Students shared their ancestry projects during the Genealogy Celebration event on Jan. 17. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) 
Student Cattarinha Nunes shares her ancestry with her mother and grandmother. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) 
Student Traeh Carrington and his mother Patricia during the Genealogy Celebration event. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) 
Students (from left) Taryn Jackson, Hannah Mansfield, Reis DeMello and Abigail Campbell during the Genealogy Celebration event. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) 
Student Lila Bangs shares her ancestry findings with her family. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) 
From left: student Kelly Quinlan, teacher Kathleen Brunelle and student Sara Kroll during the Genealogy Celebration event. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) 
MATTAPOISETT — Superintendent Michael S. Nelson, Principal Michael Devoll and English teacher Kathleen Brunelle are pleased to share the success of the fall semester genealogy class and celebrate students’ family projects.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, students, families and faculty attended an event in the Old Rochester Regional High School Library to celebrate the work of students enrolled in the genealogy elective. The course — provided through the English department — strives to teach English by way of designing a genealogy book based on a student’s grandparent by the end of the semester.
Throughout the semester, each student researched their ancestry on sites like AncestryClassroom and American Ancestors through a free offering from the New England Historic Genealogical Society and built a family tree. Students accessed local records through the help of New Bedford City Hall, as well as free online resources such as Familysearch.org, U.S. newspaper archives and military records through Fold3.
“The Genealogy Celebration provides an excellent platform to highlight the unique coursework and notable achievements of Mrs. Brunelle’s students,” said Principal Devoll. “Mrs. Brunelle’s genealogy course integrates various skills found in English Language Arts classes, such as reading, writing, speaking, storytelling and creative expression. The course serves as a commendable example of project-based learning and emphasizes the importance of student voice. Our students are fortunate to engage in this enriching opportunity.”
The students used census, birth, marriage and death records to piece their ancestry together. They also used yearbooks and directories or called/visited town clerk’s offices and public libraries to find additional information. By examining these documents, some students were able to trace their lineage as far back as the 1500s.
At the end of the semester, students prepared and shared food from their ancestors in class while presenting their research to their peers through a digital media presentation. In their presentations, many students chose to showcase the important bonds they share with their grandparents and how their grandparents have shaped their lives.
During Wednesday’s event, Brunelle highlighted some interesting facts students learned about their families, including one student who learned that his great-uncle was a famous boxer in Providence in the 1940s. Another student learned that his family started what is now the oldest restaurant in Erie, Pennsylvania. About one-third of the students learned that they are Mayflower descendants.
“Each year this project is one of the best we offer,” said Superintendent Nelson. “The reason being this project directly connects what our students are doing here in the school building with their families, making it really special. I hope this project continues to be part of our students’ experiences for many years to come.”
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