By: JP Yeich

   As Marriotts Ridge celebrates its 21st anniversary, the walls inside of this school have many stories to tell. Loyalty is a large aspect of the Marriotts Ridge community, as its 15+ original staff members have been raising young Mustangs since the school was still under construction. Twenty one years is a great deal of time for cultures to change, whether it’s what people wear, act like, or listen to. Having such a large original staff, the members have been able to see the school take form, change, and grow.

   “There was no ceiling, no carpeting, and there was a big hole in the side over [in my classroom] where an elevator would bring up all of the supplies. So I saw this building take form, take shape,” social studies teacher Mr. Dubbs commented.

   Nowadays, when people drive past this school or walk the halls, the school appears as a finished product that stands firmly in the way it presents itself. The ceilings are tiled, the floors are shiny, and the school has built itself as a landmark. The foundation of the school isn’t the only thing that has been built, it’s the community of staff and students who are proud to call themselves Mustangs.

   “You’d have one classroom occupied, and then two open. We were spread out all over the place because there just wasn’t anybody. We didn’t have enough kids here,” Mr. Dubbs responded.

   Starting with a measly 1100 students, the school initially felt like a ghost town. Fast forward to the present, the student population has risen to 1800. Due to the appeal that the staff made, Marriotts Ridge cemented itself as a warm and welcoming community for parents to send their children. Most students who have received this school’s education have left feeling like they had a family in the peers and staff that surrounded them through their years. Through this school’s history, true contributors towards society have been built to impact the world.

   “Volunteering and subbing at many different schools has allowed me to witness and appreciate a lot about attending Marriotts Ridge as a student, but also to recognize the privilege of working here now. This is a wonderful school with wonderful people and students who go through experiences that help shape their lives and become stronger versions of themselves through reflection,” English teacher Mr. Mavronicholas reflected.

   Having been a student that was educated at Marriotts Ridge for four years, the community and bond of the staff motivated Mr. Mavronicholas to pursue his ambitions of teaching at a place he knew would feel like home. He reinforces the idea that the long and new governing staff is here to ensure that students leave this school feeling like adults.

   As the building has grown and taken shape, the athletic department has had time to do the same. For being such a young school in comparison to the rest of Maryland, Marriotts Ridge has accumulated a high renown amongst the athletic community with its success in county, regional, and state playoffs.

   “I was coaching boys’ soccer and we were really successful by our second varsity season, and by the fourth season, we were winning championships. The lacrosse teams and the golf teams also started off real strong, as well as baseball. Since then, we’ve seen consistency in some sports like boys and girls lacrosse are all still consistently good,” math teacher and former boy’s soccer coach Mr. Flynn stated.

   Success of sports has proven to build pride around the school for the Mustangs, as part of the student culture has been built around supporting those that represent the school. Cementing traditions through building a supportive student section has led to chants that define our school. For these prideful traits to stay prevalent, seniors must pass down these traditions to the underclassmen that are soon to repeat the cycle.