Nothing could have prepared us for teaching in the pandemic. To say it was a scary and stressful year is an understatement. At the best of times, our students are resilient. This year, the grad class of 2021 has persevered through an intense array of home, life, and worldwide stress. These students are SUPER RESILIENT.

CBC took interest in the fact that we were able to still run our classes face to face this past year, with social distancing, sanitizing and mask-wearing. Especially when we were limited to immediate households only, the routine and social interaction at school proved to be a lifeline for many of us. We became an extended family through all the deep conversations, bizarre jokes and creative art.

It takes a LOT of trust for us allow reporters into our classroom to interview our students. We are so grateful to CBC for taking the time to get to know our students and listen to their stories. CBC’s Wawmeesh George Hamilton and Jennifer Wilson were both fantastic to work with.

Here are three CBC interviews with students and staff that capture what it’s been like to learn and teach in the pandemic.

1. Alternative Schools Navigate Pandemic

Being a teenager can be challenging, perhaps even more so for those attending alternative schools during a pandemic. They focus on students whose needs are not being met in a traditional school program. But as @Wawmeesh discovered, a number of students have found something more. Aired March 12, 2021.

WATCH HERE: https://twitter.com/cbcnewsbc/status/1370576096945532929?s=20

2. Learning at an alternative school during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cade Perger-Morrell, a Grade 12 student, and Kama Money, a teacher — both at South Surrey / White Rock Learning Centre — share their learning and mental health experience during the pandemic. Aired March 12, 2021.

LISTEN HERE: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46/clip/15831120

3. White Rock Graduation Day:

Alternative schools are often forgotten when it comes times to tell stories of graduation achievements. We hear from one such school, South Surrey White Rock learning centre, and its grad class on their big day. Aired June 16, 2021.

LISTEN HERE: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46/clip/15849995

BONUS: Emily Carr University Short Student Film

It was our great honour to host Emily Carr (and my former) student Sebastien Kaschel and Warren Tang to create this short film highlighting Seb’s Satellite Residency with our Art 11/12 class.

Language Warning: This is an unscripted, fly-on-the-wall capture of our Alternative School Classroom.

WATCH HERE: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQb1ShmJJup/