OTHELLO – Five Othello students recalled the academic trip of a lifetime for Othello School District officials on April 28.The students attended The Global Amazing Shake Competition at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA. Lucia Garza (fifth grade), Ella Gilbert (seventh grade), Brooklyn Gilbert (sixth grade), Myah Ditona (seventh grade), and Aryana Miller earned the opportunity to compete on the global stage by excelling first at the local level and then against peers from across the state.
The top 5 earned the right to represent Othello by first competing in a district-wide gauntlet-style event for all fifth, sixth, and seventh-grade students in December. The top 10 from each school then traveled to Wahluke in February to compete against statewide peers. Myah Ditona was named Grand Champion of the Wahluke event. (See the moment Myah Ditona learned she had been named as Grand Champion)
Photos courtesy of Othello School District
Superintendent Perez visited the top 5 students on February 5 to let them know they had qualified for the trip to Atlanta. “We are beyond thankful for the parents and advisors who have supported and prepared them for this moment—your dedication has made all the difference. We can’t wait to see how they represent Othello at the national competition. Let’s go, team,” said the district in a Facebook post.
The trip to Atlanta wasn’t all business, but it was all educational. In addition to three days of Amazing Shake learning and competition, the girls and their chaperones visited some historic sites. They visited Centennial Park, a focal point of the 1996 Olympic Games, Barrington Hall, where they learned about plantation life and slavery, The Illusion Museum, the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ebeneezer Baptist Church, and the World of Coke. The latter was a particular highlight as the girls sampled over 100 different types of soda, including one that Ditona said tasted like barbecue sauce. “it was disgusting!” she said. Officially, the soda was sour plum flavored, but the girls all agreed it was not for them.
The girls debriefed Superintendent Perez and others about their trip in a breakfast meeting on April 28. “I learned to think on my feet,” said Miller. “now I can think fast, I can answer things quickly, I can do things faster than I could before.” She also learned how to accept feedback better. “I had a tendency to quickly jump into a solution rather than pausing and considering the feedback I was given. Taking a moment to reflect and show openness to others’ suggestions will help me grow even more,” she said. Every adult they met gave feedback. Out of 412 participating students, Miller scored in the top 15 for first impressions.
Brooklyn Gilbert said, “The Amazing Shake taught me things about myself,” she said, including things that “took me out of my comfort zone.” She believes the skills she learned and refined will help her in the future, particularly with things like job interviews. ” It gave me SO much more confidence in myself than I’d ever had before,” she said. Gilbert said she was surprised to learn she had earned a spot among the OSD top 5. Brooklyn placed 40th in the interview alley event, which requires participants to converse with 15 adults within a 30-minute time limit.
Ditona recalled becoming more aware of the cultural differences between the Southern U.S. and the Pacific Northwest. She was particularly impressed by the use of “yes ma’am and no sir” as responses to adult questions. Like the other girls, Ditona appreciated all she learned from the Amazing Shake. She was also grateful for the opportunity afforded by their side trips. “Exploring such meaningful, historic sites and learning about the rich history feels like such a gift,” she said.
“Having the chance to see the amazing Ron Clark Academy and meeting Mr. Ron Clark felt like meeting a down-to-earth celebrity. Mr. Clark was strict but kind and encouraging. His energy was off the charts. He taught me to “ABOUNCE AROUND” with confidence and believe in myself. It was so cool to be able to meet students from all over the world. It was an exciting experience and being able to learn about them and how they live,” Ditona said.
Ella Gilbert said she even learned from the other participating students. “The other kids there were big inspirations to me. Even if I didn’t talk to them myself, just watching them talk on stage was really amazing. Some of the kids there even had successful businesses going. I think it’s because they’ve had the Amazing Shake experience, which can help build kids’ confidence and be more open to trying new things and putting themselves out there,” she said. Gilbert is hopeful that the district brings the Amazing Shake forward to 8th grade. The Amazing shake “taught me how to keep eye contact, and speak up for myself. It really helped me boost my confidence,” she added.
Ella placed 39th in the interview alley event, conversing with 19 adults in the round. “The conversations were really fun,” she said. She sought opportunities to speak with two people simultaneously to use her time best.
Finally, fifth-grade student Lucia Garza said she “learned that I am more than I thought I could be… I am capable of more things than I knew or thought, and even just getting to Georgia was a major accomplishment.” Participation has Garza thinking about the future. “The debate rounds will help me in the future if I ever become a politician,” she said.
Perez praised the girls’ skills and effort. “There are times in my job where I still can’t do some of the things you did,” he said. “You’ll always be practicing those things, so it’s good to get started earlier.”
The girls all thanked Perez for the investment in them. “It really is an investment in every kid in Othello because we’re showing them where the bar is. Here are our best kids in Othello, and here are the best kids in the country and the world. Now, we all work toward that. So even though you got the benefit of it, you got to take the trip. It really was about giving an example of what excellence looks like. Thank you for being an example for them,” he said.
Perez also addressed the “girl power” element of the team. He used Assistant Superintendent Jessica Schenck, who takes the reins as superintendent of the Mount Baker School District this summer, as an example, saying she had used all the skills they learned in her recent interview process. “Out of 300 districts in Washington, only 70 have female superintendents,” he said. “Lean into that; think about how important your voice is.”
The staff chaperones agreed the trip was more than worthwhile. “We are on the right track. Seeing the girls compete was super cool,” said Hannah Watkins.
Scootney Springs counselor Jill Powell agreed with Watkins and thanked the district. “These girls did so good. Each of them, as you saw them speak, they have their own little flair and strengths. We’re proud of them,” she said.
Othello School District covered the cost of airfare, lodging, and meals.
Othello has been holding Amazing Shake events since 2019. Organizers hope to continue participating and see more local students succeed locally and nationally.
