Class of 2008 learning toughest of life’s lessons

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, May 3, 2006

The unfortunate reality of the North Kitsap High School sophomore class’ destination for its senior year was etched into Supt. Gene Medina’s recommendation to the school board that the district should split the senior class of 2008 when Kingston High School opens its doors in 2007.

While the division, at first, may create a somewhat distraught student culture when half of its body is removed, we believe there will be abundant possibilities for positive experiences of school-to-school collaboration — not to mention a better environment in which students will be able to comfortably learn.

Students will no longer attend the same school, however connections between one another don’t have to end. In this era, which could well be remembered as the cellular generation, North Kitsap’s youth have the ability to stay in contact as much as they desire despite a lack of face-to-face contact in the halls.

Ideas to create opportunities to provide that interaction between students elsewhere have already started popping up and we are sure there are more to come.

If student connections are fostered across school lines the possibility for combined NKHS/KHS dances and other events is available through teamwork. The possibility of a combined NKHS/KHS graduation ceremony also seems feasible.

However, a complete 2008 senior class retained at NKHS seems highly impractical due to a conflict of scheduling with the school’s modernization project and the district’s grade level transition set for the same year as the opening of KHS. During the modernization project nearly 50 percent of NKHS’ school space will be in and out of construction — including classrooms.

With 1,300 students currently at NKHS many agree the school is reaching its capacity. If the entire ‘08 senior class was to remain at the school along with incoming freshman class — from the grade level transition, the school’s population would remain around 1,300 while the space will be cut in half.

Basically it’s a sardine can scenario waiting to happen.

Our sympathies go out to the senior class of 2008 for the unfortunate situation which it has been thrust into due to the apparent short-sighted scheduling of so many major changes. The only wisdom we can offer is to make the best of whatever may be. Because once these high school years are gone, they are never coming back.

Always know that your community is firmly planted behind you no matter which colors you wear.