CTV NEWS
June 28, 2021
The year has been equally challenging for Grade 11 student Evan Woo, who had to switch twice from in-person to online learning amid school closures.
It was definitely taking a toll on our mental health. It’s been hard not having a proper schedule and routine, we had a hard time keeping up with material ,” said Woo, adding that many friendships and connections were lost while in-person meeting wasn’t allowed.
Woo, who sits as a member of the TDSB student senate, has also been very active at his school, Earl Haig, competing on ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball teams and sitting on a number of clubs. He even tried to organize some events virtually, including a cooking club over Zoom.
“It’s so important to stay connected with other people, especially online, they’re losing touch and we can’t let that happen,” he said. “That’s what keeps us together and we can fight through the pandemic together.”
The TDSB is planning for students to return to the classroom in September, coupled with vaccinations rates, Woo is hopeful for his grade 12 year, but has mixed feelings after spending a majority of the year online.
“The teachers were trying their best, but the content was really lacking,” he said. “I’m really happy to go back and as COVID-19 subsides, I really hope we can do sports and clubs.”
CP24 Breakfast
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CBC News
February 23, 2022
Behind in learning, social interactions
"I really don't know how prepared I feel for that journey after high school," said Evan Woo, a Grade 12 student at Earl Haig Secondary School in Toronto.
"I feel behind in my school learning [and] my social interactions," he said. "Having that robbed from us, it really sucks for sure."
Like other Ontario students, Woo has endured at least three extended school closures due to COVID-19 since 2020. The remote learning offered during that time was no substitute for in-person class, he said.
"Our structure right now [is] just textbook learning and looking at PowerPoint slides," said Woo, who is also a Toronto District School Board student trustee. "It's really lost that attention and passion and drive for learning, and I really hope we can bring that back."
Woo said his "real-life skills" also feel rusty and that he's not sure he's prepared for something as casual as "hanging out with friends" at university.
From bedrooms to lecture halls
Many university alumni can still recall the first time they walked into a massive lecture hall with hundreds of seats. The high school graduating Class of 2022 will do it after getting used to going to class alone in their bedroom.
"To just fathom sitting in a lecture hall with 500 students — I see that as a big challenge," Woo said.
TORONTO STAR
September 20, 2021
Toronto schools are now allowed to offer extracurricular clubs and sports, both outdoors and indoors, after public health lifted a temporary ban it imposed at the start of the month — one that caused an uproar among parents, students and coaches.
However, for now, activities will only be for students ages 12 and up, given they are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, and about three-quarters of teens ages 12 to 17 in Toronto are already fully vaccinated.
“This is a big win for students,” said Evan Woo, one of two student trustees at the Toronto District School Board who is looking forward to joining the volleyball and ultimate frisbee teams, among other sports and clubs at Earl Haig Secondary School.
Toronto was a holdout across Greater Toronto when school began two-and-a-half weeks ago, with public health saying it wanted schools to first sort out the usual reorganization of classes, on top of reintroducing pandemic safety protocols after last year’s lengthy school shutdown.
ADVOCACY
TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
September 22, 2021
After the provincial government announced a switch to virtual learning (for the third time) because the return-to-school plan was underprepared, I had some things to say on behalf of students across the province.
TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
September 22, 2021
At the start of this school year, I brought forward concern over the new timetable. Traditionally, a lunch period that was 90 minutes was reduced in half, in an effort to limit COVID-19 spread. However, students or staff were not consulted and were left to deal with the decision, which was unrealistic—board staff and public health have little knowledge on what a day is like in school. After receiving countless emails and letters from constituents, I took action to propose modifying the lunch period to an hour.