Nyack High School 2026 graduation; photo by Glenn Schloss
It’s June 2026, already the end of the school year. For me and my freshman peers, it’s also the end of our first year of high school. It feels like just yesterday that I was finally memorizing my new high school schedule. I haven’t decided whether the year went by super fast or extremely slow. Regents and final exams are over, there are lessons learned, things to expect in the coming school year, the class of 2026 is moving on, and summertime heat is here.
Testing: One, Two, Three . . .
As the year closed out, we had several Regents and final exams. While I heard some students say that a test was horrible, others said that it was easy. I have faith that many people will get good grades. Regardless of the grade they’re in, more students have learned new study habits and have gotten better at time management. Most of my peers agree that review sheets, packets, and Google docs are especially helpful for studying though some find flashcards and gimkit reviews equally as helpful. Along with other students, I find study groups to be helpful for test and quiz preparation.
Whatever works best, I believe that by practicing good study habits and methods, kids can improve their grades. Hopefully, they’ll enter their next school year with new knowledge on the best ways to study.
Summer Plans: Camps, Vacations, and Jobs
Summer is a favorite season for many whether it’s due to the heat or being out of school. The NHS’s annual Summer Music Camp is open for registration for kids from 4th to 12th grades, and applications to become a counselor or CIT are open as well. I’ve attended this camp for years and it never fails to be an amazing musical experience, which includes playing the ukulele, learning new songs on instruments, and performing for our families during the final concert.
Many other camps will be in full swing as well, including Sports Camp at NHS, Arts Camp @ RoCA, and sleepaway camps. Camps provide an opening to the start of countless memories and a crazy amount of new friends and connections. But that’s not the only way to spend your summer.
Vacations are a common way to spend some of summer, too. Trips might include LBI, upstate New York, New York City, out of state, and out of the country. Exploring the world provides teens — everyone, really — with experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
In addition, a new age group will be working this summer. A mix of 14-, 15-, and 16-year-olds are looking for summer jobs. Some are applying to be CITs at Nyack Summer Music Camp; others are applying to be CITs or counselors at nearby camps. Some teens babysit, pet sit, dog walk, serve as lifeguards, and more.
Freshman Advice
I asked a few of my peers things they’ve learned along the way and what type of lessons they’re taking with them into sophomore year.
As I noted earlier, I believe, and some other freshmen believe, that time management for freshmen is key for staying on top of your school work and on task. It’s crucial to success, and the year goes fast regardless. While a lot of friends and I have generally improved in our core subjects, we’ve also learned which studying methods work best for us.
Getting involved in extracurricular activities, making friends and remembering that losing friends is just another part of life when entering high school are all important.
My message to future freshmen is to time manage and avoid procrastinating. Study, get involved, try new things, and really just enjoy your freshmen year or whatever year of school you’re in. Time moves fast so make sure to enjoy it.
What’s Ahead in the Next School Year?
My peers at Nyack High School (NHS) may have read the recent issue of The Spectrum, the school newspaper. After 31 years at NHS, Principal Saieva is retiring. If you attend NHS, I highly recommend that you read a few Spectrum articles. Recent issues include plans for the new parking lot, lasting advice from Ms. Saieva, our graduating seniors’ plans after high school, and some articles I wrote.
With our treasured principal retiring, a committee was created to select our next principal for 2026–2027. While a lot of people may not care who our principal is, principals play major roles in school. I’m glad to say that my friends and I are on the same page about some of the things we’re hoping for with our next principal: someone who stays in touch with students and student government and continues to move forward with what we’ve accomplished with Ms. Saieva and the NHS staff. I hope other people in the community are thinking about what really makes a good principal, too.
In addition to finding a new principal, there’s construction near the football field, a parking lot in the making, which we hope to see sometime soon. The lot is expected to provide about 50 new spots for use by students and families during sporting events. This information is from The Spectrum, too.
Also, new officers have to be chosen for this coming school year for clubs and other extracurricular groups. Please make sure to vote for them or, if you’re interested, to run for these positions yourself.
Farewell to the Class of 2026
The class of ’26 is made up of actors who in appeared in many NHS productions, musicians who had their last performance at the recent NHS coffee house, and students who have gone through all the motions of school that future freshmen and generations will follow. They’re a class of seniors who have left legacies within the Nyack High School walls.
Yearbooks have been handed out, teachers have written heartfelt notes for their graduating students, and the last day of school for the high school, June 16, has passed. All that was left of the senior’s time was their graduation ceremony on June 24.
In the June issue of The Spectrum, there’s a page that shows where all the seniors will be heading for college. Many people call some of these seniors friends and/or family, and while it’s sad to see them go I’m sure, and others will agree, that they’re going to make a great difference in the world. Maybe we’ll see these alumni in the NHS halls from time to time when they come back to visit.
Sasha Weintraub is a rising sophomore at Nyack High School who likes writing, art, and music.
