From no classes to 'blended learning,' the Class of '22 has been through a lot

In four years of high school, the Class of 2022 has only had one year that could be called normal. 

There were three lost months in 2020 at the end of Grade 10. They spent Grade 11 apart from half of their classmates while they learned from home every other day, and in Grade 12, two weeks were lost to a CUPE strike in November, and three weeks in January were spent learning at home. 

There was mandatory masking, lots of COVID tests and sick days, very few extracurricular activities, and the overall uncertainty of life in a pandemic. 

It's been quite a ride, said Reese Mann, co-president of the graduating class at Bernice MacNaughton High School in Moncton. 

That's why the recent lifting of all mandates in schools came as such a morale booster, said Mann. 

"People are a lot happier and definitely we don't take anything for granted anymore," she said. "Before the pandemic, we did. Now we know that anything can be gone in the blink of an eye." 

She is particularly excited to attend the school's first in-person assembly since before the pandemic. 

"And honestly, I didn't even know what a lot of students that are at our school looked like because we're so used to seeing them with masks on," said Mann. 

But with all of the academic disruptions, Mann said it's likely that some of her classmates are behind where they should be as they get set to graduate. She said at-home learning did not work for everyone. 

"For many, there's no motivation for at-home learning — many would stay in bed all day," said Mann. "So yeah, I think all grades have just been a bit behind." 

And she worries about the cumulative effects of falling behind in subjects like math and sciences that build on previous curriculum. 

The president of the Canadian School Board Association is also worried. 

"I would say I'm concerned for all students in the system from the impacts of the past two years, including our staff," said Laurie French.

"And, you know, it's going to have a long-lasting impact on all learners and all educators for years to come, I believe."