As the school year starts, let’s see how people’s summers went!

At the end of the school term last year, everyone was ‘champing at the bit’ to begin the three-month-long vacation. The summer break is a great way to catch one’s breath, if you will, after a lot of learning and working hard (or hardly working). People go on vacations, see family, get jobs, and attend camps, but also rest after the school-year grind. Going into this new school year, for once let’s not look to the future, but instead take a trip into the past.

Representing middle school, we have: Colette Caran!

Middle-school students are an important part of STU as they support the growth of the school and are being prepared to work with a mastery system. That is why I asked the middle school to take an interview about their summer. Colette (6) was kind enough to sit down with me. A sixth grader’s summer before school is an impatient one, and it signals a change. The transition from elementary school to sixth grade is a big one, and the first step to a high school career.

I began by asking if Colette went anywhere over the summer. As was stipulated above, travel is a typical characteristic of summer plans, so it serves as a good place to start. She told me that she went to see the Calendar Islands in Maine, U.S.A. She was accompanied by her family, Abinet (Grade 12), Ms. Caran, and Mr. Caran, as well as a dog.

On this adventure, she learned that she was “a master at cracking lobster shells without ripping them,” which is a great skill to have in Maine, as it is the lobster capital. Her group also caught a 36in (91cm) long fish.

Of course, again, the start of sixth grade is an exciting and tumultuous time. When I asked if Colette was looking forward to sixth grade, she said “yes!” This is a healthy enthusiasm that I hope will carry her through her high school career. Hope you have a great year, Colette!

Representing the underclassmen (drum roll please), we have:  Francie Gingerelli!

Francie is the longest-standing underclassman in terms of the number of years gone to STU. This being her tenth year, she was ready to slip back into the comfortable school environment that we are so familiar with, and that new students are settling into.

I asked what her favorite thing she did this summer was, and she told me that going to horse camp at Hollins University as a “great riding intensive” was it. Being sisters, we went along with Claire St. John-Kelley (Grade 12). All in all, a great experience.

Francie (and the rest of our family) also went to see our cousins in Colorado this past August. Her favorite part of the trip was “the Santa Fe opera and seeing our cousins.” Colorado was beautiful, and if anyone has the opportunity to see the Western U.S., they should.

I also asked Francie if she learned anything during the break. She told me that she learned a bit more about riding from camp. She also said that the trip out West was, at the root of it, a learning experience too. Not only did we see our cousins, but we got to stay in an area greatly unlike how it is here in Appalachia, culturally and geographically.

And last but not least, for the upperclassmen, we have: Parker Garris!

Being president of the SGA, Parker is a well-known member of our community. Going to STU since kindergarten, Parker has seen many beginnings and endings of our school years, just like Francie. I was able to ask him about this summer, however, and it seemed like a nice time of rest and learning.

I asked him the classic favorite and least favorite moments of the months.

For his favorite moment, he told me that “getting my braces off, yeah, that was pretty cool.”

For his least favorite moments, I am happy to report that he had “nothing to say!” It seems like our president had a good enough summer that nothing stuck out as bad. With luck, everyone’s summers (and school year) will reflect that.

I also asked if he learned anything new this summer. If you know Parker, then you know that he is very good at math. This will come in handy when he works to become an engineer after graduating.

This summer, he “learned how to use CAD software, [and] made a ring in CAD.” According to him, this is a site where one can practice designing 3D models specifically for engineering. Good luck, Parker!

Wow, what amazing things people did this summer! It is always fun to hear about what people did and what interesting things they saw and learned. Let this be an inspiration for talking to people you don’t know, as a way to break the ice and start up a conversation. Who knows, maybe what they did this summer was something you enjoy too. At least, the topic offers something to talk about around the dining hall table.

-Lucy Gingerelli