William's school was able to return to school for this year with five day in person schooling. There is also a 100% remote option for those families who choose. The choice is made quarter-by-quarter. We aren't so naive to think that in person will last the entire year, but we're thrilled that his school has the building space to distance the kids and still have in person class. There was actually an increase in enrollment for the school - and all Catholic schools - due to the in person option since the two public school districts around us are 100% virtual through October 30. Unfortunately the same teachers have to do the in person and virtual students. There are only a few virtual students per grade but I know that is a huge effort for the teachers to add.
Since his 5th grade uniforms still fit and the school supplies are ordered through the school, our only back to school shopping consisted of additional masks and turkey lunch meat! He has 12 masks now, so he can take 3-4 to school each day and we aren't doing laundry every night. Kids can choose their own masks without a specific uniform requirement, so long as they aren't distracting. He told us about a classmate with one that had a hot dog that formed a smile. Apparently that boy was asked to switch....And after 1,000 PB&Js, he's now had three turkey and cheese sandwiches! The cafeteria has been repurposed as the Science Lab and kids eat lunch in their 5th period classrooms (ironically, for William that's science so he does still eat in the cafeteria!). But classrooms are nut-free so hello lunch meat. He seems to be enjoying it so far, and I'm guessing this will be his lunch for the next three years now.
Parents aren't allowed into the building, but I was able to get a few photos from their social media account to see how the rooms are set up. In the younger grades the classrooms are spacious enough that the kids' desks are just spread out widely. In the junior high, some classrooms weren't that large (Science, for example) so they moved to other rooms in the building that could accomodate the distancing better.
This is 1st or 2nd grade:
This is the repurposed cafeteria now set up for junior high science.
This is his homeroom/ELA classroom. Here the desks are in more of a checkerboard and have plexiglass "walls." William said they're a little sticky on the inside and he was excited he could get paper to stick to it! He said this teacher wears a mask when she is in front of the room and adds a face shields if she is weaving through the classroom.
