Quote to live by: “Students: you matter, you are enough, and you make a difference.” Most looking forward to this year: “I am looking forward to continuing meeting everyone and learning more about all the rich traditions at Glenelg!” Fun fact: Gers played Ultimate Frisbee during college, making it to nationals her senior year.
Quote to live by: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great" – Zig Ziglar Most Looking Forward to this Year: “Creating meaningful connections with my students, as well as the rest of the staff and student body at Glenelg!” Fun Fact: Burton lives together with her sister, her niece, and her six-year-old daughter.
Quote to live by: “Sometimes the best way to solve your problems is to solve someone else’s.” Most Looking Forward to this Year: "Getting to know my students' interests on a deeper level and connect with them more." Fun Fact: When Burke was younger she was not great at math. She struggled and had a hard time until she started having awesome math teachers to help her. She wants to teach her students what her math teachers taught her.
Quote to live by:
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out." - Dr. Seuss Most Looking Forward to This Year: "I'm excited to be here at Glenelg and learn all the traditions we have!" Fun Fact: When Vanderbloemen was in high school, her mom worked in the ALS program at OMHS, and she would visit her often. She got to know the students in the program and see how unique and special each student was. When Vanderbloemen decided she didn't want to become a speech therapist, she knew working with students would be her next adventure. She knew that the ALS population of students was who she wanted to work with.
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Ademide Shodunke  One of the most challenging aspects of working in a new school is the time it takes to transition and assimilate to the nuances that define any school’s culture and community. Ask anyone who knows her, and they’d say Amie Jensen was ready on day one. Now, eight months into her tenure as assistant principal, Jensen is in a position to reflect on what has made her time at Glenelg so special. Manuela Dabiri  For the past 23 years, Philip Johnson has found a way to blend his passion for coaching with his love for teaching.
Johnson, a biology teacher who coaches indoor/outdoor track and field and cross country, has relied on a steady dose of empowering a number of students and athletes to push past their limits and achieve their goals. That number, after 27 total years as an educator, is in the thousands. Today, Johnson’s journey is full of insights on how he manages and balances the demands of both roles and what motivates him to help students and athletes reach their full potential. By: Avery Donnellon and Vanessa Buechler
Not only has Puthenkalam qualified for All-state choir every year of his high school career, he was recently accepted into the even more prestigious All-Eastern Choir, encompassing 11 states and Washington, D.C.
By: Valerie Menendez  At Glenelg, we learn just as Gladiators do; striving to accomplish our hopes and dreams, we are taught to pursue many different interests. Whether it is a club that peaks your interest, or a class that you want to join, it’s never too late to start building those blocks before you begin your career.
I recommend starting with Visual Production.  It's the holiday season! The season of giving, traditions, and pretending you like that horrible gift from that one relative. The holidays are a special time of year when we share a little extra love, so we figured we'd share some Shieldy warmth with our readers. Cozy up by the fireplace, grab your cup of cocoa or nogg, and enjoy our staff's favorite holiday traditions and moments. By: Avery Donnellon  Six groups. Nearly 300 performers. 26 songs. Two hours.
And three directors. For decades, the GHS winter concert has sold out the nearly 1200 seat auditorium, filled with students, parents, and community members alike. Whether it be new and exciting pieces added to the program, or the classics like “Sleigh Ride” or “Masters in this Hall”, there is no shortage of beautiful music to enjoy. By: Jacob Miles  Most people use the New Year holiday as a time to make goals for themselves, whether it’s getting better grades or exercising more. However, by the time February rolls around, most of these goals have faded. At the beginning of the year people are motivated and inspired by others around them to be better. But, motivation doesn’t last forever and people need tools to help them fulfill their resolution.
One of the biggest mistakes students make when creating goals is not knowing how much they can accomplish. Most overestimate how much they can accomplish in a week or even a month, but underestimate what they can do in an entire year. The best way to stay on the right track is to create a plan. Find something that you want to accomplish, like getting a good grade on this year's final and set small goals to accomplish this. It is also a good idea to be flexible in your journey. Sometimes it will be hard to follow your plan but if you are flexible it makes it easier for yourself to bounce back from small mishaps in your plan. By: Valerie Menendez  Jocko Willink, a New York Times best seller, once said: “The bad that comes in things can be reframed as a point where one must work on.”
It is a mantra that Glenelg special educator Joshua Hatmaker has strived to live by for as long as he can remember, and one that continues to guide his professional career. In his elementary school years, Hatmaker said he recalled feeling behind his fellow peers and classmates, which prompted his family to find the possible cause. Hatmaker was diagnosed with Dyslexia in 5th grade, a learning disorder that makes it difficult for one to read and/or speak. After receiving an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and having put in countless hours of his free time into learning, Hatmaker said he was finally able to comprehend on grade level by the 7th grade. By: Vanessa Buechler  While it is usually the cast members of a play, musical, or hollywood production that receive the most recognition for their performance, there is no denying that it is those who work behind the proverbial curtain that quietly shape the viewer’s experience.
And that certainly was the case at this year’s production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Oct. 24-26. By: Manuela Dabiri  For many years, attending a four-year college has been seen as the most reliable path to a successful career. However, as technology evolves, more people are discovering that college isn’t the only route to a good job. There are a variety of paths that offer great opportunities. From trade schools to TikTok and streaming careers, a number of options can lead to fulfilling, well-paying work. Let’s take a closer look at some of those alternatives.
By: Shaun Inake  According to numerous studies conducted across the US, 40-45% of Americans say that fall is their favorite season. Whether it’s the fall colors, the cooler weather, or the many holidays celebrated like Halloween or Thanksgiving, many agree that autumn is a great time to go outside and see what places have to offer. Fortunately, Howard County offers many different fall activities to both residents and visitors.
By: Alex Kersh  Since the mid 19th century, the education system has generally followed a noticeable pattern: go to school, graduate, and get a job. As the world modernized, the pattern has commonly included matriculating to one of the thousands of higher educational institutions around the world.
Today, requirements for admission into colleges and universities have become growingly complicated, and many students are left wondering how they can get ahead of the competition. While there are many pre-existing methods to improve resumes and get an early start to college – including after-school programs, internships, and Advanced Placement programs – one program has emerged which allows high school students to actually take college courses during their high school years. By: Justin Zulu  For business and foundations of technology teacher Moises Zelaya Caceres, being named senior teacher of the year must have felt like a dream. In his three years as an educator, Zelaya has already made a significant impact at Glenelg, and has certainly made his presence felt.
“It’s very honorable,” Zelaya said about being chosen by the student body. “As a teacher, your main interactions are obviously with students on a day to day basis. I think to myself, how can I be personal with students to help them learn, and are they enjoying what they are doing? It is validating to be recognized like this and hopefully it shows that I am doing something well and that the students are also learning.” By: Justin Zulu  Junior Sam Yoon presents his research topic: Developing code for drones that could diagnose diseases in plants. Glenelg has always been a place full of opportunities for growth and to expand one’s knowledge. The school has numerous programs to challenge students mentally, and to push them to go above and beyond in their learning.
The Independent Research and GT Mentorship program is no exception. Established in 1990 and currently led by Leila Chawkat, IR and Mentorship offer many students lifelong skills and abilities that contribute to their overall success as writers, thinkers, and humans. By: Hannah Sanborn  High school is often a tough time for many students; prepping for the future while coping with expectations and pressures can certainly take its toll. Changing the way a school community values and discusses mental health is one of the most important stages toward ensuring that every student is heard and understood.
For junior Neha Kukatla, mental health awareness is more than just acknowledgement; it represents an essential attitude of knowledge and compassion, qualities which she said she felt were missing upon students’ return to school after the pandemic. By: Madison Stouffer  There’s an age-old expression most people have heard: “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” For assistant principal Sandra Suber, it’s one she has come to truly value since she first recalled hearing the phrase as a guidance counselor at the beginning of her career.
Today, Suber says the proverb applies to the strength of Glenelg’s staff, students, parents, and community, working together to support students on their path to graduation and future success. Students might argue, though, that it has been Suber herself who has strengthened the chain simply by being a positive influence in their lives. By: Steven Moe  http://jthornportfolio.weebly.com You find yourself in the student section at a Glenelg football game. The first play of the game starts. Glenelg is on offense. The team gets a first down.
Click! Click! The crowd cheers, and you hear that noise again. Click! You look over to see senior Juliana Thornton, student media, on the sidelines of the game. Since attempting sports photography as a junior, she has become a valued member of the Glenelg media team. But Thornton didn’t start photography with football. By: Jimmy Kapinos  You know the setting well.
You walk through the student services door where you find two student aides and secretary Carrie Repole ready to greet you. You make small talk before continuing on to speak to your counselor. Your conversation finished, you say goodbye and head back through the door on your way to class. But it’s the one door in student services you didn’t walk through (look left when you enter, look right when you leave) that should have captured your attention, if not solely for the person who has made the space her home away from home for the past 5 years. By: Raina Shah  We’ve all been asked the question, or have at least heard it: What do you want to do or be after high school? For some high school students, the answer is straightforward, their path clearly defined.
For others, including Earth and Science teacher Justin Rix, the answer led to 18 intriguing years of self discovery. If anything, Rix’s career path should provide a measure of confidence to any who is uncertain or struggles to define, or be defined by, a career path. After many bumps on his path, Rix discovered what his passion was; luckily for Glenelg, it’s teaching. By: Raina Ram  Glenelg’s Special Education department has long been a stalwart as an academic support system; it has been, and continues to be, a cornerstone of compassion and resilience, and offers its students a life-changing impact.
The department has long catered to diverse academic needs, ensuring students on both diploma and certificate tracks receive necessary support. By tailoring instruction and accommodations to the unique needs of each student, staff members don't just facilitate academic success, they empower individuals to navigate life with confidence and independence. Led by its instructional team leader of 29 years, Jeremy Snyder has come to exemplify the profound impact his department has made. By: Karlie Harris  In eighth grade, Aimee Hocker took a career inventory test that told her, without a doubt, she should be a librarian.
Like most middle school students whose ideas about a career have yet to materialize, she didn’t believe it. But, it turns out, and to Glenelg’s benefit, fate served Hocker well. Since 2010, she has been one of the school’s two library media specialists – in Hocker’s case, a catchall descriptor that just starts to scratch the surface of all the roles she plays: technology leader, Video Production teacher, morning announcement show manager, non-fiction print and digital collections organizer, professional development provider, and library research instructor and library media mentor. Add advisor of Civil Air Patrol, Card Club, and Games Club to her list of volunteer activities, and it’s pretty clear that regardless of what any test told her in the past, Hocker is right where she’s meant to be, now. By: Victoria Wright  Underneath the uniform marking him as Glenelg High School’s security deputy, Officer Mark Perry lives a life full of interesting moments and heartwarming interactions with students.
Known as an uplifting spirit to those at Glenelg, Perry does a lot more than just hand out tickets to those without a parking pass. By: Hannah Sanborn  In the dynamic realm of educational support, the smiling face of Carrie Repole stands out as a strong resource for Gladiators, radiating warmth and dedication.
Many already know Repole from her previous role as a data clerk at Glenwood Middle School. Last year, she joined the Glenelg community when she filled the role of the Student Services Secretary. By: Steven Moe and Milith Batchu  To the outside observer, Ruichen “Grayson” He is a lot of things.
He is an honors student, Model UN president, former SGA class president, defensive starter on the varsity football team, and a state record-holding discus champion who is nationally ranked in the discipline. |
