Starting high school brings many changes, but many freshmen at Mount Vernon find these changes exciting. From having more freedom to choose classes to meeting new friends and participating in school activities, the Class of 2029 is discovering what makes high school different from middle school. Here are the top ten things they’ve enjoyed most so far.
Based on an email survey in November with 32 freshmen responding, most say they enjoy high school more than middle school. They now have the chance to choose some of their classes and gain more control. “More freedom is my favorite because you get to have a bit more responsibility,” said Channing Kuker, “and you get to choose for yourself a lot more.”
The second most common answer was that students enjoyed the opportunity to make new friends. These chances come through classes, electives, and extracurricular activities. “My favorite part was making friends because I got to meet new people and share my interests with others,” said Adrienne Smith, who is new to Mount Vernon this year after transferring from a different school.
Homecoming week and the homecoming dance were favorites among freshmen. The week included dress-up days, a parade, a powder puff game, and the white-out football game, all leading up to the dance. “Homecoming was so fun, and I had such a fun time with all my friends,” said Jo Barnes. “I loved the dress-up days, and it was so much fun when I came to school and saw what my friends were wearing.”
At Mount Vernon High School, there are two lunch periods; students have either first or second lunch depending on their fourth-hour class on regular days. On block days, all freshmen share the same lunch period. They can choose where to sit and select from a variety of options. “I love lunch and eating, and we play card games at lunch,” said Mason Bany.
Many students are encouraged to join clubs and sports. These activities offer opportunities to develop leadership, make friends, and explore personal interests. “I love cross country and spending time with my friends while doing an extracurricular,” said Ella Messer.
“I can finally be in the student section, I’ve always wanted to,” Quinlan O’Connor said. For freshmen, being in the student section means being with friends, cheering, and feeling part of the game. It’s something they’ve seen older students do, and now it’s their turn.
Mount Vernon High School offers a variety of electives to help students explore their interests. Freshmen select about two electives each semester; later, they have more options. Choosing these classes lets students pursue what they love. “Electives are really fun because they reflect me and what I like,” said Ireland Anderson.
The transition from middle school to high school involves tackling more challenging subjects and gaining deeper knowledge. “I like how I get to choose my classes because I feel like I can tailor my high school education to be more personal to my interests and things I enjoy, and I’m able to choose classes that I can push myself to be better and challenge me,” said Anthony Andrews.
High school also means more teachers, some of whom teach multiple subjects and grade levels. “I really enjoy the teachers because in science teacher Aaron Schwiebert’s classroom, the people in that class and he are fun,” said Michael Walker.
Brinson Grenis said he appreciates how homework is handled at Mount Vernon High School. “I like that the teachers let us decide if we’re going to try or not instead of forcing us to do it,” he said. He believes that freedom reduces stress and encourages responsibility, unlike middle school.
Overall, the Class of 2029 is enjoying its first year at Mount Vernon High School. They appreciate having more freedom, making new friends, and participating in fun activities. Although high school is different from middle school, many freshmen say it’s been an exciting and positive start.
