Be a Maverick: 147th Roll Call
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Mary Jo Burke with Academics and SSC Team.
MSA’s Director of Faculty, Mary Jo Burke, delivered the 2024 Roll Call to start the school year. This long-standing tradition on the Hill celebrates each grade level and provides students advice for the 147th school year at the Miller School of Albemarle. In her remarks, Ms. Burke encouraged students and faculty to think outside the box and to challenge the status quo: “This year, put your focus on defining who you are and exploring what you want in the future. As you navigate the opportunities and the challenges that you encounter this year, remember that you can learn as much from your failures as from your successes. It’s okay if things don’t turn out quite the way you planned. The Maverick community is here to pick you up and cheer you on as you try again, just as you will do for the rest of us.”
Entering her third decade year as a teacher and administrator at Miller School, Mary Jo Burke captured the attention of all present.
2024 Roll Call Full Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone!
For those of you who don’t know me, 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 into, you are a valued member of our community and we are so excited to have you here on the Hill. The start of a new school year brings with it a variety of new experiences, including adjusting to the ins-and-outs of a new school, making connections with new teachers and classmates, taking on leadership roles, and exploring extracurricular programs. I urge you to embrace these experiences as opportunities for personal and academic growth, a chance to learn more about who you are and what you are capable of accomplishing.
To all of our faculty, staff, and administrators, I would like to thank you in advance for all that you will do this year to engage with our students, to provide meaningful lessons inside and outside the classroom, and to support one another as members of our community. For some of you, this is your first year on the Hill; others have been here for many years. For all of you, a new school year brings its own unique opportunities and experiences. Whether you are teaching a new class, coaching a new sport, or welcoming new students to your advisory, embrace the opportunities that this year brings to learn and grow as educators.
Students, please stand when I address your class.
8th grade -- the Class of 2029! You are the newest -- and youngest -- members of our community. By choosing to come to Miller, you have shown your willingness to try something new and embrace the unfamiliar. As you navigate the ins and outs of your new school, seek ways to forge an unique identity as the Class of 2029, to bond with other members of our community, and to take advantage of the opportunity to try new things. One thing that sets Miller apart is that you will interact with older students daily, whether that is in the classroom, in your advisory, during afternoon programming, or in the dorms. Take the time to learn from their experiences, ask their advice on how to navigate life on the Hill, and discover what makes Miller so special. Welcome to the Hill -- we’re so glad you’re here!
9th grade -- the Class of 2028! 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 the perfect time to explore new things. Classes, clubs, sports -- the possibilities are endless! For some of you, this is your second year at Miller; others are new to the Hill. Together, you can explore the many opportunities that Miller has to offer. Think about what you can offer Miller as well. Your class will have the unique distinction of graduating during the celebration of our sesquicentennial (150th anniversary), so start planning now for how you can contribute to that celebration. As you begin your high school journey, be confident in yourselves as you take your first steps on this new path. If you are willing to embrace the opportunities you encounter, that path will lead to exactly where you are meant to be.
10th graders -- the Class of 2027! You are at the midpoint of your time at Miller — you are no longer the youngest in our community, but the end of high school is still far off on the horizon. You are comfortable with the routine of life on the Hill, have established your friend groups, and made a place for yourself in the classroom, on the stage, and on the athletic fields. Don’t let yourself become too comfortable though! Try a new approach to your studies or mix up your training routine. Have a conversation with someone you’ve never spoken to or voice a unique opinion during a class discussion. Taking advantage of these new opportunities will help you refine who you are and what you can contribute to our community. As you find your way, look to the upperclassman for advice and act as role models for the younger students. This year will provide you with many challenges and opportunities -- embrace them all!
11th graders -- the Class of 2026! Congratulations you are now upperclassmen and women! 11th grade has the reputation for being the hardest year of high school. There is something to that, as classes become more challenging, more is expected of you from teachers and coaches, and you should start to start thinking about life after Miller. But it is also a time filled with opportunities to try new things, to take on leadership positions, to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. This year, put your focus on defining who you are and exploring what you want in the future. As you navigate the opportunities and the challenges that you encounter this year, remember that you can learn as much from your failures as from your successes. It’s okay if things don’t turn out quite the way you planned. The Maverick community is here to pick you up and cheer you on as you try again, just as you will do for the rest of us.
And last but not least -- the seniors -- the Class of 2025! At long last, you have made it to your final year of high school. The privileges you have been waiting for -- like using the senior stairs and painting the rock -- are officially yours. You are community leaders, role models for the younger students, the shoulders upon which adults place increased responsibility. You have already left an impressive mark on our community through your hard work and dedication in the classroom, on the athletic fields, in the engineering lab, and on the stage. But now is not the time to sit back, reflecting on your past accomplishments. Keep moving forward, stretch yourself in all aspects of your life on the Hill, welcome the unknown as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. As the year speeds by, stop to look around once in a while, make new friends while still cherishing the old, and create memories that you will treasure long after you have left 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 147th session of the Miller School of Albemarle!
