Class of 2022 is Looking Ahead

looking ahead to juniors graduating next year

looking ahead to juniors graduating next year

Grace McGowan, Staff Writer

WHB had a lot of changes this year due to Covid.  Students are hoping next year will be normal again. Will there be masks and plastic shields next year? 

Senior year is something all juniors look forward to, but the 2021-2022 school year there are more aspirations than ever. For most students it’s just the desire to get all the senior activities you hear about from years past. Fall sport season especially is a highlight for senior year. Junior Adriana Zukas hopes “to be able to hang out with friends and go to football games.” Being able to celebrate with your classmates over a homecoming is all seniors want to complete their final year together.

With the unknowns there are many questions. Many students are over the mask mandates and other Covid restrictions, but there could be hope. Assistant principal Mr. Bookamer says that he is not sure what next year will look like just yet. “It’s an evolving time we live in, we’re waiting for the Department of Health and it can change at any point over the summer. I hope that we won’t carry over the mandates but there’s no reason to believe they will or won’t be.”

Steps to possibly getting back to normal is more of just a waiting game.  For now the district does what’s most safe and allowable for the students’ health. With the talk of health, and colleges starting to do it, there is also a question of whether the Covid vaccine will be mandatory to attend school in the fall. As of right now Mr. Bookamer is not sure about that but mentioned that high school nurse, Mrs. Andarakis, doesn’t think it will be mandatory. 

About students’ summer before senior year, Mr. Bookamer said, “I hope they get a good, normal summer and senior year. I also hope they get to hang out with people they want and get to the jobs they want.”

Many students and staff have hope going into the next school year and summer. For the meantime keep your head high WHB. Have a fun and safe summer, see you on September 2nd for the 2021-22 school year!