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A Lesson on the Constitution

During IMPACT, history comes alive for the student body.
Each year on September 17, Americans celebrate Constitution Day as a way to recognize the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. Why September 17? On this day in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.

At GPS, students and faculty celebrate today during IMPACT period, gathering in Frierson Theatre this morning for a lesson about the U.S. Constitution and government.

Kicking off the program, reenacting Cabinet Battle #1 from Hamilton: An American Musical, are Dr. Steve Harrison as Alexander Hamilton, Mrs. Callie Hamilton as Thomas Jefferson, Mrs. Debbie Glasscock as James Madison, and Ms. Mary Baxter as President George Washington.

Afterward, Harrison and Hamilton debrief the scene with a discussion of positive and negative liberty and implied versus expressed powers followed by a Schoolhouse Rock video: The Preamble.

Senior Larkin Brown provides some lighthearted moments with a short joke-filled intermission. “Was General Washington handsome? Yes. Georgeous!”

Sophomores Addie Youmans and Isabel Milan, members of Junior State of America club, then host a hot battle between two talented teams of classmates (creatively dubbed Team One and Team Two) to see who can outwit the other with their knowledge of American government and its Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendments, and more.

After a close contest, with the score mostly tied throughout, finally Team Two edges out Team One with a score of 22 versus 19.

The assembly concludes with a second Schoolhouse Rock video, I'm Just a Bill.
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