Well, it’s been quite the year, cardinals. So many interesting things have unfolded over the course of these two semesters, and I decided to compile the most memorable things that have transpired throughout it. There were many trends, movies, games, and things Mclean had to offer that I’d like to discuss here. I hope you enjoy, and without further ado, this is the Mclean Mirror’s very own 2024-2025 timeline. (Also, there’s a bonus section featuring music that cardinals enjoyed listening to. Just thought I’d mention it).
TIMELINE
| August | 2024 |
August was the month that marked the beginning of the school year. New seventh graders got to see the campus for the first time and get a feel for middle school, while eighth graders got their chance to give a last hurrah to Mclean, and by extension, middle school. And while everyone was getting their feet wet and learning how the school works, rumors were whispered among teachers and students… a rumor of a potential currency given out for good behavior?
| September | 2024 |
September was where the school year truly began in my eyes, introducing birdie bucks (the aforementioned currency) and the end of the awkward small talk everyone participated in at the beginning of the year. (THANK GOD). Nearing the middle of September, Hispanic Heritage month began. This led to Mexican music sometimes being played over the intercom as students walked through the hallways. And while that wasn’t the main important event of Hispanic Heritage month, it was nice to hear while roaming the halls. The highlight of the month was probably when the birdie bucks store opened, giving them an actual use. You could request songs to play over the intercom, have a free dress day, and so much more!
| October | 2024 |
The spookiest time of the year, October, was exciting for sure. I brought up Hispanic Heritage month for one sole reason: that being Loteria, which was playable in the cafeteria for birdie bucks! There was also a pep rally that occurred near the beginning of the month, where the cheer team killed it on stage! Excellent work! Then, in the middle of the month, Junior Cadet Corps had the bear challenge, in which a rival school challenged them to a drill and ceremony competition. We were triumphant in this challenge, which was yet another accomplishment for the school this year! Go cards! The final topic I wanted to touch on was the production that happened this October, “Everyone Gets Eaten By Sharks.” Students performed exceedingly well in the play.
| November | 2024 |
November began with the obligatory sugar buzz after Halloween, with students acting positively insane. About a week later, student IDs were officially added to the dress code, and the rule stating that they should be worn every day was heavily enforced during this part of the year. History Fair also came to a close with students having immaculate projects. Not too many eventful things happened during the month of November other than that, but one thing is certain. Thanksgiving break was enjoyed unanimously by hardworking students and exhausted teachers alike.
| December | 2024 |
This December kicked off with a spelling bee that lasted for a staggering 35 rounds! Eventually, it led to the taking of an alternate test, that being a written one. Later in the month, the obligatory semester finals began. Some people passed. Others flunked. One thing was for sure though. People couldn’t wait for winter break and the closure of the semester.
| January | 2025 |
Let’s state the obvious first: January is where 2025 began! Right after an exceptional two week long winter break, school resumed, but not for long, as two consecutive snow days took place on the Thursday and Friday of the week everyone returned, cancelling school for the following two days. It was serendipitous! This ended up delaying MOY MAP tests for a while until school was back in session. This month, JCC had their MLK parade and our choir had a concert. Speaking of MLK day, we had that day off as well! There was a large number of free days that month, making it beloved by many students. We had a staggering seven days (the remainder of winter break, one teacher planning day, MLK day, and the two snow days) to ourselves that month, not including weekends.
POPULAR SONGS
| Chromakopia | Tyler, The Creator | Explicit (2024) | The Entire Album |
Chromakopia was released as an album, and is the epitome of what I like to call peak musical talent, being praised for just how good it sounds. Tyler’s audience expanded quite a bit upon its initial release, probably because of how he indulged in even more of his recent trend of making more than just rap music. Let me be honest: this is one of the best albums I’ve heard in my life. (Insane Tyler glaze, I know, but can you blame me)? I IMPLORE you to listen to it for yourself. This is the greatest artist of our generation. 10/10. Listen to it. Right now.
| Espresso | Sabrina Carpenter | Explicit (2024) | From Her Album, Short And Sweet |
Espresso was a song that a lot of people loved. It spawned several parodies, and much, much more. It had a catchy beat and a good hook. This was probably the biggest hit mentioned on the list, being everywhere on the radio and all over social media platforms. You couldn’t escape it. But I’m not complaining.
| GNX | Kendrick Lamar | Explicit (2024) | The Entire Album |
Kendrick’s been on a victory lap ever since his recent rap beef with Drake. After earning 5 grammy nominations for Not Like Us (the most mediocre song in his discography), he released a new album called GNX. Some of the tracks that people liked from it included “tv off,” “luther,” “squabble up,” and others as well. Kendrick was loved for his evocative and thought provoking lyricism, bringing him to the top of the rap scene in the eyes of many students. People loved how he told stories through his songs. Personally, I’d like to recommend dodger blue. It’s extremely underrated, and I like the RNB like beat.
| Karma | Jojo Siwa | Explicit (2024) | Single |
(There’s No Album Cover For This One)
Karma by Jojo Siwa, unlike the other music mentioned on this list, was popularized not due to it being a phenomenal song or album, but it was definitely well-known due to how terrible it was. It began when she re-branded to break free from the limitations of only making music for children, which is understandable, and the music was downright awful. It was mocked as a stain on her industry, and everyone thought it was pretty funny just how ridiculously horrendous it was.
| Denial Is A River | Doechii | Explicit (2024) | From Her Album, Alligator Bites Never Heal |
This song was a hit, bringing Doechii back into popularity after her big popularity boom from Tiktok audio a few years back. The song overall deserves to be discussed more. I think that overall, Denial Is A River was a great way to give Doechii a resurgence, and we need more popular female rappers, considering the fact that some of us considered Ice Spice good… yikes.
Well, that was all I wanted to recap in this article. Of course, this isn’t the definitive recap of the 2024-2025 schoolbook. If you want a more in-depth recap, then you should check out the yearbook.
To any seventh graders reading this, I hope you enjoyed your time here, and to any eighth graders, get ready for highschool! See you next year!
Credits
Jack Schroeder – Made A Majority Of The Sections
Leo M – Did Some Grammar Checking
