The CDC declared the end of the public health emergency May 11, but that doesn’t mean that students are flipping that switch to pre-COVID learning on. People were forced into their homes and isolated from the rest of society, causing students three years later to continue adapting to the pandemic’s repercussions.
Current students don’t know what ELHS was like prior to the pandemic, but the Class of ‘23 did, being the last class to have experienced pre-pandemic learning at ELHS.
“They’re the last class that has resilience that I don’t think other classes have. And I mean no offense to the underclassmen, but the resilience is visible. They fought through it and came out on the other side,” senior English teacher Scott Mahon said.
Class of ‘23 went through full online, hybrid, mask mandates, and full in school learning all at ELHS. Much has changed, not only in the academic aspect, but also in the school atmosphere.
“I wish we had one lunch wave. I felt like I was able to be more connected with my friends and enjoy myself. I also feel like I could be more involved in school, clubs, and sports with all my friends,” ‘23 graduate Abby Cellemme said.
ELHS always had one lunch wave before the pandemic, but COVID spacing and safety measures forced the school to change to three before settling last year on two lunch waves.
“The lunch wave connected everyone. Yes, not everyone could fit and there were people sitting in odd places, but I just don’t feel like these lunch waves give you that break,” Mr. Mahon said. Students and teachers alike feel a sense of connection has been lost in the ELHS community because of the multiple lunch waves.
“It (school) was so much more vibrant in a way. Freshman sitting on the tables, the pep rally. Looking at Senior Spirit Week, it’s sad no one participated because I know the Class of 2020 would have loved this,” Cellemme said during the last week of her senior year.
Last year was the first year ELHS was able to have a real pep rally and Spirit Week since 2020, but some think school spirit is slowly dying because of the pandemic’s impact on ELHS.
Pre-pandemic, each incoming freshmen class could look to older classes and see how seriously students took Spirit Week participation.
But, the 2021 year without Spirit Week broke that chain of tradition, leaving the Class of ‘24 without that common experience or as strong of an example to follow.
With a sufficient part of the class not dressing up for the 2023 Senior Spirit Week and student sections at games having routinely lower participation than pre-pandemic, the school‘s culture isn’t what it used to be.
Another event that attendance has changed significantly is school dances. This past March, the sophomore class tried to host a Spring Fling, but due to only 20 tickets being sold the entire dance was cancelled.
Out of a school of around 1,000 students only 20 chose to buy a ticket.
“It was really upsetting when we found out we had to cancel the dance. Our class was hoping to raise a lot of money but instead we lost,” junior and senate member Katie Avery said.
The responsibility to revive school spirit and culture falls on returning students. Are you up to the challenge?
