![Incoming Student Union President junior Aki Bejamin and other SU candidates sitting on stage while waiting to give their speeches during the May 18 SU Debate. Aki said he plans to “burn [the SU] all down and start anew.”](https://thhsclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_9600-e1782439128607-1200x1131.jpg)
On January 27, the spring semester officially began for Harrisites. Students received their updated schedules in official class and had their grades reset in Jupiter, giving them all a fresh start for the new term.
The Classic interviewed students and staff to find their goals or plans for the coming months.
“The spring semester was off to a rocky start,” said sophomore Avery Hai. “It was a bit of a shock to come back into a rigorous academic routine after relaxing during winter break. My goal for the spring semester is to maintain a higher average while balancing my extracurriculars.”
Junior Adora Uddin has a similar goal. “The spring semester tends to move faster. I’m piled up with work and exams while being actively engaged in my extracurriculars. I want to raise my grades up significantly [compared to] last semester and be more efficient in completing my work.”
Sophomore Robert Indart said that he wants to “stop cramming because it’s really risky.” He said that procrastination has been holding him back, and the spring semester will be his chance to fix that.
Likewise, teachers said they are excited to begin work on spring semester activities and for the final push to finishing the year.
English teacher Katherine Lipinski said, “I’m excited to do open mic collaborations between the Nightingale Theatre Company and the Phoenix.”
For some, the new term is their first term at THHS this year.
Assistant Principal of English Ryan Dunbar spent the fall at Long Island City High School where he was serving temporarily as acting principal (while the previous principal was away for the term). “I’m just looking forward to getting back into the Townsend Harris community and supporting English instruction and English extracurriculars in the school,” Mr. Dunbar said.
Meanwhile, Senior Ivan Sun said he is happy with the change in pace that the spring semester offers seniors. In his words, “Compared to the fall semester the pressure is far less without having to juggle college apps and schoolwork. This semester I want to have fun. This is my last semester as a Harrisite and I want it to be one that I’m going to remember.”
