HCPSSLooking Back and Ahead: Students Share Memories and Excitement About Next Year
May 25th, 2023
As the 2022-2023 school year comes to a close, we reached out to students across the county to learn about memories they have made and teachers who have positively impacted them, as well as what they are excited about as they look ahead to next year.
Ariana Chin, 5th grade, Ducketts Lane Elementary School
What is your fondest memory from your time at the school you currently attend?
My fondest memory from DLES is our Washington D.C. field trip because I got to spend time with my friends and visit different memorials and monuments.
Which teacher positively impacted you most at your current school?
The teacher who most positively impacted me at DLES is Mrs. Melvin. She is our technology teacher and is in charge of the morning announcements. She is always asking me about my day and cares about how I am feeling. When I’m feeling down, she tries to help me feel happier and have a positive day.
What is your plan for next year?
I will be attending Thomas Viaduct Middle School next year.
What are you most excited about as you think about next year?
I am excited about walking by myself from class to class. Also, I’m excited to see if my friends and I have the same classes so we can work together and talk about our days.
Caden Williams, 5th grade, West Friendship Elementary School
What is your fondest memory from your time at the school you currently attend?
I’ve always loved having the opportunity of being able to incorporate my extra talents into school projects like the Curriculum Extension Units (CEUs) and the related arts projects like the I spy unit in media, making a game in math. Every story I wrote in ELA really brought my mind into it in a fun and exciting way.
Which teacher positively impacted you most at your current school?
The teacher who positively impacted me the most at my school is luckily still my current teacher, Mrs. English because all of her lessons have made me feel very prepared for middle school and what it has to offer me. She has also been a very strong teacher since the very beginning of the year, especially with everyone transitioning from Covid to back to normal and she was the one to make me feel like it’s been normal all along.
What is your plan for next year?
My plan for next year in Mount View Middle School is going to be to make sure I’m very familiar with my new schedule and really focusing and trying my best in all of my classes especially with having the opportunity to be in all GT classes next year in sixth grade.
What are you most excited about as you think about next year?
I’m most excited about being able to make great relationships with my new teachers at school because I’ve always thought it’s good to have great relationships with teachers and classmates because you’re going to have to be with them for the rest of the year. I always love being able to hear about new interests and feelings from other people.
Jeremiah Shaw, 8th grade, Glenwood Middle School
What is your fondest memory from your time at the school you currently attend?
My entire 7th grade year. It was the best because of how much I experienced then. For instance, I made new friends that had the same interests as me. I did well academically. My favorite class was Theater because it inspired me to do more acting. The teachers were very influential to me and made me like school again.
Which teacher positively impacted you most at your current school?
Mark Grissom and Chris Matthews. They were like part-time father figures to me and they pushed me and inspired me to work hard and to learn more for future times.
What is your plan for next year?
In high school, I would like to earn knowledge for my career as I get older. I currently have a business for video editing. Next year, I would like to improve my business by increasing my level of video editing. This could be supported by the classes I take in high school for this career.
What are you most excited about as you think about your plan for next year?
I am most excited to learn about video editing. I am also excited to make friends and socialize, and to experience new school events like going to soccer and football games. It will be fun to have the camraderie and school spirit days.
Yuly Umana, 8th grade, Patuxent Valley Middle School
What is your fondest memory from your time at the school you currently attend?
The fondest memory I have from the two years I have been here is at the end of the year last year, waiting for the old 8th graders to leave and just thinking to myself, “I only have a year before I go to high school, my time is limited, so I have to take it all in.”
Which teacher positively impacted you most at your current school?
Ms. Siepel because she always involves me in afterschool activities and that really helps me get out of my shell and makes me feel welcome in the community.
What is your plan for next year?
My plan is to do JumpStart and start doing afterschool activities to have on my college application. I will be attending Reservoir High School this upcoming year.
What are you most excited about as you think about your plan for next year?
The thing I am most excited about is being in the same school as my brother, even if it is for one year. I am just happy to be able to get a jump start on my career to become an architect and be able to make something out of myself.
Rachel Kim, 12th grade, Atholton High School
What is your fondest memory from your time at the school you currently attend?
My fondest memory from Atholton High School was being able to do the morning announcements every day and being able to expand my public speaking skills! Our senior crab feast was also a core memory for me that I’ll always remember.
Which teacher positively impacted you most at your current school?
Ms. Street is an amazing teacher that truly cares for her students well being and especially their mental health. She always listens to her students’ concerns whether it is personal or related to her class!
What is your plan for next year?
I will be attending the University of Maryland School of Public Health on a Pre-Physical Therapy track.
What are you most excited about as you think about your plan for next year?
I’m super excited to meet new people and to create even more memories as I move into a more independent lifestyle!
Sydney Sherman, 12th grade, Mt. Hebron High School
What is your fondest memory from your time at the school you currently attend?
My favorite high school memory is undoubtedly the exhilarating experience of leading the 2022 and 2023 homecoming pep rallies as an emcee. The air was filled with energy as I stood before the spirited crowd, microphone in hand. The beats of the music vibrated through the bleachers, and the deafening cheers filled the air. With each word and gesture, I rallied my peers, rebirthing their school spirit and creating a sense of unity. It was an incredible feeling to witness the collective excitement and pride, as we celebrated unity through competition. The memory of that day still fills my heart with joy and the knowledge that I played a part in fostering such a memorable event.
Which teacher positively impacted you most at your current school?
Ms. Sandy Harrington had a great positive impact on me during my time at Mt. Hebron. Ms. Harrington is a bright and lovely woman who treats all of her students with kindness, care, and concern which are paired with her welcoming smile. Ms. Harrington takes on the responsibility to reach her students life lessons such as responsibility, accountability, and decision making. Ms. Harrington served as an educator, mentor, and motherly figure during my time as a Viking.
What is your plan for next year?
I will attend Spelman College to study history on the pre-law track.
What are you most excited about as you think about your plan for next year?
When thinking about my plan for next year, I am most excited about starting my career in a new city: Atlanta, GA. My undergraduate degree is the first step to living my dreams as an entertainment/sports attorney. I am excited to meet new people and to learn and experience a new culture. I am also very grateful to have the opportunity to attend an out-of-state institution as it will give me the opportunity to learn life lessons independently, away from my parents.