News roundup for Dec. 17

Medina High School students competed in the Princeton University Classic Debate Tournament The Medina High School Speech and Debate Team competed in the Princeton University Classic Debate Tournament on Dec. 1-4. The team has 30 members, and it was the 10th time the team has been invited to compete. Medina was one of two teams from Ohio competing, along with Hawken School from Gates Mills which had eight students participating. "We are proud to be one of the few public schools in the country to compete in this tournament," debate team adviser and language arts teacher at Medina High School Scott Quade said. The students competed in three debate events: Lincoln-Douglas, public forum and congressional debate. The two speech events were duo interpretation and original oratory. "We had students in both the novice and varsity division in Lincoln-Douglas and public forum," Quade said. "Our competitive goal for this tournament has always been to have at least one event or division make it to the break rounds. We typically have one or two achieve this threshold. This year, 11 students made it to these rounds in four events (or) divisions, more than any other of the hundred schools invited to compete from around the country." Medina High School students learn at the West Side Market On Nov. 30, students from Katie Shaffer's high school social studies class, Food for Thought, and students from Lauren Smith's AP and Honors Art Portfolio class joined together for a field trip to the West Side Market in Cleveland's Ohio City. Students in both classes were tasked with brainstorming ideas for projects that would showcase their learning and skills from the past semester in a cumulative project that showcases the West Side Market. Students spent two hours at the market researching for their projects. "Collaboration across the curriculum offers more opportunities for all of our students. We want to thank (Medina High School Principal) Dr. Elisa Tedona and the Department of Instruction for helping us offer this opportunity to our students," Shaffer said. Medina County Historical Society open house The Medina County Historical Society will be having a holiday open house for the McDowell-Phillips House Museum, 205 S. Prospect St, Medina. It will take place 1-4 p.m. Sunday and 1-4 p.m. Dec. 28 The museum is decorated for the holidays. Admission donations are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and MCHS members and $7 for youth aged 7 to 18. Children under 7 are admitted free with a hand-holding adult. There is limited parking behind the museum. Parking is available on West Washington Street and the corner of South Prospect Street and West Liberty Street. Do not park on Blake Avenue. Call (330) 722-1341 or email mchs@zoominternet.net with questions. Events throughout the Medina County Park District Susan Hambley Nature Center has been decorated for the holidays. Stop by today and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. to see the decorations, do activities and more. All ages are welcome. No registration is required for the free event. Learn about the history of white-tailed deer in Ohio and their life cycle on a hike at Susan Hambley Nature Center on Sunday from 3-4 p.m. No registration is required for the free event.