There will not be any partial credit for solutions.
STEM CHALLENGE
The STEM Challenge will bring four (4) members of the group together to work on a challenge presented the day of the competition. Teams will be provided a STEM-based challenge and the materials allowed on the day of the competition. Teams will not need to bring any materials nor prepare anything ahead of time. Students will be judged based on their ability to complete the task in forty-five (45) minutes. This part of the competition will demand strong communication and collaboration skills as well as creative thinking.
GLOBAL VOICES LITERARY ANALYSIS
Prior to the competition, students should have engaged in a sustained study of one or more books. Choosing from a list of four (4) possible titles written in different formats, students will compose a creative response, which may be a poem, an original song with lyrics and musical score, letter to a major character, a letter from a major character to a leader or influential person connected to the time or struggle, or an additional scene or sequel event to the story. Click here to view the book options.
REGISTRATION
MS REGISTRATION LINK
All registration forms should be submitted by Friday, January 12, 2024.
A registration fee of $100.00 per team should be sent to
John Glenn Middle School
Attn: Kim Comeiro
99 McMahon Rd.
Bedford, MA 01730.
All Registration Forms should be submitted digitally by Friday, January 12, 2024. A link to the form can be found above. A registration fee of $100.00 per team should be submitted at the time of registration. A late registration fee of $150 will apply to any team(s) submitting forms after January 13, 2024. The late registration deadline is February 1, 2024.
Please make checks payable to BHS – The Tenacity Team Challenge. School purchase orders are also acceptable.
Checks should be mailed to:
John Glenn Middle School
Attn: Kim Comeiro
99 McMahon Rd
Bedford, MA 01730
Should you have any questions please reach out to Kim Comeiro via email kimberly_comeiro@bedfordps.org or telephone at 781.275.3201 x4720.