We are counting down to the end of the 2020-2021 school year, and it is a particularly bittersweet time for our 8th grade students as they prepare to graduate. To help celebrate and recognize our ILS Class of 2021, we have again launched our “Meet Us Monday” blog series to introduce you to the members of this year’s graduating class.
Each week, we will be sharing interviews that we have done with each of our 8th grade students, in which they share more about their favorite ILS memories and traditions, words of wisdom they’ve received over the years, and other reflections from their years here with us at ILS. We hope that you will enjoy these reflections, and join with us in congratulating and celebrating these students!
Meet Us Monday: Ellie F., ILS Class of 2021
1. How long have you attended ILS?
“By the end of this year, it will have been 2.5 years. We moved from Arkansas and started going to church at Immanuel. When I first came here, I didn’t really want to like it because I didn’t want to move away from my old school and home to begin with. But I’ve liked it here. It’s been a good fit for me. ”
2. To what house do you belong, and how have you developed as a person by being involved in it?
“I’m in Athanasius. When I first came to Athanasius I was really shy and didn’t know anyone. Being in a house with lots of students from different grades has helped me come out of my bubble and make friends. It helps me be less afraid to talk to people. If we were able to have regular meetings this year, which we can’t due to COVID, I would probably have learned more about directing people. It’s good to be in charge. When I was giving instructions on our last competition, it was a bit difficult because I don’t like bossing most people around, besides my siblings. ”
3. What was your favorite House competition?
“My favorite house competition was probably last year’s Peeps Diorama. It was fun – Isabel and I made one called “Space Race” and then we tried to help the other people in our house too. ”
4. What is your favorite ILS memory? (Or, which ILS tradition will you remember the most?)
“My favorite ILS tradition is, well, probably when our grades sing in church on Sunday mornings. We can’t do it this year because of COVID, but it’s been a lot of fun in the past when basically your whole class is at church on Sunday. The King of Love is my favorite hymn.
One of my favorite memories was playing the Devil’s Advocate this year. This game is in logic class. Ms. Kramer picks a topic. One person, called the Devil’s Advocate, makes a statement on the topic after doing some research and preparing arguments, and then has to debate the whole class at once. I had to argue a case about gun control. I won against my whole class, which made it fun. If I hadn’t won, it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun.
Camp was also a lot of fun. We were playing this game that was basically like blinded dodgeball. I could compare it to scatter ball here. I was blindfolded and Evangeline was my partner. She was trying to direct me to navigate across this field full of obstacles, and we won. I accidentally slapped another camper in the face. ”
5. What subject have you studied that has most inspired you, and how? What subject have you studied that most challenged you to grow or change?
“History has probably most inspired me. That’s because I like learning about things, things from the past. I love Mr. Barnett as a history teacher; he really cares about what he’s teaching and gets into it. That’s really fun when you have a teacher who is passionate. Mr. Barnett usually tells us what he thinks about various topics, and then we have lots of debates when my classmates disagree with him.
Literature is challenging for me. A lot of literature class involves saying what you think, which is not always my favorite thing to do. I do really enjoy most of the books we read – The Odyssey was my favorite book last year. ”
6. Where have you applied to High School?
“I applied to Trinity at Meadowview and Bishop Ireton. I’m going to Trinity at Meadowview. It sounds like a good school. I probably will get involved in choir. ”
7. What will you miss the most about ILS?
“I will miss the community. I will miss the teachers who will help you when you need it. I’ll miss my classmates. I won’t see a lot of them very much, and I’ll miss the camaraderie. I’m not totally sure if I will miss this, but I think I might miss being at school with my siblings. ”
8. How has a teacher impacted your life personally in a way you will never forget?
“Ms. Kramer has impacted my life. She has always believed I could strengthen my weaknesses and has always pushed me to go out of my comfort-zone. She believed I would be good at things that I didn’t think I would be good at. She has been a great Logic teacher and I have learned so much from her. I will always remember this fun interview.”