At this month’s Parent Association meeting, Waterford parents gathered together to hear from students about their experience making memories together at Waterford. Below you will find transcriptions of the speeches given at the meeting.

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Speech given by Sterling B. ’32

Hello, my name is Sterling B. I am a fifth-grade student who currently attends Waterford and I am going to be talking to you about a few of the many joys of Waterford.

There are so many great things about Waterford, but one of the things that is the best about this school is the teachers. There are so many great teachers, but one example is Mr. Hirsh, a fourth-grade teacher who helped me through a hard time in my life. So about a year ago, a predator caught and killed most of my pet birds, which happened two times. How it happened the first time was I was in Florida and we had someone else at our home to help take care of the birds. But the only problem was, there was a mistake in the communication so the birds were left out all night and probably sleeping when the raccoon got to them. The raccoon attacked, caught, and killed all of my birds but two. I was so distraught and it was really hard for me to do my schoolwork, so Mr. Hirsh helped me through all of it and took the time to listen to me and helped me understand how time and my own experience of these feelings would help them get better. And it’s not just Mr. Hirsh, who’s really kind and empathetic, it’s also my current teacher, Miss Hercules. I was having some friend problems about two months ago. And Miss Hercules being the thoughtful and caring teacher she is, did a lot for me including moving me away from the person who caused the friend problems and making sure I was ok. Another outstanding thing about Waterford that most other schools don’t have is a variety of subjects to pursue and study. There is science, technology, dance, P. E., theater, music, chess, and library. Science and technology are both very interesting because they are subjects that often other schools don’t have and in science, the class and I get to do very cool experiments, which include learning about The Red Planet and more of space. Another really interesting specialist that is not common in other schools is dance, which I really like and think is very energetic and full of delight, and also helps with expressing creativity and emotion. 

There are also really nice staff who help all around the school and help make Waterford the best school it can be. As well as awesome things you can pursue at Waterford and along with really nice staff, the principals and the people who run the school are fabulous and Waterford is very lucky to have them. 

Finally, I want to mention the joy I find in one of our campus’ newest additions, the Student Commons. The food is great here, I absolutely love enjoying all the new lunch options with my friends. Firstly, I really like the quesadillas the cooks make there. Secondly, the desserts and the surprise treats are just utterly amazing. And lastly, I truly value how the meal changes every day. To be entirely honest, throughout the school day, I think about how much I enjoy lunch. Overall, there are so many enjoyable things about Waterford, and these are just a few of the reasons why Waterford is the best school in Utah.  

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Speech given by Anne H. ’25 and Myles W. ’25:

Anne: Hello! I am pleased to be introducing my fellow Senior here Myles W!! He is not only a varsity lacrosse and basketball player but also has the voice of an angel. Let’s give a warm welcome to Myles. 

Myles: Hey everyone and it is my absolute honor to be speaking next to such a decorated Waterford athlete and the most distinguishable smile on campus so let’s hear it for Anne H. We were both asked to speak here today about what it means to us to be a Waterford student. So Anne, what are you thinking…? What does it mean for you to be a Raven?

Anne: Hmmmm… when I think about what it means to be a Raven one story in particular comes to mind.  

This past year we were playing a basketball game against Wasatch Academy, a school about an hour and a half away from here. We had an awesome game and were ready to head home when we discovered that our bus had broken down. Our coaches called for another bus to come to get us, and once the bus got there a couple of hours later, we excitedly hopped on and were eager to get home! The bus driver started driving, and that’s when we realized that he had driven us in the wrong direction for about 30 minutes. That addition of time meant we had at least 2 more hours on the bus. 

While we could have been frustrated with the situation, we decided to adapt to make the most out of this time on the bus. We created 2 teams on the bus, divided amongst grades and friend groups, and decided to have a sing-off/rap battle. We rehearsed our songs, made some new mashups and were ready to compete. We had everything from flashing lights to sunglasses. Coach Morris even Facetimed Mrs. Morris to judge the competition. We sang our little hearts out and made memories that will last a lifetime. 

Looking back on this day, I don’t think about the challenges we faced with a broken bus, additional time on our drive, or the homework done on that school night once we got home. I think about the fun times I had with friends, the new connections I made with many girls, and the way we were all able to come together and have some fun. So Myles, tell me what it is like being an engaged Waterford student?

Myles: I’m so glad you asked Anne.

If you know me, “I’m not a nerd, I swear,” is a phrase I’m guilty of saying close to a million times, yet I don’t seem to have any means of backing it up. If you watch me do math you might notice me smiling the entire time. I love driving to the nearest library, putting in headphones, and just doing my homework. I’m extremely drawn to productivity and have a weird obsession with mid-century modern architecture. Sure I play varsity for my high school’s lacrosse and basketball teams, but I also compete in forensics and write-it do-it for my school’s science olympiad team.

There’s a well-known ideology that “nerds aren’t cool”, but what isn’t cool about being enthusiastic about a subject you are interested in?

In my high school years I’ve learned that when I surround myself with curious minds, I don’t feel awkward getting passionate about education. It’s easy to get excited about reading the next chapter in my textbook or studying hard for my next test when I choose to be around a group of people who encourage it.

I’m thankful for my time at Waterford because it has allowed me to immerse myself in a community of people who love to learn just as much as I do. From auditioned choirs to 3D design, Waterford promotes an environment where I feel comfortable taking on challenges and making the most of my extracurriculars– an environment where nerds are cool.

Anne: Yeah exactly, when I think back on my time here at Waterford these are the moments I think of. I think of the bus rides, soccer team dinners, karaoke nights with the lacrosse team and playing the violin in Europe with my friends. That’s what being a Raven is to me. It’s being part of this amazing community. 

Myles: But both of us also recognize all the sacrifices and effort each and every one of you have put into having your kid attend a school like Waterford. I hope you know how much we appreciate you and how much of a difference this school is going to make in the lives of your kids.

Anne: Thank you for your incredible help and commitment to making our school the place it is.