It is almost May, and we have just over a month until graduation! As we countdown the remaining weeks in the 2018-2019 school year, we’re invited our wonderful 8th grade students to reminisce and share with us a bit about their time at ILS in our "Meet Us Monday" series. Whether they’ve been at ILS for one year, or since Kindergarten, we’ve loved hearing some of their favorite memories, words of wisdom from teachers that has stuck with them, favorite field trips and traditions, and more. We hope you enjoy getting to better know our ILS Class of 2019, and we thank them for taking the time to respond and share more about themselves!
Meet Us Monday: Elbethel S., ILS Class of 2019
1. How long have you attended ILS? This is my third year. I started in 6th grade and it was a really good experience. Haha, but it keeps going! I guess 7th grade was my second greatest experience and 8th grade is my third greatest experience. I went to Lyles Crouch before.
2. To what house do you belong, and how have you developed as a person by being involved in it? Ambrose! The mighty Ambrose. I’ve become more developed in teamwork strategies. It’s taught me how to actually get work done with people, and when you consider the group projects you will have in high school, it’s good experience.
What’s really great about Ambrose is the people. Our captains are really nice, and do a great job of encouraging the team whether something bad or good happens. It really helps the team cooperate a lot better.
3. What was your favorite House competition? I think it was Field Day. Especially last year, I loved it because so many alumni were there and they are so fun and just great people. The weather was beautiful which made the fun even more fun, and the activities were awesome. The alumni are so easy to talk to and so funny. I miss them. I look up to Ashley and miss her a lot.
4. What is your favorite ILS memory? (Or, which ILS tradition will you remember the most?) In 6th grade, we had the funniest moments in Latin class ever. We used to make the funniest jokes and cut up. We’d sit in a triangle and we would joke about stuff in the Latin book (extraordinary amounts of giggling). We’d make up sentences like “I see your dad cooking beef” or there would be sentences we’d translate like “I see you in the house.” I was terrified of Latin as a new student. TERRIFIED. Was I going to embarrass myself or fail Latin? But it ended up going well. I guess I realized I was not the only new person and realized I could do it.
I love the Mother-Daughter Tea. That’s probably my favorite tradition. It’s really nice because it’s great bonding time and the weather seems to always be perfect. We dress up and get to talk with all our moms and teachers. So, you show up with your mom, and everyone finds their seats. Ms. Habrecht or Ms. Kramer starts talking to everyone, and there are activities after, like last year we decorated our own tables. There’s obviously food and tea, and the tea is amazing. I love it. Afterwards we just talk and walk around together. Everyone takes pictures at the end with our friends and with our moms.
5. What was your favorite class at ILS, and why? More than one! A lot. I like literature, math, and logic.
Literature, because the books are amazing. So interesting and I’m in love with them. Miss C. Davis is really good at teaching this class because she knows so many books so well and knows how to set up discussions. She really makes it fun and interactive.
Logic, because there are a lot of discussions and definitions to learn and identify. Ms. Kramer talks well and explains things well and knows how to run a class.
Math, because it’s always been my favorite subject but it just warms my brain to answer equations. Miss D. Davis is a math whiz and great at clarifying, and she’s so kind.
6. What was your favorite ILS field trip? I think it was from this year actually – I don’t even know why. It was the Bach Noontime Cantata. The music and the sound was good. I like the violin and there was a lot of violin in this concert. It was just a nice experience.
7. Where are you attending High School? T. C. Williams. So, I know a lot of people that go there which is nice. They have some really nice STEM classes and it’s a good, regular high school. I’m not sure about what I’ll sign up for, but I do want to get involved. It might take some time to get to know all the special programs.
8. What will you miss the most about ILS? I’ll miss the teachers, and the people in general. I’ll miss the house system. The teachers, because I’ve known them for a few years and we have history. I have a lot of good connections with the students. I’ll miss the house systems and never forget them because they really did impact me in positive ways.
9. What is something a teacher told you that you will never forget? Oh, I don’t know! I think it was in 7th grade that Miss C. Davis talked to me when people were complimenting me on how I looked. I’m one of those people that just downplays it and says things like “No, no I’m not!” But Miss Davis said: “Say thank you! Don’t disagree with them!” It taught to me to just accept a compliment.