Cedar Grove speaking team excels at competition

The first junior varsity Academically Speaking team at Cedar Grove's Memorial Middle School placed second in its division for all of Essex County during a May 4 competition.

Academically Speaking is a quiz bowl or "Jeopardy" like competition and students in fifth and sixth grade participated.

The students were Amanda Eustice, Nancy Guan, Isabella Cutalo, Ava Jablonski and Eric Silverman.

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Additionally, in an effort to bridge the elementary and middle school Gifted and Talented program up to Cedar Grove High School, several high school students and former Academically Speaking team members helped at MMS after school with the current team.  

"They have given up several days after school for months and truly have been amazing to work with," said Melissa Hill, Cedar Grove's Gifted and Talented teacher. 

The high school students were Owen Posnett, Jillian Muszynski, and Ava Silverman. These students were selected by the Essex County Steering Committee for Gifted and Talented to be moderators for the competitions.