Building Confidence, Collaboration, and Global Awareness: Year Two of the World Scholar’s Cup at Mark Day—Plus a Trip to the Global Round in Slovenia

Spring 2025 marked the second time Mark Day School participated in and hosted World Scholar’s Cup (WSC), a global academic competition for middle and high school students that brings together different disciplines and asks students to collaborate in a series of challenges. Students in grades 6-8 met weekly for several months to prepare for the regional round, which occurred on April 27 and 28, 2025 on Mark Day’s campus.

“We started preparing earlier this time, and it made a difference,” says Carrie Smith, Director of Student Life for Grades 5-8. “Our returning seventh graders built on what they learned last year—about the structure of the competition and also about how to collaborate effectively and study in new ways.” For many 6th graders, this was their first experience with WSC. The addition of a new 6th grade team, including one teammate from a school in Phoenix, brought a fresh perspective and new energy to the group.

When asked why he signed up to participate, 7th grader Nico said: “I am naturally curious, and WSC allows me to express this outside of school with people who are like-minded.”

Most of the 2025 Mark Day competitors also participated in WSC last year. Sixth grader Allyson said of her experience last year, “I learned that working together with your teammate and communicating better with them is a lot of fun and it makes your debates stronger.” And 7th grader Cadence added, “My biggest takeaway was that it’s always good to meet new people and try new things, even if you are unsure at first.”

Each year, the WSC curriculum revolves around a central theme. This year’s theme, Reigniting the Future, created connections with what students were studying in their classes—Afrofuturism in English and history and volcanology in science. Through WSC, students were also developing study habits that extended beyond the classroom, including how to synthesize online materials, create flashcards, take notes, and use those notes strategically—all valuable skills as they move through middle school and beyond.

“In sixth grade, students aren’t used to being tested on a wide range of material they’ve had to study independently,” says Carrie. “WSC offers them a new learning challenge and, in Mark Day fashion, they’re rising to meet it.”

Practice sessions included after-school debate meetings, which provided time and space to go deeper into argument construction, collaborative writing, and team strategy. In these sessions, students practiced critical thinking, public speaking, and group decision-making.

Over the summer, several students who participated in the spring competition here at Mark Day attended the Global Round in Ljubljana, Slovenia. There, they competed alongside international peers, took part in a citywide scavenger hunt with students they had never met, and represented their cultures at the Scholar’s Fair. “It’s about expanding their perspective and building independence. These kinds of experiences, away from parents and meeting people from other countries, are incredibly meaningful,” says Carrie. Three of our rising Mark Day 8th graders also qualified for the WSC Tournament of Champions hosted by Yale University this November. 

At its heart, WSC is about connecting with others and tuning in to the fun in learning. “Just like a sports team or mathletes,” Carrie explains, “WSC gives students another way to engage in our community, build on past experience, and find the joy in learning—together.