School Visits

J&P Voelkel School visit - Press

MIDDLE DIVISION VISITS MIDDLEWORLD

Having been a student at the school since second grade, I like to think I’m prepared for most things. I’ve tangled with the angry teacher and forded the murky waters of the oral report. I’ve even braced my stomach against the cafeteria pizza. But never would I expect to be sitting in Gross Theater, listening as a man sprays the audience with water while his wife encourages everyone to eat fried mealworms and watching Mr. Nick walk onstage in traditional ancient Mayan garb, plumed headdress and all!

For Middle Division Book Day, an annual event since 1995, every student was assigned to read Middleworld, a novel by Jon and Pamela Voelkel, a dynamic duo of husband and wife. Middleworld tells the story of Max, a normal, slightly spoiled American boy who finds himself in the home of the Ancient Mayans, trying to rescue his parents and bring them home.

We filed into the theater, unsure of what to expect. Earlier that day, I’d attended a seminar in which John Voekel gave a presentation about the day the Mayan calendar ends, December 21, 2012. It is believed by many to be the end of the world. After my day had begun on such a cheery note, I slipped into my seat, feeling slightly wary as the lights dimmed.

Jon and Pamela walked onstage, acting as if they were tour guides about to lead us on a tour of the jungles of Belize. They told us we couldn’t go outside until Belize’s “heavy rain” cleared up. We learned about Belize’s fragile ecosystem and watched some of the most dangerous of the jungle’s creatures on our “Jungle Cam.” We then explored appetizing jungle fare, like mealworms and live grasshoppers. John offered some brave students a fried mealworm, which reportedly tasted like a potato chip (but wasn’t kosher for Passover)! Finally, the entire technical system shut down. Feigning worry, Pamela and Jon jumped in surprise when Kevin Nicholas, already known throughout the MD for his absurd antics, strode onto the stage in full Mayan garb. As we all bust into hysterics, we could hear Mr. Nick shouting, “How dare you treat I, Lord Six-Rabbit [a character in the book], thus?”

During Book Day, many pushed to the front to sample a mealworm, and others were looking slightly green, recalling the parasite we saw extracted from a tourist’s neck. And I, well, I went over to discuss the idea of an “End of the World” party with my friends on December 20, 2012.

by Rebecca Shaw, Volume 106, Issue 23, Tuesday, January 10, 2012,