With the departure of Mrs. Rodriguez at the end of last school year, there was a great void to be filled. Not only were several extended essays in question, but there seemed to be no one to teach IB English IV for the senior class. At the time, several rumors were floating around, naming teachers such as Mrs. O�Connor and Mr. Menasche. However, the entire senior class was kept in the dark until the first day of school when we all read the name of the English teacher posted on our schedules. Mrs. Holmes had decided to take up the challenge and teach the IB seniors.

Not wanting to come to school on the first day unprepared, Mrs. Holmes attended several IB teacher workshops over the summer. She also did her homework, a lot of it. She had to read the entire IB senior course load, which included Zorba the Greek, The Plague and One Hundred Years of Solitude.

However, this teacher was not bogged down by the amount of work, she was used to it from having taught AP English Language in previous years. When asked about the biggest difference between AP Language and IB English, Mrs. Holmes� replied, �It�s a good change. It�s good to get back into the theme and meanings of the novels, instead of just focusing on rhetoric and structure.�

With a Master�s Degree in English from Florida International University (she specializes in American Literature), this year should be a breeze for her. Thank you Mrs. Holmes for stepping up to the plate!

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