SeDoMoCha MS ninjas attack the NECAPs

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Earlier in the school year SeDoMoCha Middle School students in grades 5-8 took the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) tests, with teachers and administrators incorporating a theme centered around ninjas — “Be a NECAP Ninja Star” — to help engage the pupils. On the morning of Feb. 28 the students learned the results of their test taking, and were treated to a related demonstration for their hard work.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    SEDOMOCHA NINJA WARRIORS — John and Sydney Haggerty gave a martial arts demonstration to the students of SeDoMoCha Middle School on Feb. 28. The presentation was a reward for the pupils’ performance on the NECAP tests, which they prepared for with the “Be a NECAP Ninja Star” program.

    “Our entire school, every one of you, worked together so that we exceeded the state average as an entire school,” Principal Julie Kimball announced during an assembly in the gym. She mentioned that many of the individual grades exceeded state averages in the various subjects on the NECAPs, such as reading, writing and math.
    “You need to be very proud of yourselves,” Kimball said. “I can’t say congratulations enough, that is a tremendous accomplishment.”
    Kimball said she and RSU 68 Superintendent Alan Smith had just learned that for the first time SeDoMoCha Middle School has been recognized as a “high progress reward school” after meeting a list of criteria based on the NECAP results.
    In addition to hearing the good news, the middle-schoolers were treated to a demonstration by Dover-Foxcroft residents John and Sydney Haggerty. Kimball said the two “are here to do a martial arts presentation for you.”
    Sydney Haggerty, who mentioned she attended SeDoMoCha Middle School, said she and John are both black belts. “We have respect for the art, respect for each other,” Sydney Haggerty said, saying they always fully stretch before the exercise.
    To indicate to the students the dedication needed for many of the martial arts, John Haggerty said these can require tens of thousands of hours of practice. He then said if someone was to practice three hours a day for an entire year, the total time would only be about 1,000 hours.
    “All of these arts are like this,” he said, as the two showed the students some moves and weapons, such as a Filipino fighting sticks, a Chinese sword and a pair of sais. Sydney Haggerty said martial arts students learn about the body and control before they are allowed to touch a weapon.
    “Continue with your super focus, it will help you with everything,” Haggerty said to the audience. She also told the students she noticed the SOAR (Safe, Organized, Accountable and Respectful) banner on the gym wall. “My favorite one is the R, because it means to take care of yourself and others,” Haggerty said.