I was walking up the front lawn from my car on the oval a few days ago and looked up at the tan brick building that I’ve been entering for four years, and for the first time in a long time, I took a minute to reflect on what these 64 acres really mean to me.  

Freshmen year during Tablet Camp, I was told that JC would become a home. And as cliché as it sounds, that is exactly what the school became. I’ve spent hours here after school from cheerleading practice to off days spent researching water main breaks on campus.

And I wouldn’t take any of those back.

I recognize that I’ve been critical of the school this year in certain attempts to enhance the strategic and operations prospects that we have.

However, there are many positive changes that have been made this year.  There have been new hires, including Director of Facilities Stewart Walker, who has expressed goals with the potential to help upgrade our 1964 facilities before the proposed master plan does the rest. The new addition to the Admissions Department, Jesse Roberts, has plans to better use students to attract candidates to JC.

The use of surveys issued to students this year, from those focused on students’ view of their teachers to reflections on the branding campaign, is what struck me as a fantastic change. Students, the ones who live out the promises in our tagline and receive the full educational experience, are the best to judge how to seek improvements in each area. If anything, these surveys should be expanded to more subjects, like rating the curriculum, after school activities, and program activities.

But because I can’t be all positive, the strategic plan was slightly disappointing. However, this could be because I am not aware of all of the steps for implementing the plan. I was left with a desire for more details when reviewing the objectives, especially in how we will be utilizing online classes. Personally, I am a huge proponent of online classes because they allow us to greatly expand the courses offered without paying for a teacher in a time where we are cutting people from the faculty.

It’s all about telling the story, the good news about what JC can offer. I can’t imagine having spent four years anywhere else. I’m not going to recount all of the activities, people, classes, and opportunities that have personalized my JC experience.

However, I can tell you that what this school has offered has allowed me to grow as a person, academically, spiritually, socially, and more. It has allowed me to become compelling, considerate, and uncompromising and be prepared to enter the college environment next year.  

So, I think I have a lot of thanks to give on behalf of the entire senior class. Thank you to the teachers who have dedicated their time every day to help students who require it. Thank you to the administration that has actively pursued new ways to better the operational and strategic future of our programs.

Thank you to our staff that has filled in all of the loose ends in the community, from manning the front desk to making food in the cafeteria.  Thank you to the coaches and club monitors who have encouraged students’ interest in activities outside of the school building.

Thank you to the donors who have help cover that eight percent gap in funds that tuition doesn’t cover for the budget. In essence, thank you to every member of the community because you’ve made my high school experience, as well as my classmates’ experiences, absolutely unforgettable.

You’ll be getting my $20.10 for four years.

Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at [email protected].