Those were just a few of the responsibilities dominating the minds of students at GMHS a mere couple of weeks ago. The inevitable exam week had begun, and students put forth their strongest efforts to appropriately prepare for the defining stretch of the first semester; something that became more challenging with the coinciding unpredictable weather. With those days complete, the focus of staff and students abruptly shifted toward the latter portion of the year that culminates in a summer vacation. With the first half of the school year now closed, it is only fair to review a campaign that has been a comfortable return to normalcy, while also beginning to look ahead to the second semester.
Immersed in the bitterly-cold and mundane depths of winter, many will credit the start of this 2021/22 school year as commencing ages ago. To some degree, it certainly did. In the months past, GMHS has witnessed a return to normalcy that had been brewing throughout last school year.
The results of strict adherence to COVID guidelines, students and staff would be quick to agree, is that the events that occurred throughout the first semester resemble those of pre-COVID years. Prior to the immeasurable impact of the novel pandemic, the high school culture was defined by frequent socialization; oftentimes via events such as sporting events, dances, or after-school activities. The image last year contrasted wildly with the depicted scene, and the GMHS population as a whole became less cohesive as a result. Yet, in this recent semester, the excitement created by opportunities to be around one another has been rejuvenated.
Fans are back in attendance at sporting events, clubs can meet on a consistent basis, and students were even able to experience a homecoming; one of the marquee events which COVID restrictions prevented students from appreciating in 2020/21. The impact is apparent. While the virus is still prevalent, the ability for GMHS to live with more relaxed protocols has allowed students to interact as part of a culture defined by normalcy.
Worries about the virus, while still existent through precautions, are not the primary focus in the minds of students now. Rather, the student body can converse avidly about the score of the game against East Granby, or rest assured that their friends will be in the building so a project can be completed on schedule. Further, the return to a regular eight-period-a-day schedule makes assignments far more predictable in scheduling, visiting a teacher for extra help is convenient again, and teachers will not have to rearrange an entire lesson plan because half the class is out with COVID since the last time the class had met.
All these changes — the fans at games, the homecomings, the clubs, the theater productions, the blood drives, the concerts, the schedules; the events which were once commonplace in high schools — these are the changes the student body recognizes as normalcy. With it, friendships are stronger, assignment schedules are easier to comprehend, and the school culture is more relaxed.
The two years prior to this article have been challenging, as unprecedented times are bound to provide unique and potentially difficult new changes. Yet it is following the first semester of the 2021/22 school year — the exciting wins, the A pluses on tests, the homecoming dances, the concerts, the plays, and all of its other defining events — that GMHS can now take a breath and reflect on the drastically different changes and positive improvements that have accompanied the school’s journey to surmount a time of uncertainty and confusion. With that, we, as a community, have an opportunity to be appreciative of the advancements we have made and welcome the events they bring for the second half of this year.