For a long time, North Harford High School has been known for their unique agricultural programs and talented artists.

  Teacher mentor, Mrs. Ginnie Estevez, has nothing but positive comments. “After having been placed at several other high schools in the county, this one is the best by far.” She also cited the quality of teaching in various departments, including people like Ms. Erika Edwards.  “What she’s done with the floral design program-it’s amazing.”    

    She also added praise about Ag Heritage Week.  “In spite of being rained out the first time,[it] went off without a hitch.” She claims “the quality of work that continues to come out of this building is just astounding.”

   The special education department also hosted a ton of events for students including the Allied Sports activities for basketball, bowling, and bocce ball.  Department chair and teacher  Mrs. Kathy Ege added, “It’s been incredibly busy but everyone worked as a team. All the other special educators really pitched in, because we had two new special educators and it went remarkably smoothly.”

     October was a busy month for many Hawks.  A field trip to the University of Maryland included journalism and yearbook students, who were able to participate in a journalism bootcamp of sorts.  The day featured small sessions designed to inform and expose students to various types of media formats. “I got to interact with other students and to see how it [journalism] works on a college campus,”  said sophomore Cassidy Chandler.  

    The tenth grader added that she “learned a lot about journalism and what being a student on a college campus looks like.” Also commenting on the University of Maryland field trip, French exchange student Jeanne Pavard said, “it was real interesting because it was the first time I saw a university in America… seeing the lab and all the journalism stuff was really cool and I learned a lot of things.”

    Also in October, the annual  Homecoming football game ended with a 35-34 win for the Hawks against the Fallston Cougars. Senior Cole Dickerson said, “It propelled us to the playoffs. After we won that, everyone was excited. We all wanted to keep winning.” Students showed off their school spirit and many came in support of their team. Senior Matt Johnson, added, “We showed them up this year compared to last year when we went up and played on their turf, well not turf, but their grass.”

     Later in the fall, the North Harford drama department presented the fall musical Bye Bye Birdie. The cast told the story of an American heartthrob/rockstar (Garrett Thomas) getting drafted and travelling to Ohio to give his last performance and “one last kiss” to a randomly selected teenage girl (Elizabeth Eakes). Senior Elizabeth Eakes commented, “the musical was the highlight of my year because I got to become closer with a lot of my theater friends and we put on a really fun production.”

      By December, another memorable moment involved two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Dana Priest visit to The Nest to inspire young journalists and to share her project Uncuffed. Junior Bethany Birchfield said, “When we found out that she was coming here it was like an awesome feeling of opportunity. She’s an example that writing can really mean something. It opened our eyes to everything journalism can do.”  

    According to Junior Darby Hyde, Priest’s visit to North Harford was so special because “she’s such a prestigious journalist and it’s an honor that she decided to come to our humble little high school and she’s been all over the world and done so many great things that it’s cool.”

  For the second year in a row in February, Teachers Got Talent hit the stage under the guidance of Mrs. Harward and the yearbook staff.  The event featured performances from a wide range of teachers who sang, danced, and performed in front of a packed house.  

    This same month saw the entire building covered in sticky notes during the first ever Sticky Note Positivity Challenge sponsored by Mrs. Jen Chandler and Mrs. Carla Harward and their production staffs.

      The title of Mr. North Harford was taken by Senior Win Berrell this year in a competition held in early March. Eight contestants performed in front of a panel of judges, all hoping to be crowned as Mr. North Harford. “Participating in Mr. North Harford was really fun. I got to mess around with a lot of my friends who also participated, like Zach Miller. I honestly thought he was going to win and not me.”

  By March, students, staff, and community members learned that the turf would need to be closed for several months.  Johnson added concerning the turf “I mean at least we’re getting new turf, that’s great.” Senior Molly Zardus added “I think that it’s upsetting that for my senior year I don’t get to play like fun home games in the stadium, on the turf, or fall sports but it is what it is.”

           Rounding out the year in April and May, students enjoyed Earth Day/Ag Heritage Day, an annual tradition that features a wide variety of students engaged in a day-long festival featuring a host of displays, activities, and other educational experiences.  Prom, senior awards, the senior picnic, Baccalaureate, and graduation closed out the year.