Roll Call 2022
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Director of Faculty and Curriculum, Mary Jo Burke, delivered the 145th Roll Call
MSA’s Director of Faculty, Mary Jo Burke, delivered the 2022 Roll Call to start the school year. This long-standing tradition on the Hill celebrates each grade level and provides students sage advice for the 145th school year at the Miller School of Albemarle. Read below.
Roll Call 2022
For those of you who don’t know me yet, I’m Mrs. Burke, the Director of Faculty and Curriculum here at Miller School. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to each of you as we start our year together. Some of you are returning to the Hill for another school year; others are here for the very first time. Whichever category you fall in, you are now, and always will be, part of the Miller School family. Some of you may think that using the term “family” to describe our school community sounds cliche, but I can assure you that the Miller community is a family. We cheer for one another’s successes, lift each other up in hard times, and are there for each other every day in the classroom, on the stage or the athletic field, and in the dorm. As we start our year together, I would like to challenge each of you to try new things, make new friends, and find your place in our Maverick family.
I would like to take a moment to recognize our faculty, staff, and administrators. For some of you, this is your first year teaching at a new school; others have spent many years on the Hill with the countless students who have made Miller School their home. Each of you has -- and will -- go above and beyond to engage with our students, provide meaningful lessons in the classroom, and to support one another as members of our community. Thank you for all you do to make Miller the special place that it is.
Class of 2027 (8th graders): You are the newest -- and youngest -- members of our family. Some of you are literally family, having grown up right here on the Hill. Others are joining us from Seven Rivers, so while the Miller campus isn’t “new” to you, being a Miller student is. Use your knowledge of our campus to help your classmates feel at home on the Hill. As all of you navigate the ins and outs of your new school and get to know one another, find ways to bond and forge an identity for your class. Take time to learn from the older students. One of the things that makes Miller unique is that you’ll have upperclassmen in your advisory, on your team, or in the dorms, from whom you can learn all the things that are special about Miller. Welcome to your new home!
Class of 2026 (9th graders): Congratulations, 9th graders, it’s official! You have taken the leap into high school. This is the time to get more serious about your studies, but it’s also a time to explore new things -- classes, clubs, sports -- the possibilities are endless! Many of you are starting your second year in our community; use that know-how to help your classmates who are new to the Hill learn about our traditions and share with them what makes Miller special. For those who are new, we are so glad to have you here. I encourage all of you, as you begin your high school journey, to be confident in yourselves as you take your first steps on the road ahead of you.
Class of 2025 (10th graders): 10th graders! If Miller is a family, then you are the “middle child.” You are at the midpoint of your time on the Hill — you are no longer the youngest in our community, but the end of high school is still far off on the horizon. You are becoming more mature, gaining confidence in who you are, understanding what you want out of life, and even taking some risks. All of this will define who you are and what your place will be in our community. Use the unique advantages you have as the “middle child” -- the ability to turn to those older than you for help and advice, while simultaneously serving as role models for those younger than yourselves. Embrace the new challenges and opportunities that this year will offer.
Class of 2024 (11th graders): Congratulations on achieving your new status as the “upperclass students” in our community! Some people will tell you that 11th grade is the hardest year in high school. There is some truth to that -- you are taking more challenging classes and starting to think about college and life beyond the Hill. But more importantly, you are becoming young adults -- filled with confidence, strong opinions, and the skills needed to face the challenges that lie before you. As you face those new challenges, remember that the Miller family is here to support you if you stumble, just as you will pick up our younger students if they fall.
And last but not least: the Class of 2023! You have finally made it to your final year of high school. The privileges you have been waiting for --the senior stairs, painting the rock -- are officially yours for the taking. These milestones mark your new status as the elder statesmen of our community. You are the leaders of this community, the role models for the younger students, the shoulders upon which your teachers and coaches place increased responsibility. Are you up to this new challenge? YES! But remember to take time to stop and look around, make new friends, and create new memories of your Miller family to carry with you when you leave your home on the Hill. Graduation will be here before you know it.
And now, Mr. Drude, it is my honor to present to you the student body of the 145th session of the Miller School of Albemarle!
