A: Advisory Competitions
(March Madness)
The advisories went head-to-head in a new March Madness competition. They played against each other in cup stacking, rock/paper/scissors, Connect Four, and ring toss. Advisories were eliminated throughout the competition. The last four advisories competed in a bottle flipping competition, and the last two advisories left standing, Lambe and Parrish/Novak, went on to compete in a volleyball match, where Mrs. Lambe’s advisory won.
B: Benches in Chapel
New seating has been added to the chapel. The old wooden benches have now been replaced with new, cushioned benches that are split into two rows rather than just the one row. This allows for more space and movement within the chapel
.
C: Championship Teams
JC boasted several championship teams this year including cross country, girls indoor track and field, softball, baseball, and girls track. A Parade of Champions was also introduced this year as championship teams were able to go through the halls as a group to be recognized by the school community.
D: D Day Late Arrivals
D Days were designated this year for an hour or a two-hour delay to allow teachers to have meetings prior to the school day. D Days were not only beneficial to teachers but also students; they allowed students to sleep in before a long day at school.
E: Elections (Presidential)
Republican candidate Donald Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. He beat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris 312 electoral votes to her 226, becoming the first US president since Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms.
F: Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights was hosted for the third time at JC. As in the past, the event was something that brought the school and the entire community together with volunteers and Christmas activities for everyone to enjoy. This year a new addition was “Frosty’s Fast Pitch” and was sponsored by the baseball team.
G: Green School
JC officially received the Green School accreditation for their hard work to reduce the negative environmental impact on campus and to lead the school to a greener future. Next year the Green Team will continue its efforts with several student-led service projects.
H: Holocaust Education
The senior class participated in two very important events: their Washington, D.C. trip and Holocaust Remembrance Day. In D.C., students toured the National Holocaust Museum. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, students got to hear the stories of survivors through both primary and secondary accounts.
I: Inductions
Inductions for this year began in the fall with the Rho Kappa Honor Society and ended in the spring with various other honor societies. In these honor societies, students were recognized for their hard work. National Honor Society inductions were in October, and members were inducted based on service, character, leadership, and academic achievement.
J: Junior Ring Week
The Class of 2026 received their rings on the Thursday of Ring Week. Prior to receiving their rings, they participated in various activities which included a Ring Hunt and a breakfast. Friday included the Bling Blitz, and Saturday ended the week with the Ring Dance at Jarrettsville Gardens.
K: Kutcher Field Lights
The installation of lights at Kutcher Field has brightened the school’s baseball field, allowing for evening games and events. This improvement has expanded opportunities for baseball athletes and increased community engagement in the sport. These Kutcher Field Lights can change colors and be used to celebrate plays.
L: Literary Tea
Under the direction of Mrs. Louise Geczy, students in the Creative Writing, Journalism and Human Rights classes shared pieces of original or important writings in front of a JC audience in the Learning Commons. Additionally, musical performances from students and teachers were also included. This spring program concluded with refreshments.
M: Morning Star Pow Wow
Under the direction of Mr. Gary Scholl, the final Morning Star Pow Wow was held at JC this year as the event will be moving to Harford Community College next year. Since 2001, the Pow Wow has been celebrated at JC to help raise funds for the St. Labre Indian School in Montana.
N: Nutcracker
John Carroll dancers participated in performances of The Nutcracker a classical holiday ballet on the weekend before Christmas vacation. This annual event provides an opportunity for students to appreciate the Performing Arts program and the amount of work that goes in.
O: Orioles
After finding lots of success over the last few seasons, the Orioles have gotten off to a dismal start with a current 22-36 record and a last place standing in the American League East Division. On May 17, the Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde.
P: Pope’s Death
Pope Francis sadly passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 due to a stroke and an irreversible heart condition, which led to heart failure. His death began a century-old tradition of electing the new Pope. This process has rituals, traditions, and culminates in a conclave, which then led to the newly elected successor, Pope Leo XIV.
Q: Quickley Scholarship
Immanuel Quickley, a star basketball player during his time at JC, announced a scholarship that will allow male and female basketball players to come to JC with the financial help that they may need. Immanuel currently plays for the Toronto Raptors.
R: Retreats
Each of the four years, students are required to attend a retreat. The biggest changes in the retreat program occurred
within the Senior Retreat as all seniors attended the retreat at the same time. Additionally, the location changed to Black Rock, and the retreat was lengthened by a night.
S: Sophomore Pinning
The Class of 2027 received their pins on January 30, 2025. The event consisted of a ceremony and reception with snacks and photo opportunities. This class was the third to receive pins. The pinning is a milestone to show that the high school years are almost halfway over.
T: TikTok
From January 19-20, the viral platform TikTok was banned, much to the disappointment of teenagers everywhere. The app was mainly used for dancing, singing and other hobbies. It is now restored in the U.S. and is functioning normally.
U: Under the Sea
The Homecoming Dance theme this year was “Under the Sea.” The SGA decorated the gym and surrounding areas with lights, balloons, and a big shark hanging from the ceiling. SGA members went earlier in the day to prepare. Over 900 students and guests attended the event.
V: Virtual Learning
There were a few online learning days this past school year for building closures for various reasons such as weather and a watermain break. Classes began on Teams at 10:00 am and followed a two-hour late bell. Students had to login to their classes or be considered absent for the day.
W: Winter Snow Days
As in past years, JC went by the weather decisions made by Harford County Public Schools. This winter saw a few more weather events than past winters, and schools were closed for a few days. Closures occurred when weather caused unsafe driving conditions that would prevent students and staff from coming into school.
An examination of school and local events from this past year
X: X-Mas at JC
John Carroll celebrated many festivities during Christmas. Events included Door Decorating, a Gingerbread House Competition, Christmas Sweater Day, a Holiday Concert, and the Festival of Lights. The halls were decorated with Christmas trees and festive lights, giving the building that Christmas spirit.
Y: Year 60 Anniversary
The John Carroll School celebrated its 60th anniversary on September 9, 2024, with an all-school Mass. The event honored the school’s ongoing legacy and the influential experiences that it has provided all these years for the students and staff over the last six decades. The yearbook dedicated their theme to the anniversary.
Z: (Fr) Zach Joins JC
Father Zach joined the staff and served in major roles in Masses and other school activities. His devotion to the school is greatly appreciated, playing a large role in Campus Ministry. Father Zach was the celebrant for school Masses and attended and was part of class retreats.