Post by title1parent on Jun 24, 2010 6:21:51 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=389402&src=76
Metea Class of 2012 no stranger to being lead horses
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald 6/24/10
Only time will tell what traditions will be set by the first graduating class of Metea Valley Mustangs and what they will go on to accomplish.
But as they prepare to become juniors - official upperclassmen - student leaders from all corners of the Aurora school will tell you they have, very quickly, become leaders.
They've had no choice, really. When Indian Prairie Unit District 204 opened the school last August, members of the Metea Valley Class of 2012 were just sophomores but they were the oldest students in the school.
Being the perennial top class is a responsibility and an opportunity, student leaders say.
Eric Lied, thespian and music section lead for the marching band, said his class has jumped feet-first into the leadership role since they were in eighth grade.
"I think we're a unique class. Last year we were at the freshman campus so we were kind of like the upperclassmen there too, so it's almost like our third year of eighth grade. We're not still like eighth-graders though because we've matured quite a bit," Lied said. "You've probably heard this before, but we set the bar pretty high throughout the year with lots of progressing and very visible changes you can notice from the beginning of the year to now. This school is full of wonderful opportunities and it's been really great."
Incoming junior musician Kavya Pai appreciates the leadership opportunities that have come with being the default upperclassmen last year.
"We don't know if we've started anything. Just because we did it this year doesn't mean it will be the same next year," Pai said. "But as sophomores, we have gotten great leadership opportunities and been given roles typically reserved for seniors."
Principal Jim Schmid said it's no mistake that last year's sophomores were thrust into leadership roles, whether as varsity athletes, community ambassadors or in MVStudentGo, the Mustangs' student government.
"It's obviously a fine line you have to establish when giving responsibility to high schoolers, but these kids have gracefully handled everything we've thrown at them," Schmid said. "If they stay on the respectful and focused path we thrust them into, they'll be incredible humans by their senior year."
Track and field standout Amira Turner said she has appreciated being able to bond with the freshmen, almost as one class learning their way around together.
"I think the influence we have on freshmen has been good because the relationship is better than it might have been with juniors and seniors here to mess it up," Turner said. "But I also appreciate the opportunities we have to be recommended for different programs that would normally be given to a junior or senior."
Still, students are keeping their role in perspective. Lied said he knows he won't always be the upperclassman.
"We'll run things until 2012 because we're first and we have been for three straight years," he said. "College is going to be a wake-up call."
More about this series
Metea Valley High School is abuzz this summer.
Educators are preparing for the school's second year. The staff is growing to accommodate a student body that will now include three grades. Athletes and coaches are leading camps to help ready themselves for varsity competition while indoctrinating the next generation of athletes in the new Mustang tradition.
For most high schools, this is business as usual in the summer. At Metea, it feels like a luxury. An honor, if you will.
A year ago, the school site near Diehl and Eola roads in Aurora buzzed with crews continuing construction, workers installing lockers and furniture and staff hustling to be sure the 3,000-seat school would be ready for students just 15 months after breaking ground.
With the $144 million capital project all but complete, Metea faculty and staff are relishing the chance to reflect on the first year and look ahead to building on their successes when the bell rings again in August.
This week, we're exploring what's happening at the school, including today's look at Metea's first upperclassmen as they take on school leadership roles.
Metea Class of 2012 no stranger to being lead horses
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald 6/24/10
Only time will tell what traditions will be set by the first graduating class of Metea Valley Mustangs and what they will go on to accomplish.
But as they prepare to become juniors - official upperclassmen - student leaders from all corners of the Aurora school will tell you they have, very quickly, become leaders.
They've had no choice, really. When Indian Prairie Unit District 204 opened the school last August, members of the Metea Valley Class of 2012 were just sophomores but they were the oldest students in the school.
Being the perennial top class is a responsibility and an opportunity, student leaders say.
Eric Lied, thespian and music section lead for the marching band, said his class has jumped feet-first into the leadership role since they were in eighth grade.
"I think we're a unique class. Last year we were at the freshman campus so we were kind of like the upperclassmen there too, so it's almost like our third year of eighth grade. We're not still like eighth-graders though because we've matured quite a bit," Lied said. "You've probably heard this before, but we set the bar pretty high throughout the year with lots of progressing and very visible changes you can notice from the beginning of the year to now. This school is full of wonderful opportunities and it's been really great."
Incoming junior musician Kavya Pai appreciates the leadership opportunities that have come with being the default upperclassmen last year.
"We don't know if we've started anything. Just because we did it this year doesn't mean it will be the same next year," Pai said. "But as sophomores, we have gotten great leadership opportunities and been given roles typically reserved for seniors."
Principal Jim Schmid said it's no mistake that last year's sophomores were thrust into leadership roles, whether as varsity athletes, community ambassadors or in MVStudentGo, the Mustangs' student government.
"It's obviously a fine line you have to establish when giving responsibility to high schoolers, but these kids have gracefully handled everything we've thrown at them," Schmid said. "If they stay on the respectful and focused path we thrust them into, they'll be incredible humans by their senior year."
Track and field standout Amira Turner said she has appreciated being able to bond with the freshmen, almost as one class learning their way around together.
"I think the influence we have on freshmen has been good because the relationship is better than it might have been with juniors and seniors here to mess it up," Turner said. "But I also appreciate the opportunities we have to be recommended for different programs that would normally be given to a junior or senior."
Still, students are keeping their role in perspective. Lied said he knows he won't always be the upperclassman.
"We'll run things until 2012 because we're first and we have been for three straight years," he said. "College is going to be a wake-up call."
More about this series
Metea Valley High School is abuzz this summer.
Educators are preparing for the school's second year. The staff is growing to accommodate a student body that will now include three grades. Athletes and coaches are leading camps to help ready themselves for varsity competition while indoctrinating the next generation of athletes in the new Mustang tradition.
For most high schools, this is business as usual in the summer. At Metea, it feels like a luxury. An honor, if you will.
A year ago, the school site near Diehl and Eola roads in Aurora buzzed with crews continuing construction, workers installing lockers and furniture and staff hustling to be sure the 3,000-seat school would be ready for students just 15 months after breaking ground.
With the $144 million capital project all but complete, Metea faculty and staff are relishing the chance to reflect on the first year and look ahead to building on their successes when the bell rings again in August.
This week, we're exploring what's happening at the school, including today's look at Metea's first upperclassmen as they take on school leadership roles.