• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Peyton Gullickson, a fifth grader at St. Mary Catholic School in Hagerstown, portrays aviation pioneer Orville Wright at his school's 'wax museum,' May 24. (Courtesy St. Mary Catholic School, Hagerstown)

Hagerstown students bring historical figures to life in ‘wax museum’

May 26, 2022
By Adam Zielonka
Special to the Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Imagine a room packed with some of the most famous figures throughout human history. George Washington and James Madison rub elbows with Judy Garland, Kobe Bryant and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

And they don’t just stand around silently: With the push of a button, they’ll tell you about their life’s work.

That was the concept behind an annual fifth-grade class project at St. Mary Catholic School in Hagerstown, known as the “Wax Museum.” After several weeks of research and preparation, students dressed up as their given historical figure, stationed themselves around the school’s gym on May 24 and prepared to educate the museum’s guests. 

Philomena Ortiz, a fifth grader at St. Mary Catholic School in Hagerstown, dressed up as “Little House on the Prairie” author Laura Ingalls Wilder at her school’s ‘wax museum,’ May 24. (Courtesy St. Mary Catholic School, Hagerstown)

It’s a tradition for St. Mary fifth graders that dates back many years, according to their teacher, April Nitzell. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, they’d resorted to doing the project entirely from home in recent years. This was the first class that got to partake in it live and in person since 2019.

The project also includes written and oral reports, helping students work on their writing skills and introducing them to citing sources.

“Some of them are sad stories. Some are shocking. But they’re all beautiful in their own way,” said Nitzell, who’s spent more than 20 years as a teacher and four years at St. Mary. “It’s pretty heartwarming. I was proud to watch the students tell these stories and bring the past alive again.”

The part everyone looks forward to is the creative component. In addition to the costume, Nitzell provided large cardboard panels for students to design their own backdrops, such as a collage or flag. “Henry Ford” put together a cardboard automobile, while “Betsy Ross” sat in a rocking chair with a basket of yarn at her side.

A few students took personal “field trips” with their families to do research about their figure. Nicholas Cabezas went to Fallingwater in Pennsylvania for his project on architect Frank Lloyd Wright, giving him the inspiration to turn his cardboard backdrop into a replica of the famous house.

The entire school was invited to spend some time in the gym, interacting with the wax figures. Then the fifth graders’ families came for the last half-hour of the school day.

“I taught them to be like wax people. You stand there and you don’t activate till someone pushes your button,” Nitzell said. “They really do get into their parts. Everything is done in first person, because the whole goal is for them to become that person and internalize and really get to know who that historical person was.”

Nitzell encouraged her students to use what they had at home, borrow or share instead of buying an abundance of supplies. Philomena Ortiz of Hagerstown did her project on “Little House on the Prairie” author Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

“For my costume, I borrowed one of my mom’s old dresses that she had when she was little, and me and my brother made the backdrop together,” Ortiz said.

Peyton Gullickson, also of Hagerstown, chose Orville Wright for his project because flying had always fascinated him. He made his own Wright mustache out of paper. 

“I definitely learned more than what I knew about him, that’s for sure,” Gullickson said.

Read More Schools News

Jewish parents challenge California ban on special education funds at religious schools

Theater program hits new highs at Immaculate Conception

High school juniors, seniors invited to enter USCCB religious liberty essay

Lead NASA spacewalk instructor says Catholic education, faith are foundation of her success

Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg unveils media center

Always striving: Astronaut urges young people not to shy away from opportunities

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Adam Zielonka

Adam Zielonka is a freelance contributor to the Catholic Review and a journalist specializing in sports media. At present he works as an editor and writer for Field Level Media, an online sports news service. His past jobs have included reporting on local sports and news for the Capital-Gazette in Annapolis and the Washington Times in Washington, D.C.

Adam’s writing and reporting have also been featured in the Washington City Paper, the Associated Press, the Hockey News and DeSales University Magazine.

Adam grew up in New Jersey and spent four years living in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. After attending DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa., he received his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: Dining with the Saints
  • Fire guts historic Catholic school in parish connected to St. John Neumann
  • Sister Elizabeth Ellen Kane, O.S.F., dies at 81
  • Legendary communist-era priest, Father Blachnicki, was murdered, Polish authorities confirm

| Latest Local News |

Catholic Charities’ William J. McCarthy Jr. named Loyola’s Business Leader of the Year

Sister Joan Cooper, O.S.F., dies at 94

Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history

| Latest World News |

Vatican envoy warns UN General Assembly racism mutating and ‘reemerging’ globally

‘We all need to do more’: House hearing demands action over Nicaragua regime’s anti-Catholic persecution

Notre Dame Cathedral reopening date announced as reconstruction on its famous spire wraps up in eastern France

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • An invitation from God
  • Vatican envoy warns UN General Assembly racism mutating and ‘reemerging’ globally
  • ‘We all need to do more’: House hearing demands action over Nicaragua regime’s anti-Catholic persecution
  • Notre Dame Cathedral reopening date announced as reconstruction on its famous spire wraps up in eastern France
  • AI and the meaning of life: Tech industry turns to religious leaders
  • Movie Review: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4, a festival of fatality’
  • Pope calls European bishops to be prophetic voices for peace
  • En la frontera de México y EE.UU., defensores de migrantes que buscan asilo hacen un llamado a la acción
  • At U.S.-Mexico border, migrants’ advocates call for action on U.S. asylum policy

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED