The UV index is rising, public pools are being filled, and pants are turning into shorts. The month of May is going by quickly, and the long-anticipated summer is in the air. However, students and teachers at Elkhorn High School still have some time before they can trade in their pencils for popsicles.
By the time the last months of school roll around, the majority of students will find themselves ready to be done with classes. For staff like PE teacher Chris Simley, this change in attitude becomes obvious in his gym.
“I definitely noticed that kids are checked out as you get closer to the end of the year,” Simley said. “As a teacher you definitely fight that apathy, since kids are ready to be done and the weather is getting better, they are clearly ready to get to summer.”
Losing too much focus becomes an issue when there are still a few weeks left in the school year, as guidance counselor Desiree Merrihew points out. Looking forward to summer may cause struggling students to overlook their academic struggles, so her job is to keep the metaphorical fire lit under the teenagers at Elkhorn.
“We have to have a solid plan in place, we have to follow through on the plan, and I have to be a little more direct,” Merrihew said. “The end of the year will come, and if students don’t have their grades up, they could end up failing classes. There’s no coming back from that after we get to summer.”
Students are not the only ones counting down the days until the end; teachers have been similarly marking off their calendars as these last few weeks pass by. The extra work that students are putting in is reflected in their staff counterparts. Math teacher Mr. Peterson explains how the influx of work goes both ways as students hurry to make last-ditch efforts to improve their grades.
“It is a scramble for some students that may realize they’re not in the position they wanted to be in grade-wise, so they start to kick it in here a little bit,” Peterson said. “It means a lot more before and after school work with students.”
Not only does the work take up teachers’ time outside of school, but the end of the year becomes emotionally-taxing as well. As seniors approach their final days, they prepare to leave the school environment that has been routine for the past four years.This is a major change for everyone, from the student to the adult level. Merrihew explains how the staff is affected by saying goodbye to the graduating class each spring.
“It’s kind of a bittersweet feeling; we’re excited to get to summer, but we also know that our seniors are going to be leaving us and going on to the next adventure in their lives,” Merrihew said. “I think we’re also tired as well, and when you put all that together it is pretty emotional.”
However, as teachers, the staff at Elkhorn High School has been through this part of the year many times before. Peterson explains how he stays focused on goals in the classroom as the year wraps up.
“I need to catch myself to make sure I’m on top of my game in terms of teaching,” Peterson said. “I feel the same as the students sometimes; as the year goes on, it can become a little tiresome. I’m making sure to do everything I need to do to help my students, so I just remind myself to keep doing little things.”
This part of the year isn’t always a scramble to finish work. In fact, many people around the building actually tend to feel encouraged during these last few weeks. Simley noticed that despite his students’ lack of motivation, the end of the year gave him a boost instead.
“I almost feel like I get a little more energy as we get closer to the end of the year,” Simley said. “I know we only have a few weeks left so I think, ‘Alright, let’s get everything wrapped up and end the year on a high note and get to summer’.”
At this point, getting to summer is exactly the goal at Elkhorn High School. Students are so close, and can practically feel the warm sun and refreshing pool days ahead. Teachers and students alike are gritting their teeth in order to stay focused during these busy final days. Media specialist Leigh Geis offers students a word of advice to drive them all the way through the last day.
“It’s like going for a run; if you know, ‘okay, I only have another mile left,’ you can do another mile,” Geis said. “You guys only have a month left. You can do it.”
