NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The fall semester is just getting started and some UP grade schools are also heading back into session this week. Today, Negaunee students had their first day of classes, and some students commented that they miss hanging out with friends during the warm weather, even the faculty mentioned it wouldn’t hurt to have another day or two of summer break.
“Definitely tossing and turning last night just thinking like ok did I do this did I check the light did I water my plant just like little stuff like that,” commented Ms. Mckenna Carvenough, a Freshman English Teacher. This is her first academic year teaching her own class. She said the first-day jitters have made their way into the room, but having experience in student teaching helped get her familiar with the school.
“I’ve had awesome mentor teachers and the administration here has been great to really help me feel confident and prepared for the first day and now that I’m into it I’m so excited and so happy to be here,” continued Carvenough. Some said looking back on the previous years, the school atmosphere has really shifted since the pandemic, and that having a “normal first day back” is bittersweet.
“It was weird like our first two years of high school in our grade because of COVID so we had like all sorts of online stuff so it wasn’t like normal you’re the first day of school so it’s kind of weird to think about how far we’ve come from that,” said Negaunee Senior Olivia Lunseth.
“Sometimes at the end point of summer you gotta go back you know you kind of dread going back but you it’s been going good it’s not that bad the first week is kinda very vanilla you know just getting back into it,” mentioned Negaunee Junior Ty Jacobson.
Faculty commented that the most exciting thing about heading back to class isn’t the games or events coming up during the year, but the UP community built in the classroom that can’t replicated. “Of all things you know it’s just getting to see the kids again and just the excitement that they have,” said Negaunee Principal Andrew Brunette.
“A lot of what we do wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community and everything here really just feels like even if you’re like me if you’re not from here you feel like you could be…you know maybe my first class of freshman graduate, I think that’s gonna be really crazy really cool feeling,” continued Carvenough.
Click here for a full list of events and team games coming up for Negaunee High School.
