Class of 2020: Looking Back

Class+of+2020%3A+Looking+Back

Elizabeth Clark

As the Class of 2020 is nearing the end of their high school careers, and longing for more days in the classrooms, on the stage, and on the field, I wanted to reflect on the positive memories of the 2019-2020 school year. Now is a time for seniors to reminisce and be thankful for the good memories they have made at FHS, rather than long for more. As a class, we’ve tasted the iconic cookies from the cafeteria and received Chromebooks before Netflix was blocked. We’ve witnessed the change of the coffee policy and phone jails. FHS is a different place now, then when we walked in as freshmen.

 

 

The Fall began, and the seniors walked the halls as if they owned them. This was our year. Fall sports came along with the start of fall with football, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, unified basketball and cross country athletes showing off th

 

eir skills. Theater students participated in the annual Cabaret musical and prepared for future shows, while everybody got excited about their last homecoming dance. Rattle City came out in full force to support the football team in a historic season. Each team had an amazing season and made memories that will last forever. The field hockey, cross country, and volleyball teams clinched their seed of the Hock, while almost every team made a strong run in the playoffs. Franklin senior Jenna Rodrick said that “going to football and basketball games and cheering with Rattle City is something I’ll never forget.”

As the weather got cooler and fall sports wrapped up, the FHS Theatre Company presented their amazing musical “Almost Maine”, and Winter sports athletes prepared for their seasons. Also in the Winter, Franklin’s Mock Trial team excelled and made it to the Sweet 16. Students in DECA gained the opportunity to present their projects at the district and state levels, while many students qualified for nationals. Band and choral students got to sing and play in some of their last performances. 

Many AP Government and Sociology students took an amazing field trip to New Hampshire to see both Bernie Sanders and President Trump. Once again, Rattle City came out to support the basketball and hockey teams during their seasons: ending with the girl’s basketball team’s historic undefeated season and being named co-state champions, and also winning the Hock. Wrestling and boy’s swimming also won their division of the Hockomock, while again, every team had a strong playoff berth. Regarding the Winter Track season, senior Carly Alston noted that “track is a team full of the most positive people I know”, and that their “positivity brought many new PRs and great performances”. She is looking forward to hopefully seeing her teammates on the track for a Spring Season.

Also, theater students prepared for their musical Chicago, which unfortunately they never got to perform. However, they still were able to bond as a cast and shared great memories together. Senior Emma Leonard stated that “A really special moment I shared with my castmates was when we did our pre-show warmups and bonding before running through our production of Chicago the Thursday afternoon it all ended.” She noted that “typically, we would do this on opening night, but given the circumstances, we made do. I wouldn’t trade that moment for the world!” For seniors, this winter and Spring was an exciting and stressful time for many, with it also being time for college applications.  

This May, more Panther athletes, and performers hope to get their chance to shine, including the lacrosse, spring track, tennis, and Unified Track teams, who are anticipating successful seasons. The MIAA and Hockomock announced that these teams will be able to play a shorter, but meaningful season starting after our expected return to school on May 6th.  Seniors are also looking forward to a Senior banquet on June 1st, followed by an unforgettable senior week, and graduation ceremony. Senior Tyler Vining states “graduation is said to be an exciting time that marks an end of a chapter and commencement of a new one. I’m looking forward to the day 2020 reclaims this time, and makes it one that’ll go in the books #alleyesonus #2020strong.”