It seems like just yesterday that the 2022-23 school year was wrapping up and summer vacation was getting underway.
That was nearly 10 weeks ago.
Summer vacation came to an official end Tuesday. Parents have been placing photos of their kids' first day back on social media. The kids were in the classroom, getting to know their teachers and their classmates, and reacquainting themselves with those they hadn't seen since the end of June.
There always is that sense of anticipation for the first day of school. Yes, the kids would rather be sleeping in until 9 a.m. each day, relaxing, watching television and hopefully spending some quality time outdoors. But there are still fun things that they can do during the school year, such as sports, band, drama and other extracurricular activities, that they don't get to experience in the summer.
For those who are new to the community or going to a new school, there is often that added excitement. It might be as simple as a Grade 9 who is going to the Estevan Comprehensive School. And, of course, the novelty of being back in classes or in a new school wears off in a real hurry. But it's still fun to go somewhere new.
I think the most excitement I had for school starting was after my family moved from Fort St. John to Langley, B.C., at the start of my Grade 4 year in 1987. It was a new school in a new community. A fresh start. Due to the move, we didn't actually attend class until the second week of school, which might have added to the eagerness to be in class. (I'm sure my parents wanted me in classes even more).
When Grade 8 rolled around and I started at Langley Secondary School, I wasn't necessarily looking forward to it. It might have had something to do with being six weeks shy of 13 years of age at a school with 17 and 18-year-olds. The school was a much longer walk than where I went for Grades 4-7. And I was, for lack of a better term, a runt at that age. So I had a daunting feeling more than anything else.
There was always excitement at the start of the school year for university, but keep in mind I had friends from around the world in university, and we had a four-month summer break, so I was eager to see these people again. And university was so much more fun than high school.
If I were to go to a classroom now, I'd likely be lost for the first little while. I'd be looking for the blackboard and the overhead projector, and I'd be wondering how I would store all my school supplies in my desk. I really don't know what it's like now or how classes are instructed, but I'm sure teachers and students alike make full use of the technology at their disposal.
I'm sure I'd make a rapid adjustment, but the first little while would be confusing
I really don't know how teachers instruct a class nowadays when the kids have access to phones, tablets and other potential distractions. When I was in Grade 7, the biggest distraction was the window in the classroom that gave us a view of the playground.
The past few years have not been easy on classrooms. The 2019-20 school year was cut short by the pandemic restrictions. The next year was a wash due to COVID and everyone faced constant change. Even the 2021-22 school year was mired in uncertainty for the first five or six months.
We've seen the impact that the restrictions had on sports teams and other extracurricular activities. Perhaps the best example is the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team, which had just one Grade 12 on its roster.
Band programs have also taken a hit in the past few years.
Hopefully, these programs can return to the numbers and the level of success they had pre-2020.
I hope the kids, teachers and staff have a great year. And a safe year, too, with lots of fun and some great memories. Especially the Grade 12s. After all, it's their final year of high school and their last chance to all be together.
