September 3, 2020 at 2:10 p.m.
Rhinelander students return to the classroom: 'It was so wonderful to have them all back again'
Rhinelander students return to the classroom: 'It was so wonderful to have them all back again'
The long-awaited return to the classroom went very well, according to the elementary school principals who spoke with the River News.
Principal Paul Johnson said everything went smoothly at Central despite the extra hurdles students and staff had to navigate due to precautions put in place to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Johnson said even the younger students seemed to understand the need to keep their masks on.
"There was nothing significant," Johnson said Tuesday. "There are a lot of little things normally in the start of the school year. Fortunately for us, we have professional day with Wednesday being the off day, so it's great that we have tomorrow to talk through and make some very minor, subtle adjustments on a variety of things. That's pretty normal."
Johnson said there were no reports of major transportation problems for his students on the first day.
"Not here, but I can't speak for everywhere," he said. "I used to work at the middle school and it's a little more challenging there as you get more buses. It was smooth here."
Principal Martha Knudtson said things at Pelican went smoothly as well.
"I think it went pretty fantastic," she said.
"Every student that came in had a mask on," she added. "We were prepared to hand them out if we had to, but we didn't have to."
Knudtson said for the most part the students kept their masks on except for at recess and two mask breaks they had during the day.
She said the buses arrived a little slower than normal.
"But that's how it is the first couple days until we get into a groove," she noted. "So that's not surprising."
Principal Gayle Daniel reported no major problems at Crescent on day one.
"It was wonderful. To see all the faces and their smiles and laughter," Daniel said. "It was so wonderful to have them all back again."
Daniel said the school is using a novel way to get the students to take the proper precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"Our nurses set up what we're calling the 3 W's: wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance," Daniel said. "So we were teaching all the kids about that and why they need to do those things.
She noted that she doesn't see the students having a problem maintaining the safety procedures. She said this is especially important for the older students, who have to be role models for the younger kids.
"The teachers did speak to the older kids about that (the importance of the measures continuing)," Daniel said. "I'm praying they understand what that means. That they have to stay safe themselves, and the more safe they are, the safer their families are going to be."
District superintendent Eric Burke said he was able to visit the elementary schools to observe how well things were running.
"That was fun for me to be able to get out of the office and see and talk to the students and the teachers and administrators and office staff," he said. "But overall, it was really smooth."
Burke observed that even with masks on, it was easy to see how happy the students were to be back in their school buildings.
"It was really fun to see the excitement in their eyes - you can't really see their mouth - but everyone was wearing their face coverings and excited to be back in school," he said.
Like Daniel, Burke said he believes the older students recognize both the seriousness of the precautions and their position as role models for the younger students.
"From what I saw yesterday and hearing from the teachers, they're all taking it very seriously," Burke said.
"We met as our health advisory team met with Linda Conlon (Oneida County Public Health Director) and our doctors and we just talked through our protocols, making sure our flow charts for if this, than this was all up to speed," he added. "We made a couple of modifications, but overall I think the protocols and procedures will stay the same. But, like our entire plan, be flexible as needed."
The first day of classes for Rhinelander middle school and high school students was Thursday, Sept. 3, which was after this edition went to press.
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