Winters Express, Wednesday, June 8, 2022 — C1
CELEBRATING
WINTERS CLASS OF 2022
Class of 2022 sustains community through challenges By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer As the Class of 2022 gets ready to embark on life’s next adventure, it’s important to reflect on the highlights and challenges these resilient, young adults faced in their last high school year. As if teenaged years and school weren’t difficult enough to contend with, the Class of 2022 also had to endure a pandemic. Lives, curriculums and the ‘high school experience’ in general were irrevocably changed. For Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy lead teacher Greg Wade, redirecting course towards — relative — normalcy was a challenge unto itself. “That was the main challenge, trying to re-educate kids that school is a normal part of life,” said Wade. “I had no idea how much socioemotional learning was actually going on, on campuses until kids were deprived of a year of that. Just sitting at home, allegedly participating on their computers. It was just devastating to the wellbeing of our kids. So, when they came back to school, they were not the way they’d been.” Wade had a host of challenges to take on himself as he assumed the role as lead teacher at the CRA this year. Challenges abound, there were far more highlights for the CRA Class of 2022 to take pride in. “We’ve had quite a few graduates this year. Elev-
LEFT: The Class of 2022 celebrates by tossing their graduate caps in the air. BELOW: ASB President Calista Cardinale walks to the podium to accept her diploma. Crystal Apilado/ Winters Express
“What stood out to me as a highlight of the year was just being able to see the Senior Capstone presentations. The last time we saw that was 2019, so it was great to go in there and see what kids have worked on and do their presentations.” Marcella Heredia, WHS counselor en graduated at the winter ceremony and we’re slated for eight for the spring ceremony. We’re proud to have this many kids graduating the first year back from dis-
tanced learning which was an incredible challenge,” said Wade. “Also, every semester we have three stars. The Rising Star, Shining Star and Super Star. Six
kids were awarded those titles during the year. The Rising Star shows academic brilliance for the first time, the Shining Star is for academic achievement and the Super Star is for academics and citizenship. We’re always proud of our students who earn these awards as well.” The challenges were no different for the Winters High School Class of 2022. Dances and rallies were held outside, sports were interrupted on the whim of a positive COVID case, and
See CLASS, Page 2