SALEM — Fifth-graders at Bates Elementary School were once again confronted with questions like: “You’re campaigning to be the President of the United States of America. Why should we vote for you?” during this year’s Amazing Shake competition.
Other scenarios included: “You’re the boss of a company who no longer has the money to keep two employees. Each pleads their case. Which employee do you let go?” and “You have a magic pencil. What is one thing about the world you would change?”
Bates students Sloan Murphy, Dylan Parsons, Emily Grilz, Evelyn Titus, Hannah Hegazy, Emelia Bernal, Darius Torosian, Aubrianna Williams, Alessandra Surro and Savannah Hanley finished as the top 10 scoring students in the annual event in June.
The competition has Bates fifth-graders confronted with nine different scenarios — including a restaurant owner facing a health inspection and crafting a quick sales pitch for a curling iron — each of which require them to respond the best they can, often under pressure.
With one minute to respond, students are then judged by a Salem Public Schools staff member on charisma, confidence, eye contact, judgment and poise under pressure. They receive a score between 6 (an attempt was made to respond to the scenario) and 10 (response delivered perfectly and with flair).
The top students were honored in a mini-assembly immediately following the contest. The top six scoring students were invited to teach a social and emotional learning lesson to students in grades K-2 while the top three students were invited to deliver speeches at the Bates Grade 5 Moving Up Ceremony.