Johnston Middle School Students are learning from the past to prepare for the future. Students researched, wrote, collaborated, designed, and typed their way through the past to prepare for History Fair.

On February 16, 2009 eleven Johnston students producing six National History Day projects received awards at the HISD Regional Fair.  Three of those projects will represent Johnston in Austin at the State History Day competition on May 8th and 9th.  These students have shown a tremendous amount of commitment and dedication.  They began working on their projects in late August/early September producing exhibits, documentaries, performances, or historical papers.  At every level of competition students revised and reworked their projects to make them more competitive for the West Region and HISD competitions.  The students focused on the research of primary and secondary sources to produce in-depth projects analyzing and synthesizing information in order to present a project that best conveys that information.  Each year the projects focus on a theme determined by the National History Day organization.  This year's theme was The Individual in History:  Actions and Legacies.

The awards received were:
Individual Documentary - Honorable Mention
Michelangelo:  Master of the Italian Renaissance
Faith Dagohoy
Individual Performance - Honorable Mention
Actions and Lecacies of Dorthea Dix
Elaine Weisberg
Group Exhibit - Third Place
Elvis’ Infuence on American Culture
Alec Blanchard, Darrick Dennis, Colby Canterbury
Group Documentary - Second Place - Going on to the state competition
Oskar Schindler: An Unlikely Hero
Rachel Graubard, Sabrina Katz, Zachary Birenbaum 
Historical Paper - First Place - Going to the state competition 
Queen Elizabeth:  The Heart of a Queen
Elizabeth Martinsen
Group Exhibit - First Place - Going to the state competition
“Oh if You Were Only a Boy” – The Life and Legacy of Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Julia Klein, Laura Klein, Marley Leal, Chinyere Stallworth, Seamus Dewsnap

We are so proud of these students and their accomplishments in the realm of History. Congratulations to all who worked so hard and to their teachers who mentored them through the entire process! Johnston Middle School salutes you!