It was all smiles for many students Wednesday as Sept. 1 marked back-to-school day in the community. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

First day back

Students, staff share excitement as new school year begins

Sep 1, 2021 | 6:08 PM

As Grade 11 student, Ava Beausoleil, sat in the common area at North Battleford Comprehensive High School, she couldn’t help but smile, being surrounded by friends once again on the first day of school this fall.

“I think it’s great to be back, I’ve always loved school and I think this year’s really exciting that I get to see all my friends and it’s not half-days anymore, which is great,” she said.

Beausoleil, who has been involved with the extracurricular sports programs at the school as well, said not only will it be nice to have the chance to do sports again this year, but to do so with her younger sister as well.

“I’m involved in the curling program, and it’s really exciting because my sister gets to curl with me this year too,” she said. “We’re looking forward to that, and it should be a great year.”

Just across the table, fellow Grade 11, Jacinta Gillan, was also enjoying her first day back in the NBCHS halls — even if it did take some time to get used to once again.

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“It was a little overwhelming at first, since last school year students were kind of divided in two, (with some taking online classes) so seeing everyone together was a little bit of a shock, but it was really nice,” she said.

Gillan herself was one who had some experience with the online learning, but said she’s happy to be back in the classroom with the teacher and her peers.

“I was online half the time and that was quite difficult,” she said. “Receiving assignments, staying on task and just keeping up with the class as a whole was a bit hard, so it’s good to be back [to in-class learning] this year.”

Grade 10, Dylan Geddes said he too is looking forward to a return of in-class learning following a lot of online learning last year.

“I did do a lot of the online classes last year and it is very different; there’s a lot more work,” Geddes said. He then added that in addition to the classroom, he’s also excited to get back to enjoying the athletics offered at the school as well.

“I joined the football team and I’m going to join the basketball and track and field teams as well this year, so those are some of the things I’m really looking forward to,” he said with a smile.

While for some, the first day back was about reconnecting with peers and familiar surroundings, for others the day was about taking the first step into the next chapter of their education at the high school level.

Landin Noboe is a Grade 7, heading into his first year at NBCHS. He said while there may have been some nerves heading into opening day morning, it was ultimately a good first day.

“I was quite nervous, as I thought I wasn’t in a class with my best friend, but I am, so that was good,” Noboe said. “It feels great to be back to school at the new school.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1