As the school year draws to a close with the days getting longer and our attention spans growing shorter, I want to compliment and commend the student body in my final days at JC.

As Patriots, you were literally able to weather the storm when good old Hurricane Irene left JC in her wake and a new principal came in to clean up the pieces.

When the abortion protestors stood on the corner, all of you were able to discuss and react like Archbishop John Carroll would have wanted you to.

When Principal Madelyn Ball made her first big change in the library, you spoke out exercising your thoughts and beliefs, even though they were shot down.

You all, well, most of you, completed AlcoholEdu and expanded your knowledge on drugs and alcohol, something that plagues every high school.

As a school, you were all able to indirectly unite by formally representing your class on Class Color Day.

But with our high points came our low points, specifically when Twitter was blocked at school due to cyber bullying, an issue that resurfaced before Easter Break with HS Memes.

One of the biggest struggles you endured was the passing of our dear Xavia Pirozzi back in March. After her tragic passing, the entire JC community came together to honor the life of a loved one by coming to her funeral to support her family, remember the life of Xavia, and to share your love with the community.

However, with all the success of the general student population, I sincerely want to compliment the class of 2012.

Starting the year under a harsh stigma attached to us from previous graduating classes, the class of 2012 managed to overcome a great deal of that criticism and become one of the most notable, revered classes since the school opened.

This statement is not said out of partiality to my own class. It’s been proven time and time again from the class’s behavior at the annual Holocaust Museum field trip, the level of maturity at Senior Retreat, and most recently, the amazing behavior at Prom.

At each one of these events, the conduct and character of the class of 2012 shone through the dense film that was attached to us as we exceeded the high expectations of the administration.

Most importantly, the teachers, faculty, and administration noticed our shining moments as well.

As we count down our final days as Patriots, I hope that we can finish out the year in a proud and respectful manner.

 Maggie Cassidy is the Print Chief for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.