MARY KATE TANSELLE
In Lower School things got more serious
Every folder contains achievements and
as the teachers layered on apps that
memories of students who are gifted in
built upon those basic functions. And by
that area. Claire is breaking Sycamore
4th grade, we were being prepared for
track and field records. Emma is earning
Middle School. With assignments like
her amazing Caroline D. Bradley high
In the summer of 2007 two important
Ecology Fair, our project applications
school scholarship. Weber and Aisha are
events took place. The first was the start
were heightened. Of course, it wasn’t
there making us laugh uncontrollably
of the educational journey of the students
always serious in 4th grade. I remember
through their jokes and funny moments.
graduating from Sycamore this year.
Ms. Hillman’s 50th birthday when Ms.
And I’d like to think I’m there too, as a
The second, the First-Generation iPhone
Fischl had all of the students -help her
thoughtful leader, student, and friend. We
was launched by Apple.
hang signs all around the room that said,
are all there, contributing to the Sycamore
“Caution! 50 year-old having a senior
Class of 2018.
Little did we know at the time we would
moment.” on them. Ms. Hillman walked
grow up alongside the iPhone. As it
in that morning and just busted out
Now, open up the photo app where
adapted to the modern times, improved
laughing. We kept those signs up for about
you will see more folders. They are
its software, made mistakes, and learned
a week after her birthday had passed,
labeled love, learn, and laugh. Love
from them, so did we. As the iPhone
just to mess with her.
and Learn are a compilation of hundreds of photos and memories. Laugh is made
added new elements to its home screen, we added classmates and friends to
But 4th grade had to come to an end,
up of thousands of moments like Gabe’s
our home, Sycamore. As the iPhone
and that could only mean one thing.
Bar Mitzvah, capture the flag, and
compiled data and improved its memory
Middle School. Here, the developers took
school dances.
functions, so did we. As the iPhone broke
over and fine-tuned our software so that
records and surpassed the competition,
we would be able to do incredible things
Open up Messages. To our class, there
so did we. But how?
in the future. We can now compete with
are years of group texting filled with
the best technology out there - through
birthday wishes, heartfelt messages,
Now, I would like for you all to imagine
events like the spelling and geography
and plenty of inside jokes and laughing
a scenario. We are all smartphones.
bees, Math competitions and Destination
emojis. Yes, there are some messages
Our parents knew that; that’s why we
Imagination. With History Day, I don’t
that created drama too, which perhaps
all ended up at Sycamore. We came
think I have ever learned so much from
also created some grey hairs for Ms.
with the hardware, but we needed
one single project not just about my
MacDougall. But those dramatic
programmers to help us develop our
topic, but about how to write a paper,
moments were just as important as any
internal software. Enter: Sycamore
MLA citations, and how to deal with the
others, helping us learn and grow.
School and its wonderful developers, our
pressure of competition. For me, History
teachers. In Early Childhood classes, our
Day was a highlight of 6th grade. On the
Now, this all seems wonderful, just like
teachers installed the basics. Everything
other hand, being attacked by sand fleas at
our class, right? Like every iPhone,
from learning how to share at snack time,
Sea Camp was not.
there are some rules. A User Agreement, for the Class of 2018. If we want to
which perhaps even today we sometimes struggle with, and playing the cup game
Now, in this world where we are all smart
continue to use this technology, if we
with Senora Hollander, learning all of our
phones, you will see many different
want to continue to grow and thrive as
colors in Spanish.
folders. They’re labeled musicians,
students and people, we must agree to
artists, athletes, comedians, and leaders.
comply with these requirements.
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