GREEN BAY (NBC26) — It’s back-to-school for many local kids as the Green Bay Area Public School district returns to in-person learning today.
“When the kids come Monday, we’re ready to roll," said Kelly Rollin, Principal of McAuliffe Elementary School.
Teachers are eager to have students back in the classroom, he said.
“It’s been almost a year," said Rollin. "There’s been a lot going on, a lot of different transitions, but I think for the most part our staff is excited, and obviously a little anxious. It’s just different.”
Desks are spaced out, and group tables have dividers up. Children will be expected to socially distance in the hallways, and there is hand sanitizer everywhere..
"The toughest thing would be just to understand why," said Rollin. "Understand why we're wearing the masks, why we're social distancing, why we’re keeping our hands clean.”
March 1st, Head Start, 4k, 5k and grades 1-5 will return four days a week. Grades 6 and 9 will return in a cohort model; A is in person Monday and Tuesday and B is in person Thursday and Friday. Wednesday remains a virtual learning day for all. Grades 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 will return next Monday.
"Just be able to hang out with their friends, to be able to go out for recess play kickball and do some of the things they haven’t been able to do for a long time and do it for regular basis even eating lunch with a big group," said Rollin. "Even though they’re going to be social distanced, they’ll be able to socialize and hang out together.”
The school wants kids to remember to try and stay an arm’s length apart from others, he said. The school has taken many precautions, and they will be adjusting as need be, seeing how this week goes.
