Welcome, students, to another school year! Whether it is your junior year or your senior year, we are going to explore the world of literature within the pages of books as well as within the context of the world around us.

According to former students, junior year may be the most challenging year of high school. As your English teacher, I invite you to accept those challenges, and most obviously those of this class, as the young adults that you are. While some of those challenges may come from your ambivalent feelings about English and literature, others may arise from your having reached the height of your skill and knowledge. Growth takes work, and if you truly wish to grow and prepare yourself, then work you will. After all, you are only one year away from being seniors, who will be making important decisions about your futures.

I would add, for my seniors, that senior year is exciting, but it may be even more stressful as you juggle senior responsibilities with academics, social events and college obligations. Either way, the year will be packed with learning and growing, and I am willing to take the journey with you. I hope you share my enthusiasm, juniors and seniors!

I hope that this year will be one that prepares you for college and life. I ask you to search for insight in the novels, plays, and essays that we will read. I encourage you to enliven our class discussions so that they, too, will lead you and others to self-discovery. I ask you to consider what these noted individuals once stated: “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence” (Abigail Adams, 1780) and “That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way” (Doris Lessing).

Are you prepared to take charge of your learning and, thus, your future? I hope your answer is a resounding affirmative. I look forward to learning with you. My door is always open, so make a point to visit for that extra clarification about an assignment, a little extra assistance with a reading, or just to share a 'hello' after an arduous day of high school.

Fondly,
Mrs. Haines