Some Grade 12 students across Nova Scotia are concerned the teachers’ union decision to work-to-rule will have an impact on extracurriculars and post-secondary studies. 

Claire Graham and Claire Bragg run the school breakfast club at Dartmouth High. The Grade 12 students say that program will now be in jeopardy.

Graham says students will be allowed to run the program, but says the limits of the job action make that all but impossible.

“Just how long it takes to set up, clean up, and the teacher support that we do need to run it,” she said.

As many as 30 to 40 students eat at the breakfast club every day.

“We are a low-income school,” said Graham. “A lot of our students need it to eat for the duration of the day.”

Other extracurriculars are also cancelled as of Monday at schools across the province.

“Our semi-formal is cancelled. We were having a board game night, that's cancelled,” said Bragg.

But more important than the loss of those events are potential losses for students later on. Many are worrying about university acceptance and scholarships next year.

Graham says as long as teachers aren't providing extra help, her grades are at risk of falling.

“I'm not sure how I'm going to apply for any scholarships that rely on extracurriculars and leadership,” she said.

“A couple of people on the basketball team are really nervous about losing scouting opportunities,” said Bragg.

Education Minister Karen Casey calls the decision to work-to-rule unfortunate and disappointing, but says ending it is out of her hands.

“That would be up to the union how long they want to go along, how far they want to go,” Casey said. “Our first goal is to get them back to the table.

The Nova Scotia Teachers Union hasn't given any indication of how long work to rule may last or whether it will escalate and become a strike.

“Our provincial executive will be meeting to discuss that and we'll be looking at how things go,” said union president Liette Doucet. “We'll be looking at whether we get back to the table.”

Groups of parents are working to organize some events that have been cancelled at schools but it's not clear whether that will be allowed, especially on school property.

Bragg and Graham say they just want this dispute resolved so things can get back to normal.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Sarah Ritchie.