MCDONOGH SCHOOL
McDonogh prides itself on being a school where students find joy in work and play. And that proclamation resonates clearly with students in all grades. Jack, a senior; Mya, an eighth grader; and Ayden, in third grade, share glimpses of fiercely dedicated teachers, deep school pride, and a sense of gratitude for the special campus where they learn and play.
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL PROUD TO BE A STUDENT AT YOUR SCHOOL?
JACK: What makes me proud to be a student at McDonogh is that I go to a school with one of the most inclusive and diverse communities that I have seen. It’s incredible being at a school where everyone is welcome and is able to voice their opinions. Both the faculty and students are very supportive, and McDonogh just has a warm atmosphere.
MYA: There are a lot of reasons why I am proud to be a McDonogh student, but a few of the main reasons are the kind students, great teachers, beautiful campus, all the opportunities McDonogh gives their students, and most of all the feel of the community at our school.
AYDEN: I am proud to be a student and McDonogh because we have great teachers and the kids are very nice to each other.
WHAT TEACHER/COACH/ MENTOR HAS MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU, AND WHY?
JACK: The teachers who have made the biggest impact on me are Mr. Abbot and Ms. Cox. Throughout high school, I have been taking honors and AP English, and they have been my harder classes. Although there were definitely struggles, these two teachers drastically helped me improve my reading and writing skills and constantly pushed me to be a better student overall. They both truly care about their students, and they offer detailed feedback on papers and help outside of class.
MYA: There have been two teachers, especially in my middle school experience, who have made an impact on me. Mr. Spencer, my seventh grade Spanish teacher, taught me that there is more to life than good grades and that the important thing is to be a good person with a good heart. He was also a teacher I felt that I could always come to and he would help me with my problems. Ms. Fried, my fifth grade advisor and fifth and sixth grade math teacher, taught me that if I work hard and really try, I can do anything I put my mind to. She was so supportive and always helped me when I didn’t understand something, related to math or not.
AYDEN: My second grade teacher, Mrs. Omatsola, really helped me by teaching me a lot of tricks in math like regrouping. She also encouraged me to speak like the characters in my story book to better understand the story. She helped me feel safe and work on overcoming my fears of thunderstorms.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE?
JACK: The biggest lesson that I will take away from my school experience is that curiosity is so important. Sometimes, sitting in a classroom can be difficult when I am uninterested in the subject. However, McDonogh’s incredible teachers keep me engaged and curious about what I am learning inside and outside of the classroom.
MYA: From my middle school experience, the main lesson I learned is that there will be some rough times, but if I work hard and keep trying, I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. If there was a lesson that I have learned from my overall school experience, it would have to be that trying new things pays off. It may be hard and uncomfortable at the beginning, but it could end up being a great experience.
AYDEN: The biggest lesson I have learned is to treat others the way you want to be treated. I remember that from Pre-K.
