Several students from Washington Middle School last month travelled to Atlanta, Ga. to compete in the Ron Clark Academy's annual Amazing Shake competition, where they and about 260 other 5th-8th graders put their professional and etiquette skills to the test.
Kate Lee, Avery Warren, Riley Fisher, Radin Baghaeipour, Sarah Custodio, Khloe Reed, Kayla McHenry and Brinya Moody, all 6th graders at WMS, along with 5th graders Suellen Hargett and Landon Lowery, all members of WMS's Shake class, attended the national competition on March 17-19.
WMS Principal Bethanie Hale said the Shake class is based around Ron Clark's book, "Essential 55," which offers tips on manners, professional behavior and other life skills.
"Our class focuses on a lot of these skills. Students learn about creating resumes, interview skills, a proper handshake, etc. They watch the news and study what's going on in the world. They learn how to dine at a formal dinner," she said in an email.
During a regular meeting of the El Dorado School Board earlier this month, Hale introduced the Amazing Shakers, noting that Landon won the "Best Amazing Shaker" award for having the most spirit at the competition. Avery and Kate shared their experience at the contest with School Board members.
"My favorite part was definitely meeting new people from all across the country," said Avery. "The most challenging part was definitely thinking on your feet and presenting yourself to be unique – to not blend in, but to stand out to make yourself be different from others."
Avery said the most challenging part of the competition was a portion called "The Gauntlet," where participants are placed in a boxing ring and given 40 seconds at different stations to handle real-life scenarios, such as working at a fast food restaurant or accepting an Academy Award.
"My favorite part was probably the Gauntlet because we got to do so many different and unusual stuff. You're walking on a treadmill and you're talking to people you don't know and make friends. Some people were from Canada," Kate said.
Shaking hands is one of the most important lessons the Ron Clark Academy imparts, and Kate said when they arrived in Atlanta, she found she had some growing to do in that area.
"At the very beginning, I had to shake Ron Clark's hand and I didn't do good at it," she said. "But I improved my handshake, because I didn't want to get told that again."
Avery and Kate demonstrated a proper handshake, Avery noting that maintaining eye contact is key while Kate said three shakes is optimal so no one's arms get too tired.
"You have to keep eye contact because if you lose it, then you kind of lose the connection," Avery explained.
Board President Susan Turbeville asked the girls what they learned about themselves at the competition.
"I learned that you need to talk to people, because if you don't talk to people, you're not going to win or make it very far because those people... might be the winner and then you get to know them," said Kate.
Added Avery, "I learned that even though you might just meet these people and just click, you have to go find somebody else because you have to be friends with everybody. If you're just friends with one person, then that means that you don't know this person, so if you get thrown in the ringer with them... you don't know how to bounce off their personality."
The National Amazing Shake competition saw students from across the country performing tasks like "working a room," sitting for interviews, debating and more. Hale said that from the moment students walked into the competition until they left, they were being judged by Amazing Shake staff.
"They're competing against 7th and 8th graders as well, that have done this since the 5th grade," Hale said. "As 6th graders, they were right up there with the 7th and 8th graders, that was pretty impressive."
Hale said 2022 was the first year WMS students participated in the National Amazing Shake, but the school is planning to make it an annual trip for Shake class students.
"I have one question for Ms. Hale. Are you sure these are 6th graders?" joke Board member Kenneth Clemens. "They are awesome."
Avery Warren, facing away, and Kate Lee act out introducing themselves to one another after demonstrating a proper handshake, a skill they learned through the Ron Clark Academy Shake program. The 6th graders are both members of Washington Middle School's Shake class and last month travelled to Atlanta to participate in the National Amazing Shake competition. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)