WEST ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – It’s back to school for most kids in the UP. Marquette and the N.I.C.E. community schools both started classes on Tuesday.
As the bell rings, summer is officially over for these students at Westwood High School. I spoke to N.I.C.E. Community Schools Superintendent, Bryan DeAugustine about the academic year ahead, and some of the programs that he’s most proud of.
“We try our best to make sure that every student who wants to participate in our athletic programs can, and we find a way to make sure that their fees are covered if they can’t pay,” said DeAugustine.
All of these students have been affected by COVID-19 in some way, and as the pandemic crisis is waning, the lingering aftereffects are still challenging for them, as well as the teachers. School counselor Maria Young explains.
“I think we’re kind of at the cusp of a time where we’re moving away from some of the little hang-ups that we were having as far as academics go, especially, I think we’re moving towards a time where we’re beginning to treat academics a bit more like we did before the pandemic,” said young.
One trend that is emerging and becoming ever more popular, is the CTE curriculum. Learning skilled trades in high school and entering the workforce immediately upon graduation. Something Superintendent DeAugustine is proud of.
“We have students who walk across the Westwood High School graduation stage and walk straight into their career and technical education. So, it works out really well, and we’re very proud of the work we do here,” said DeAugustine.
And, as with other academic pursuits, CTE students also have latent consequences from COVID-19.
“A lot of students just aren’t ready because they had lost so much of their childhood from the craziness that we had to navigate with COVID-19,” said young.
IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL FOR MOST KIDS IN THE UP. MARQUETTE AND THE NICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOTH STARTED CLASSES Tuesday.
AS THE BELL RINGS, SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY OVER FOR THESE STUDENTS AT WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. I SPOKE TO NICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT, BRYAN DEAUGUSTINE ABOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR AHEAD, AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HE’S MOST PROUD OF.
“We try our best to make sure that every student who wants to participate in our athletic programs can, and we find a way to make sure that their fees are covered if they can’t pay,” said DeAugustine.
ALL OF THESE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19 IN SOME WAY, AND AS THE PANDEMIC CRISIS IS WANING, THE LINGERING AFTEREFFECTS ARE STILL CHALLENGING FOR THEM, AS WELL AS THE TEACHERS. SCHOOL COUNSELOR MARIA YOUNG EXPLAINS.
“I think we’re kind of at the cusp of a time where we’re moving away from some of the little hang-ups that we were having as far as academics go, especially, I think we’re moving towards a time where we’re beginning to treat academics a bit more like we did before the pandemic,” said Young.
ONE TREND THAT IS EMERGING AND BECOMING EVER MORE POPULAR, IS THE CTE CURRICULUM. LEARNING SKILLED TRADES IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ENTERING THE WORKFORCE IMMEDIATELY UPON GRADUATION. SOMETHING SUPERINTENDENT DE AUGUSTINE IS PROUD OF.
“We have students who walk across the Westwood High School graduation stage and walk straight into their career and technical education. So, it works out really well, and we’re very proud of the work we do here,” said DeAugustine.
AND, AS WITH OTHER ACADEMIC PURSUITS, CTE STUDENTS ALSO HAVE LATENT CONSEQUENCES FROM COVID.
SOT: Maria Young, School Guidance Counselor
IN WEST ISHPEMING, JOHN TRUITT, WZMQ 19 NEWS.
