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"Something else that helps me enjoy the class is the environment, the students around me, and my teacher Ms. Zarro. They all make the class so fun for me and it really helps me learn and understand the material being taught." ~ Honors British Literature, Fall 2025
"I like that she gives us a warm-up quote to warm up for the writing. I learned that it helped me to construct paragraphs around ideas." ~End-of-the-Semester Student Observation Honors American Literature, Fall 22025
"I find Ms. Zarro’s classes especially engaging. Her teaching has inspired my curiosity and helped me develop a stronger passion for learning throughout the semester." ~End-of-the-Semester Student Observation Honors American Literature, Fall 22025
Fall 2025-26 Honors American Literature International Junior Student: This semester in Honors American Literature, we read two major works that really showed what early American life was like — The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Both stories made me think a lot about judgment and how much reputation mattered in strict Puritan societies. Through our reading and class discussions, I got better at finding symbols and connecting what we read to both history and modern life. One of my favorite parts of the semester was reading The Scarlet Letter. The reading quizzes helped me keep up with the book, and I liked learning about what the scarlet letter “A” stood for and how Hawthorne showed sin, shame, and redemption.
Watching The Crucible movie was another highlight. I thought it was really interesting how Miller used the Salem witch trials to show how fear can spread and make people turn against each other. From both stories, I realized that the authors were trying to show how dangerous judgment can be and how important it is to stay true to yourself. We also wrote two in-class essays this semester, which helped me get better at organizing my thoughts quickly and using evidence to support my ideas. Even though the timed writings were stressful, they helped me feel more confident in my writing.
Another part of the class I really liked was the daily warm-ups. Every morning, Mrs. Zarro-Anaya writes a quote on the board, and we respond to it in a short paragraph. I enjoy this routine because it helps me think deeply, reflect on meaningful ideas, and get ready for class. Looking back, I’m proud of how much I’ve improved this semester, especially in reading closely, finding symbolism, and writing more clearly. One thing I want to work on next semester is participating more in class discussions, because sharing ideas helps me understand the readings better. Overall, this semester made me appreciate American literature and its themes about morality, independence, and imperfection, and I’m excited to keep learning next semester.
Fall 2025-26 Honors American Literature International Junior Student: This year taking Honors American Literature was really different from last year's English 2. It placed a greater emphasis on critical thinking, deeper analysis, and literary interpretation. We are not just reading the stories, we are trying to understand the underlying themes, symbolism, and the history background. This semester we are focusing reading the novel, The Scarlet Letter, and we watched The Crucible play; the play actually helped me a lot to reflect better and empathize with how American writers reflected the moral struggles of their time. I learned how literature reflects the values and conflicts of early America, particularly around concepts of guilt, honor, and individuality. This honors course also encouraged us to express our ideas clearly and support them with strong textual evidence.
Ms. Zarro’s class is actually really fun to take. She is interactive with the students and very funny. Her class is not just boring teaching—she uses creative ways to make the things we need to know easier to remember. In her class, I especially like the “Friday Free Write” part. I also enjoy some of the songs she plays. Even though I don’t really want to share my journal, I still like listening to how my classmates’ days are going. This semester, I didn’t do very well on the in-class short essays. I feel like I just need to know the stories better so that when she gives us an in-class essay, I can remember what I read and use it effectively. Next semester, I will try to do better on that, improve my writing skills, and participate more in group discussions.
"Having the ability to collaborate with my classmates on different assignments has helped me improve my skills to work in a group as well as communicate better than before. This class is a well-rounded mix of history, collaboration, writing, and vocabulary skills." ~Honors British Literature, Fall 2025
"Through class discussions, essays, and daily reflections, Mrs. Zarro’s class has become not only my favorite, but also the one where I have learned the most." ~ Honors American Literature, Fall 2025
Fall 2025-26 Honors Britith Literature Senior Student: During my first semester of my senior year in highschool, I was enrolled in Mrs. Zarro Anaya's Honors British Literature course. This course strengthened my skills in many areas of the English language, including essay writing, understanding the origins of the English language, and writing research papers. This course also taught me many things about the history of English culture and the English language, such as the styles, views and philosophies of writers from long ago, such as Geoffrey Chaucer.
The two main assignments that were key forces in shaping my learning were the culminating project for the unit on Beowulf and the first semester's research paper. These assignments were difficult, but prompted students like myself to think deeply and conduct thorough research. Through these projects, I was able to examine the literature we read at a closer level, and come up with my own answers, ideas, and opinions.
Even though there is still much work to be completed for this semester of the course, I realize that there is much room for improvement in my work. One thing in particular that could use some improvement would be my research skills. I plan to improve in this area by taking more time to complete the research portions of assignments. My ability to work in groups still is something I struggle with, but it will improve throughout the school year as I work with different people and gain more experience.
Though the curriculum was challenging at times, I have learned a lot so far in this course. The sections on the history of the English language and Beowulf were the ones I enjoyed most of all. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the fall semester has to offer, and continue learning more in the second semester.
Fall 2025-26 Ethical Health Froshman Student: Being in this class has benefited me in so many ways, mainly in the way of communicating better. The lessons and modules that I've worked on has let me learn so much about growing up and communicating. Learning how to better communicate has allowed me to change the way that I respond to things and helped me be more aware of my actions. This better communication will assist me in communicating with others. Before joining this course, I didn't know much about good communication or staying healthy, but now I've noticed a change in my abilities and how they've helped me grow as a person. I always enjoyed and felt more interested in the more creative assignments like when we had to create an audio PSA that had me thinking outside the box for ideas. This class has developed me into a better person who can change the world.
Fall 2025-26 Honors American Literature Junior Student: Honors American Lit, so far, has helped me boost my writing and reading comprehension skills greatly. Everything that Mrs. Zarro has taught has always been so clear and easy to understand. At the start of the year, we learned about early Puritan America and the harsh society that our country was founded in. The works of literature we have read so far like the Crucible and the Scarlet Letter give lots of insight on what life was like back then. We also analyzed these books and plays, tackling hard to grasp concepts like symbolism and shame and punishment. Specifically, writing a collaborative class essay on The Scarlet Letter and analyzing shame in the book and our modern society helped me to grasp concepts that they symbolised later in the story, like shame and hope. Mrs. Zarro is also constantly expanding my vocabulary. We take weekly tests, each one introducing ten new words which I've usually never heard of. The challenging literature and difficult words assigned by Mrs. Zarro has helped me in many areas of my life, especially while taking the SAT. Some difficulties I encountered in this class stemmed from not completely comprehending confusing literature or paying attention without talking. Despite this, I greatly enjoyed reading The Scarlet Letter, because of the entertaining story and the satisfying end. Overall I have been doing great in this class thanks to Mrs. Zarro's constant guidance, and if I could do anything different for this class, it would be to study harder for the reading comprehension quizzes because they were very difficult.
"This semester we have a lot of oral presentations and public speaking which I am excited for as I'm currently in an AP seminar course so I've been honing my skills. The hardest part of this semester is the amount of essays we're doing, it's a lot but it's expected of an honors senior course. This is my third year with Ms. Zarro, and if she wasn't a good teacher, I wouldn't have stuck around for this long, I can rely on this class being engaging and interesting when she's the teacher." ~Honors British Literature, Fall 2025
Fall 2025-26 Honors American Literature Junior Student:
This is my first semester in Mrs. Zarro’s Honors English class, and I have already learned so much. I have grown as a writer by learning how to correctly use words like “us” and “we,” and how to form a proper outline before writing an essay. That skill helped me stay organized during our timed essay about The Scarlet Letter called “The Prison Door.” Each week, we are assigned new vocabulary words and tested on them every Friday, which has helped me build a stronger vocabulary and sound more confident in my writing. Overall, Mrs. Zarro is a likeable person both as a teacher and a person, and I strongly believe I can only grow as a writer and individual in her class. She is very understanding and communicates so well with her students. I have even texted her school business number to ask questions, and she always responds to both texts and emails in an efficient and timely manner, which proves how much she cares about her students’ success.
This class has given me a mix of both challenging and fun experiences that made learning more enjoyable. We have been reading and annotating The Scarlet Letter and taking comprehension quizzes to make sure we understand what we read. We also watched The Crucible and took a comprehension test after, which helped me connect what we learned about judgment, fear, and panic. One of my favorite classroom activities was when we played a witchcraft game based on The Crucible. During the game, I was accused of being a witch simply because I had purple nails, which made the activity funny but also showed how paranoia can make people accuse others unfairly. My favorite project was the collaborative podcast where we had to connect Hester Prynne’s punishment in The Scarlet Letter to how girls are judged online for their mistakes. I also enjoyed the project called “Are You Ready for Colonial Life,” where my partner and I researched life in Boston and New Amsterdam. I worked on Boston and wrote journal entries from the point of view of a married baker couple living there. These projects made me think more deeply about how society has evolved and gave me confidence in expressing my creativity.
Fall 2025-26 Honors American Literature Junior Student:
If I could redo my freshman year, I would've tried harder to be in Honors English I. This has been my first semester in an honors English class and I am slowly adjusting. As this was my first honors English class, I didn't know what to expect. There has definitely been more work than in past English classes, but I have improved and am adjusting to the workload in this class. After I got my grade for the first in class essay, I realized I had to improve my writing skills especially when it comes to timing and getting my point across. On the most recent in class essay, I did much better, but I'm still not done learning and improving. What we are learning in this class correlates with what I am learning in AP US History. Learning more about colonial life helped me understand more about The Scarlet Letter and what Hester Prynne was going through and seeing how literature reflects the cultures and values of its time has been interesting. I am excited to keep learning and growing as a student in this class.
Mrs. Zarro-Anaya makes this class very engaging and interesting. Every week there is a test about 10 new vocabulary words and to prepare I make notecards and I try to use the new words throughout the week. My work samples include two group projects, Colonial Life and Podcast and Scarlet Letter Chapter 2. These were fun group projects that gave insight to what we were learning. My goals for the next semester are to work harder and keep improving in all aspects.
Fall 2025 Ethical Health Froshman Student: I came into the course thinking that this class was going to be easy and light. I realize I shouldn't underestimate anything. This course taught me a lot about high school and taught me a lot of skills I need to go further in to BMHS. Mrs Zarro-Anaya is a great teacher and deserves a lot of credit for how far I am going in high school. Going further into this course I am going to focus on completing my modules on time and doing projects and essay to the full of my extent.
2025 Fall Ethical Health Sophomore Student:
In my health class, I learned a lot of important information that has helped me better understand how to take care of myself and make responsible choices. One of the first things we talked about was proper hygiene and how important it is for staying healthy. I learned that keeping clean by showering regularly, brushing my teeth, and washing my hands can prevent illness and help me feel more confident. Our teacher also explained how personal hygiene changes as we grow older and why it’s important to develop good habits now that will last into adulthood.
Another important topic we covered was women’s pregnancies and how the body changes during that time. I learned about how pregnancy works, from conception to childbirth, and the responsibilities that come with bringing a new life into the world. We also discussed how important it is for pregnant women to eat healthy foods, avoid harmful substances, and get regular checkups to make sure both the mother and baby stay healthy. This topic really helped me understand the importance of making smart decisions and respecting how amazing the human body is.
Finally, my health class taught me how to be a good teenager by making positive choices for my physical, emotional, and social well-being. I learned about managing stress, building good friendships, and setting goals for the future. We also talked about the importance of self-respect, kindness, and taking responsibility for our actions. Overall, my health class gave me knowledge and skills that I can use every day to live a healthy, respectful, and confident life.
Fall 2025-26 Honors American Literature Junior:
During this fall semester of Honors American Literature, I have learned more about different writing techniques and how to be a better writer in general. This semester we have read The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible. We have also done a few in-class essays and quizzes using the information from the book as well as vocabulary quizzes every friday. During the class, we also do a lot of group projects with our table mates that really help with understanding the information in the books. The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible helped us to analyze the effects of fear when it comes to protecting yourself. McCarthyism was also very prominent in both novels due to the widespread of fear and accusations with little to no evidence. We see how this plays a role in The Crucible; in how the townspeople act with each other after the news of witches roaming in Salem.
Mrs. Zarro-Anaya has been a huge help to me this semester; not just in class but outside of her class as well. She always has a very positive and uplifting personality that brightens our days and puts a smile on our faces. In the beginning of class, we do a reflection on a daily quote that Mrs. Zarro-Anaya writes on the board which helps us improve our writing skills as well as getting our brain moving. Our multiple group projects with our pod members also helps us to collaborate and work efficiently with other people. Mrs. Zarro-Anaya is really passionate about her classes and she always wants to see us as our best selves. She never fails to explain things in different ways or go really in depth so that we can have a full understanding of what she is teaching.
2022-23 Academic Sophomore Year International Student:
I like that in this course we not only read books and then write or take a test, as many classes do, but we analyze text in class, and also we do many interesting things with the text. For example, we took roles of characters and read passages by roles. We are learning many interesting things which will be useful, not only in English classes, but for life. For me, my pod helped me to learn things better,because I always can ask them if I don't understand something.
2024-25 Academic Junior Year Student:
Ms. Zarro-Anaya, who teaches Honors American Literature, has a clear and effective teaching style that supports her students’ success and growth. Her approach to assignments and writing tasks is both structured and accessible, with clear instructions that help students understand expectations. If anyone is confused, she encourages questions, always being open to provide help. For a recent essay assignment, Ms. Zarro-Anaya took time to dissect the prompt in class, breaking it down so we fully understood what was required. Following that, we engaged in helping circles to correct and help fellow classmates on mistakes they have made on their rough draft. She also frequently reminds us of upcoming due dates, ensuring we stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. Before diving into lessons, we start with warm-up activities that create a safe space for us to express our thoughts openly, which helps set a positive tone for the rest of the class. Additionally, her class assignments and instructions are always organized and accessible on Google Classroom, allowing us to easily follow along and stay organized. Ms. Zarro-Anaya’s approach encourages us to take responsibility for our work and feel confident in our abilities.
Fall 2025-26 -- Honors American Literature Junior: During this fall semester of Honors American Literature, I have learned more about different writing techniques and how to be a better writer in general. This semester we have read The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible. We have also done a few in-class essays and quizzes using the information from the book as well as vocabulary quizzes every friday. During the class, we also do a lot of group projects with our table mates that really help with understanding the information in the books. The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible helped us to analyze the effects of fear when it comes to protecting yourself. McCarthyism was also very prominent in both novels due to the widespread of fear and accusations with little to no evidence. We see how this plays a role in The Crucible; in how the townspeople act with each other after the news of witches roaming in Salem. Mrs. Zarro-Anaya has been a huge help to me this semester; not just in class but outside of her class as well. She always has a very positive and uplifting personality that brightens our days and puts a smile on our faces. In the beginning of class, we do a reflection on a daily quote that Mrs. Zarro-Anaya writes on the board which helps us improve our writing skills as well as getting our brain moving. Our multiple group projects with our pod members also helps us to collaborate and work efficiently with other people. Mrs. Zarro-Anaya is really passionate about her classes and she always wants to see us as our best selves. She never fails to explain things in different ways or go really in depth so that we can have a full understanding of what she is teaching.
2023-24 Academic Sophomore Year Student:
Three things I learned this semester that I found useful were better ways to comprehend and annotate novels better. I learned the purpose of helping circles and how it can be beneficial to our writing. Throughout the whole semester Ms. Zarro has taught us the importance of many vocabulary words and also that writing is a process. I like how in this class we're always doing fun things together. I like how I was taught how to comprehend better because teachers don't really do that anymore as we're starting to get older. That has helped me a lot. I also like how we got to act things out after reading, Christmas Carol.
Fall 2025 Ninth Grade Ethical Health Student:
I have learned so much from this health class, from learning about what a healthy diet looks like to how the baby evolves during pregnancy. Before this class, I never truly knew anything about health. I only knew the basic things like "vegetables are good for you" and "don't do drugs". I have developed new skills like identifying suicidal people and how to comfort and stop them. I also enhanced my communication skills and now know how to to stay assertive.
This course help check many of my boxes that will help lead me to my career goals. I really liked the pregnancy module of the course because it will help me in one of the careers I might want to pursue. Although I did find the nutrition piece of the course helpful, I didn't enjoy it because I found it to be on the slower side. If I could change one thing that I did during this course, it would be to study in a better way. Overall, I found that this course was amazing will be helpful for years to come.
2024-25 Academic Year Junior Student:
My name is Kennedy Henderson and I am in the 11th grade. My first introduction to Mrs. Zarro was English 2 in my sophomore year. She was very ecstatic and full of life. Along with her being fun, she also provided lesson plans and basic foundational English skills that we may have forgotten in our 9th grade year. Examples of those skills that she taught us are: How to write in MLA format; faulty pronouns; and basic five paragraph essays/outlines. With that, Mrs. Zarro has also expanded on the basic foundation into more advanced writing.
In my 10th grade year, I also came to realize Mrs. Z was my Speech and Debate teacher. The skills that she taught us in that class, such as how to enunciate your voice, proper eye contact, and how to write a speech and translate that into presenting your speech are invaluable. As we got deeper into the year, the speech and debate skills started connecting to my English classes, which allowed me to give better presentations and to even speak better. Mrs. Zarro is fun, intelligent, and has all the sass (in a good way, of course.)
Three years of being at Bishop Montgomery High School, and as a student, I have never seen a teacher who will challenge you, but also give you grace in your hard moments. With her as my teacher, I have grown in my writing skills, and just as a young lady as a whole. Mrs. Zarro is the best!
2024-25 Academic Year Junior Student:
During Honors American Literature, Mrs. Zarro has introduced us to The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, works from Phillis Wheatley, and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, by Olaudah Equiano. These works have allowed us as students to get perspectives of different cultural and historical backgrounds. While reading these stories, Mrs. Zarro has given us a series of collaborative projects, presentations, and in-class essays to test our knowledge. What I like most about this class is that Mrs. Zarro allows us as students to engage and share our thoughts and opinions. While doing this she sheds light on the historical adversities that happened. She provides an engaging learning space that makes me, as a student, enjoy her class.
It is also important to note the hardships I have overcome in this course. Taking an honors class makes for more work which was hard to adjust to. I overcame this hardship by working on my time management skills. Mrs. Zarro also does a great job of letting us know when assignments are due. Something I could have done differently in this class was participate more. Many times I wanted to speak up and say my thoughts and opinions but I didn't. Next semester I hope to engage more with the class.
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