WOODBURY– At Nonnewaug High School, the class of 2026 is closing out more than just their final year – they are also the last group that is required to complete the MBLE’s (Mastery Based Learning Experience). While juniors and underclassmen celebrate the policy change that will exempt them from the project, many seniors say they feel caught in the middle. They describe a fix of frustration at having to finish a requirement no one else will face, and quiet relief that once their work is submitted, MBLE’s will permanently disappear from the school’s graduation checklist.
“I don’t love how every year it feels like our grade has a new rule added on or that we are the last year to do something like the MBLE, so it is a very frustrating feeling when I know the next grades don’t have to do this,” senior Nesim Iljazi said.
The MBLE graduation requirement was created several years ago and intended to serve as a capstone that reflects a student’s interest and provide an opportunity to explore new learning in a possible career field beyond high school.
While some are upset about it being the last year and they have to do it. Most are just happy at this point that it is over and done with. It can for some be a stressful year trying to make sure they complete it on time depending on what they did. While the feeling is lifted off the seniors’ chests, now they can focus on the rest of the year, but also being thankful for this because it helped them grow.
“I feel like I grew from this, it was not hard by any means but it did make me have to use my brain and figure out ways around the hard parts,“ senior Tess Cuccia reflected on doing the project. ”MBLE did exactly what it was supposed to do for me, and I was able to accomplish something I would not have done without being forced to do it.”
But the stress does not end there, the unknown of what will come in place of the MBLE’s is the new worry for NHS students. That makes the class of 2027 start the year with the question of what is the new thing they have to do to graduate.
“I find it a little nerve wracking, considering no one knows right now what it is going to be,” upcoming senior Raegan Lapointe commented. “But I will have the whole year to do it but I know when the time comes I will still be stressed.”
Declan Curtin, NHS’s vice principal respects and appreciates how MBLE could involve kids in new things but he also talks about how he does not need MBLE’s to see how hard NHS students work. He sees the effort, energy, and passion students put into their extracurricular activities.
“Luckily, many of our students at Nonnewaug are already involved in similar activities without having or needing the necessary MBLE requirements. This is a testament to our student populace and what our community already values,” Curtin said. “55% of our students are in ag and complete an SAE. Many of our other students are in the workforce and are contributing to society in measurable ways.”
Deborah Flaherty, NHS library media specialist and one of the key organizers of the MBLE project, is optimistic about the change. She is hopeful that whatever comes to replace MBLE is more beneficial then MBLE’s were.
“I hope for a more structured project to our learning here at Nonnewaug, a project that spans the whole four years of high school,” Flaherty said. “This would show authentic learning growth then just one year, it also would take more stress off the seniors because they already do a lot as is.”
As the year comes to an end, seniors are relieved and upcoming seniors have some uncertainty for what’s to come. One thing is for certain, growth is a part of high school, and it is encouraged, that is why a project like this exists. Having a feeling of accomplishment and feeling like you belong is critical for the growth of young adults.
“It made me feel good, a teacher was proud of me for accomplishing something that was not a test, quiz, or homework assignment,” Iljazi said. “It’s a nice feeling when someone cares about your future.”
