Potomac experiences the Middle Ages

POTOMAC - After having studied the Middle Ages, the sixth through eighth grade students together with the staff decided to host Medieval Days May 18 - 19. Social Studies teacher Jessica Van Kerkhove said the goal of Medieval Days was to provide a more hands-on experience for students to learn about the Middle Ages.

The Middle School teachers were royalty presiding over their 'kingdoms.' Each kingdom was set in a classroom closely resembling manors. Van Kerkhove explained that each kingdom had nobles, merchants, knights, clergy and serfs with the teachers being the monarch. 

The names of the kingdoms were a spin off of the teacher of that kingdom's name including: Tuloc (Christie Taillefer), G-Topia (Damian Gaglia) and Van Kerkhovia (Van Kerkhove).

The students were involved in creating their own costumes based on the ranks they drew and then had active roles within each kingdom, said Van Kerkhove. The activities were a two-day event.

Tuesday, May 18 the students created trading items and participated in rank specific activities. 

Serfs did landscaping projects. Merchants made bread, did leather work and woodwork. Clergy made stained glass and illuminated letters with gold leaf. Knights learned archery, jousting and "sword" (pool noodle) handling. Finally, the nobles participated in leisure activities such as chimes, chess and other medieval games. 

Wednesday was the Medieval Fair. Students participated in a "pilgrimage" scavenger hunt with clues about the role of the church during the middle ages. The kingdoms then went to war (tug-of-war), and later all the kingdoms gathered for strength competitions including post, wooden hammer and rock throwing. During the fair, the students enjoyed a maypole, storytelling, fortune telling, juggling and horseback riding. 

 "The first annual Potomac School Medieval Days was a success and we look forward to adding and adjusting it for next year," she said. "We are also super thankful for all the support we had in putting this event on for the kids."

 Potomac fifth grade and younger voted for best costume overall and best costumes in each rank.

Awards are as follows:

Overall Best Costume: 

1st Place: Sister Lily Van Grinsven

2nd Place:  Knight Iyla Macdonald

3rd Place: Sir Cale Vann

Best Per Rank:

Serf: 1st Brayden Cooney, 2nd Corbin Weltzein, 3rd Maquinn Miller

Clergy: 1st Lily Van Grinsven, 2nd Kaycee Salter, 3rd Jaylee Zander

Merchant: 1st Oliver Caton, 2nd Hilde Hamilton, 3rd Gabrielle Henry

Knight: 1st Iyla Macdonald, 2nd Cale Vann, 3rd Katrina Olson

Noble: 1st Ethan Preston, 2nd Leah Nelson, 3rd Wyatt Dry