It’s been a good year. When you read this column, the school year will be over. Students from all three schools will be home for the summer – ready to work a job, attend surf camp, or get started on summer assignments.
When they return, big changes will be afoot. Hull High School’s new principal, Mr. Knybel, hopes to make the school even better while keeping the successes, traditions, and systems we already have. And over the past year, we’ve certainly seen many successes.
I would say school is essentially “back to normal.” There are few masks to be seen, and we’ve been able to take part in most, if not all, of the activities we did pre-COVID. This year, we could attend football games, take field trips, and put on plays. We had school-wide rallies, dances, and spirit weeks.
But above all, our most remarkable achievement has been coming together again as one school community. Last year, we were divided between cohorts and lacked a sense of unity. However, this year you could truly feel our community’s strength, as fans travelled miles to attend sporting events or crowded onto the bleachers to cheer on graduates. It is this unity, this sense of togetherness, with which we should welcome in Mr. Knybel.
Now halfway through high school, I am continuously amazed by the strength and support this community has for its school system. From parents at band recitals to alumni at games, we have shown time and time again how much pride we truly have in our schools. No matter the changes in leadership, faculty, or buildings, my hope for next year is that we keep showing that Hull pride.
Students’ first day of school will be Aug. 31, and this column will be back in the Sept. 1 edition of the Times. So have a great summer, and we’ll see you in September.
And thank you to Principal Nosek, Superintendent Kuehn, Mrs. Hillner, Matt McCluskey, Grace Grosso, Lucy Peters, Katherine Orpen, and all the teachers at Hull High School without whose continual support this column would not be possible.
Victoria Dolan is The Hull Times school correspondent. This column expresses her student viewpoint. If you have questions or news tips, email dolan.victorialani@gmail.com.
