The culminating event of The Hill School’s infamous fifth-grade year is the Tournament Of Champions. Similar to the TV show “It’s Academic,” the TOC pits teams of students against one another in a competition of academic prowess. Throughout the year, the fifth grade has studied a range of subjects, including Greek gods, NYC skyscrapers, Michelangelo, the Sistine Chapel, human anatomy, Central Park, Gothic architecture, Rome, to name just a few. With challenges ranging from mathematic equations to drawing Greek vases, the challenge was on—for 2 1/2 hours. We parents in the audience regularly cheered for the incredible feats of knowledge and camaraderie we witnessed, and we also cheered amongst ourselves when we could answer one of the questions—but the latter was few and far between.