August isn’t over but it was already back to school on Thursday for Great Falls Middle School/Turners Falls High School in Montague and Frontier Regional School in Deerfield.
The senior class of 2022 celebrated the dawn of a new year with a “Senior Sunrise” to kick off the first day of classes.
Beginning at 6 a.m., 16 Turners Falls High School seniors indulged in doughnuts and hot chocolate on a foggy Thursday morning at the school’s football field. Joined by smiling staff and a new principal, the teenagers enjoyed some much-needed in-person socialization. After refreshments, they took a walk around the track, posed for photos, and discussed hopes for the school year.
“I’m really excited,” senior Jayden Hosmer said. “I think it’s going to go better than last year, now that everybody’s got a handle on (COVID-19 procedural norms). We’re going full-throttle.”
“I think you start to appreciate people more, and then you come back,” senior Bryce Finn said in regard to missing human connection in remote learning settings. “Most people don’t feel that way until after graduation, but we felt that way before graduation.”
Mike Johansmeyer, a paraprofessional who organized the sunrise social, said that the staff will be looking to support students’ optimism.
“We’re going to try to give them a normalcy kind of thing,” Johansmeyer said. “We’re hoping we can go on a senior trip or a day trip somewhere.”
For now, though, student life begins at school. Closer to the 7:45 a.m. start time, students cascaded into the entryways from cars, bicycles, and school buses. Meeting them at the doors were Principal Barnes, Assistant Principal Joey Kotright, and a massive red boombox blasting rock music to welcome them. Come 7:45, students entered the building to embark on a new chapter in their educational journey. First-year staff, including Barnes and Kotright, did the same.
“It’s nice to see everyone and I’m excited to meet the new teachers,” eighth-grader Khalifa Seck said after attending his middle school’s introductory assembly.
“I’ve heard good things,” eighth-grader Mario Pareja said about the new staff. “My mom works in the school district. She says they’re nice. They’re good people.”
While reception of the school’s new leadership has seemed positive thus far, some students are taking to the new year looking to blossom into leadership roles themselves.
Madi Liimatainen, a first-year high schooler, said that she hopes to “narrow down what (she does) in the future.” Currently, Madi said that she has plans to run for class office and a desire to pursue health care-related studies. She said that she already participates in “Innovation Pathways,” a new health care-oriented internship program approved for Turners Falls High School in 2020.
Barnes said the opportunity to share a new school year with students in person is a matter of having “all hands on deck” to ensure a safe, happy experience.
“I just want to be visible and connecting,” Barnes said. “I just want to be welcoming for the kids. Make them feel the love.”
Masked students mingled with friends up and down the school’s hallways Thursday morning as they returned to full, in-person activities for the Union 38 School District’s 2021-22 school year.
“It feels pretty good,” said 11th-grader Ben Makosiej. “We get to see each other, which a lot of us haven’t seen each other all summer.”
Last year, Frontier held hybrid classes, but students will be returning to the halls this year.
Makosiej’s feeling was common among his peers, with many students happy to see each other at school again. Tenth-graders Alexandra Holloway and Jenalily Rodriguez were hanging out in the hallway catching up with one another.
“I haven’t seen her,” Holloway said looking at Rodriguez, “because she was on online school.”
Rodriguez echoed her friend’s comment, but bemoaned the fact that all students must be masked.
“It’s still kind of lame we have to wear a mask,” Rodriguez said.
Last week, all Union 38 School Committees approved a policy requiring all students, staff and visitors to wear masks inside the building. Although all middle and high school students over 12 years old and are eligible to be vaccinated, there is no vaccination mandate in place for those students.
The anticipation of reconnecting with students wasn’t confined to the student body either. High school English teacher Melissa Strelke said she was happy to see a full classroom of students again.
“I’m looking forward to meeting all the students,” Strelke said, “and being able to engage in community building.”
She said her experience working with a hybrid model will help keep things running smoothly as the school navigates the delta variant.
“I think we learned a lot last year,” she said.
Principal George Lanides stood outside Thursday morning greeting students — from a safe distance with his mask down — with a smile. He said bringing everyone back together helps form a sense of community.
“Having everybody here, that’s what I’m looking forward to,” Lanides said. “You feel more connected.”
Lanides said the school’s experience with hybrid learning taught new ways to operate the school. He highlighted the convenience of virtual meetings and mask breaks being a welcome mental reprieve for students and staff alike.
“Last year year we became incredibly adept with technology,” Lanides said. “There are some benefits … mask breaks and breaks in general, teachers like them, students like them.”
Although they adapted well to the technology, Lanides said they are glad to be back together.
“A part of us wants to step away from (technological learning),” he said. “We’re looking forward to a great school year.”
Julian Mendoza can be reached at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com. Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.