Students, school staff look beyond graduation

For the 2024 graduating seniors at Taft High School, the last four years have been “an amazing journey,” according to Principal Nick Lupo.

“Their freshman year was not in person due to the COVID pandemic and that was difficult and that transition kind of moved them up the chain and they couldn’t finish school, so to start your high school career off like that and to come through and pull through, is a great accomplishment,” he said as he prepared for the graduation ceremony June 8.

According to Lupo, the transition from the pandemic was also a challenge.

“Teaching changed, education changed, and there were many digital changes, so both the students and the teachers had to adapt a lot to figure out a new pathway that would lead them towards graduation,” he said. “This class and all the classes after COVID are going to see the differences and make great strides.”

Lupo said helping the students return to school following the pandemic was important.

“Helping them socially,” he said. “Teachers made a lot of efforts to get them back into the schools. Getting them into game clubs and helping them socially is one of the biggest challenges. Getting them into the building, talking, participating, developing the relationships, so they can feel like thy are a part of the school.”

Digital impact

The digital age has overcome school, according to Lupo.

“So many things are online,” he said. “A lot of communication is just different, so instead of coming to school, sitting down and picking up a pencil, just about all the teachers are using the digital tools. So there are pluses and minuses. Teachers and students are trying to find that balance.”

Lupo said he encourages parents and students to look for a balance to successfully embrace education’s new technology.

“The visual age and technology is crucial,” he said. “It’s like moving forward in life. Having that balance, having that socialization, and that connection with people is still crucial, so not losing that and having the connection to artificial intelligence, we are trying to successfully marry those things. I tell parents not to be afraid to use technology, social connection, getting out, having activities, sports, and clubs. I love that part of it, so parents need to engage with their children. That’s always the foundation.”

Lupo’s message to the students during the June 8 graduation ceremony held in the Taft High School gym was all about giving back.

“Throughout those years that we’ve been with you, we’ve given a lot to you to reach these moments, so we want you to come back and give back to the community, to your friends, to your family. That’s the way of life, making sure you are of service to other people.”

Superintendent’s insight

Lincoln County School District Superintendent Dr. Majalise Tolan agreed with Lupo that the 2024 graduating seniors at all the district’s high schools faced difficult challenges.

“The goal of the district is to raise critical thinkers, so that they are ready to problem solve and move forward,” she said. “All of our students and staff have learned how to have critical conversations, how to problem solve, how to change and adapt very quickly, and show their resiliency.”

Tolan said the district was prepared for the learning challenges triggered by the pandemic.

“We already had all the devices we needed and to work on the technology bases,” she said. “We started training our staff and students before the pandemic started with programs to help them access learning through technology, so that gives us the chance to force the issue in developing our skills.”

To help reach students with mental health issues, Tolan said the district has increased counseling services, providing counselors in all the elementary schools.

“We’re working with county mental health, and we have on-site staff that are not mental health providers, but they are trained in practices that can help support students in adaptations, through change, so it is really a district-wide focus.”