Knockout excellence! In an innovative cross-curricular partnership, Ms. Burnett, Grade 8 English Teacher, and Mr. Akula, Grade 8 English/History Teacher, whose students are reading “The Berlin Boxing Club” by Robert Sharenow, teamed up with the Health & Wellness department to add a physical education component to their unit. The novel is set in Pre-WWII Germany and is loosely inspired by the true story of boxer Max Schmeling, who gives boxing lessons to a man named Karl Stern, someone being harassed because he is Jewish. And then as Nazi violence escalates, Karl must become his family’s protector. “In this collaboration between eighth-grade English and Health & Wellness, we aim to bring the text to life by showing students how boxing can be examined through multiple lenses,” said Ms. Burnett, Grade 8 English Teacher. “By learning boxing fundamentals, students will develop a greater appreciation for the sport’s skill and coordination, creating a more authentic connection to Karl’s journey.” Health & WellnessTeacher Ms. Hovan said these Middle School students are currently in their fitness unit, so the boxing lesson—specifically, shadow boxing and punching bag work—was a natural fit. “It’s a unique opportunity for our eighth graders to do something they wouldn’t have explored otherwise,” said Ms. Hovan. How’s that for teamwork?