Jasper '34

Adventures, Traditions, and Home

Every Highland journey is packed with active discovery. For Jasper, who is a member of our Class of 2034, that path began when he was just two years old. At this year's Grandparents Day, Jasper took the stage to reflect on his favorite traditions. Enjoy this excerpt from his speech on what makes his Highland story feel like home.

You may not think I'm that old, but I'm definitely old enough to appreciate the traditions we have here. I appreciate all of my teachers; they’ve always been kind and ready to get to know me. They’ve also been up for plenty of adventures! In the last four years, my classmates and I have traveled often and far:

First Grade: We traveled to the Baltimore Aquarium with our families and Mrs. Solms.
Second Grade: We went to Mt. Vernon and also traveled to a tree farm where we cut down the Mitten Tree, which we decorated with mittens and hats to give to Head Start.
Third Grade: We studied Monet and then went to see his paintings at the National Gallery with Mrs. Laimbeer and the third grade teachers. We also hiked and studied insects in Shenandoah River State Park and had a reptile expert bring snakes, alligators, and other animals to us for our reptile study.
Fourth Grade: There were so many adventures. We began the year on the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Then, we explored Shenandoah National Park, even hiking a bit of the Appalachian Trail there. We raised brook trout in science with Mrs. Coffey and released them into a local river. And finally, we explored Jamestown on an overnight trip with the whole fourth grade and our teachers.

When we stayed on campus, the traditions were just as great. Class assemblies and plays put us on stage several times a year. One of my favorite memories was the Second Grade Famous People Assembly. I was Muhammad Ali. Unfortunately, the audience guessed my name pretty quickly, but it was still awesome to dress up like “The Greatest.”

Field Day is another long Highland tradition that I love. It’s been going on for more than fifty years! It’s a day full of energy, teamwork, and—of course—a lot of competition. I really enjoy the competition.

But as much as I love our trips and our traditions, today is a very special day too. Having you here makes Highland feel even more like home.