Teacher Voices

Head of MS Jen Schuckman Sends Off the Class of 2029

Amy Zlatic /

At the Eighth Grade Celebration for the Class of 2029, Head of Middle School Jen Schuckman shared memories and thoughts about her time with these students. Read her remarks below.

Good evening—we are delighted to have so many family and friends here to help us celebrate the Class of 2029.

Before sharing a few remarks, I have the privilege of recognizing one of our faculty members on behalf of this class. Each year, the eighth grade votes for the Duncan Award, which is presented to a Middle School faculty member whose hard work, determination, and selfless giving challenge students to strive for excellence and achieve their full potential. The Class of 2029 has chosen Middle School World Languages Teacher Sra. Ines Shultz as this year’s recipient. Sra. Shultz, please come forward.

Tonight is truly a celebration of the hard work, determination, and dedication of these 134 eighth graders. We have had the honor of watching each and every one of you transform during your time in middle school, whether you have been at MICDS just a year or all four years, to become the poised and prepared young adults who will grace the hallways of Upper School next year.

Some may say that it is not really a big deal to go from middle school to upper school. You are still in the middle of your educational trajectory, and it may feel like you still have a long way to go. But I am quite partial to celebrating the middle as I would argue that the developmental milestones you have reached, the skills you have developed, and the perspectives you have gained are quite remarkable and worthy of tonight’s gathering.

If you think about a marathon runner, those middle miles are some of the most grueling as the runner hits the wall and has to push through. Or if you consider someone aiming for the peak of a mountain, the climb through the middle elevations can be so demanding that the route becomes too much, and they are unable to finish. These moments in the middle challenge us and offer the opportunity for our character, preparation, and perseverance to take charge. Every chapter, every mile, every step forward counts in the middle and is most deserving of celebration.

In preparing for tonight, I asked this lovely group to share some reflections with me, and they had quite a lot to say. First and foremost, they agreed that the legacy of the Class of 2029 includes hard work, determination, fun, fun, and more fun. Chaos was also mentioned, as well as inclusion, kindness, and care for one another. When asked for words that best describe the class, the list included rambunctious, noisy, loud, energetic, expressive, spirited, silly (teachers, I am guessing you agree with the theme here). They also recognized that they are thoughtful, compassionate, cooperative, and supportive. We would also agree with these attributes.

Class of 2029, you recognize that you will miss your wonderful middle school teachers, recess, P.E., the reasonable workload, and the ability to make mistakes when grades don’t yet count for college. On the other hand, you are very excited for more freedom, more choice, more challenge, and new people in the Upper School. And, most notably, you cannot wait to get in line for the ice cream machine.

And finally, the eighth grade had many notes of gratitude for their teachers and family members who have been so supportive throughout their time in middle school.

Faculty, they noted:

  • School definitely became my home away from home because of all of the people that surrounded me 🙂
  • Without their graciousness and willingness to teach, I wouldn’t know all the things I know now. Whether it be educational or life lessons, these teachers have shaped me into the person I am today.

And to you, amazing parents:

  • Thank you for being here to celebrate us, and I hope that you see that we are so glad that we were given the chance to go to school at MICDS.
  • Thank you for everything. I DEFINITELY would have never made it this far without your support and love. I can’t wait for the journey ahead of me into high school, and am forever grateful for everything

And so, Class of 2029, I hope you will savor this moment tonight to honor the work completed and to embrace the path ahead. Each class, each year, demands a bit more, and your unbridled confidence and collective drive for excellence make you more than ready. You are an extraordinary group of humans, and you leave our hearts full as you head north to share your gifts. Please take good care of one another and hold true to the legacy that you have built together. Do the right thing…