GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) -- It was 'kinda weird' for some.
As the first week of in-person learning at Green Bay Area Public Schools comes to a close, elementary students like Elaina Ouradnik are reflecting on the week that was.
"I didn't really want to talk to anybody," the Elmore Elementary fifth grader said. "And then I just sat there until the teacher came in and I started talking."
It was an adjustment, but one Ouradnik's mom was happy to help her work through. She says virtual learning had become stressful.
"[We were] getting angry over the school stuff," Shana Ouradnik said. "Writing [was a difficult experience] in particular for some reason with my younger boys."
Elaina says she has around 20 kids in her class. She generally feels safe and believes most people are doing their part.
"[It's different with] the mask and having to wash our hands like every ten minutes," Elaina said. "Like putting on hand sanitizer when we leave the room and come back in [is different from last year]."
Some grades don't return until next week, so GBAPS schools will be adding even more kids. Some didn't get to see their friends like Elaina did.
"[My son] has six academic classes and in four of them, he was the only student there," Preble High School parent Amy Schaetz said.
Even though she was only in person three times this past week, it's a welcome change for Elaina and her mother.
"I haven't really talked to anyone besides one of my friends for a very long time," the ten-year-old student said.
