March medieval madness!

For a week in March, the sixth-grade students at Voorheesville Middle School enjoyed medieval madness!

Students spent five days with Bells and Motley, medieval performers, culminating in the school’s annual Medieval Feast.

Bells and Motley, John and Sondra Bromka, came to the school through a matching grant from the Capital District Arts Council, district funding and PTA support. The performers taught students about medieval music, art and clothing, and brought to life the era for students.

On Medieval Feast Day, students were encouraged to wear costumes like those they had learned about earlier in the week. That day, students went through four workshops taught by the artists and core teachers. They wrote ballads in English class based on medieval-themed books, created catapults and sent Cheerios flying through the science lab, prepared a technology timeline of the Middle Ages and learned two dances of the time period.

In addition, students played recorders and other music of the time period, and both the band and chorus played.

More than 25 parents helped out with the week of events, which sixth-grade social studies teacher Sheila Lobel said was necessary for the week to be a success.