Thanks Ms. Hammond

BY SPECTRUM STAFF & Ms. HAMMOND

As the school year draws to a close, we are saddened to say goodbye to our favorite familiar face: Ms. Hammond. As a previous English teacher, she has translated her skills as an advisor for both The Spectrum and The Torch, our school yearbook. For some of us, we have spent nearly four years with her, and she made The Spectrum the best four years they could have possibly been. One of our earliest interactions with Ms. Hammond was during our chief staff interviews,and as the sophomores we and Through the pandemic years and into this new era, Ms. Hammond has shown us constant support. The consistency, leniency, and kindness that she has demonstrated surpasses anyone we have met during our high school career. We have observed the attitude she exemplifies in every setting, not just in our cozy newspaper room, and we are always comforted by her presence. We know that wherever she goes next, she’ll exude the same energy. Join us as we cherish the precious memories we have had with her.

-Kéra Matthews and Anusha Senapati (new co-Editors-in-Chief)

During Layout week, you always take the time to aid us in our Spectrum duties, including making the Mac Lab space available. You have consistently shown us you care by stopping whatever you’re doing, and we admire that. Not only this, but we will always remember the small but memorable talks during Layout that made us laugh, and we will all miss them so much! The Trader Joe’s snacks that sustained all of us through long layout weeks and energetic meetings will never be forgotten. Your commitment to The Spectrum has helped us make important connections with the AB community, and for that, we thank you. As an advisor, you have always provided support in aspects that reach beyond just Spectrum activity, but we also appreciate your ability to gracefully step aside when needed; you have given us the appropriate creative freedom to speak our minds and generate new ideas. Getting your wisdom has been equally as valuable, and that has fueled our minds and brought upon new perspectives. Thank you for all that you have done for us!

-Spectrum Chaff

This is the last issue of the Spectrum I’ll have worked on, after a 15+ year career as advisor to the paper. It has been one of the great honors of my life to hold this position, because this role has introduced me to more remarkable young people than I can even count–students who have enriched, challenged, educated, humbled, and inspired me. Only a few Spectrum editors pursued journalism after high school, but while they were in charge of producing five issues per year, the majority of them took complete ownership of every aspect of the work. They wrote, edited, managed, sold ads, designed, and led each other with only the lightest hand of the advisor needed. Many late nights in the Mac lab, many TJ’s snacks, a few runs through the midnight library, and so many laughs have been shared, and I have loved watching them grow into mature and thoughtful people who are ready to shoulder real responsibilities as they move out of high school. I’m up against a deadline and a hard word count limit, so I will sign off with a full and grateful heart, congratulating this year’s seniors and their colleagues who have put this paper in your hands.

-Ms. Hammond

In conclusion, there just aren’t enough words to thank you, Ms. Hammond, for the constant support you have shown us. Your wisdom cannot be replicated, and your kindness cannot be compared. Oftentimes, we take things for granted, but we have never been able to do that with you because of your outstanding treatment towards us. We will be forever grateful for your contributions to The Spectrum. You have always gone above and beyond for us, and we hope that whoever you come in contact with next will be able to appreciate it just as much as we did.

Good luck on your future endeavors, Ms. Hammond!​